Post by foxjj on Aug 22, 2022 6:55:12 GMT
The Abiding Spirit Contrasting Antichrist’s
Talk about the antichrist has always been popular. Throughout history people have endeavored to name him, or foretell when he will appear. The Antichrist has caught the imagination of many to the point where televangelist constantly preach concerning him, and hundreds of books have been written about him. Interestingly, the name Antichrist only appears in the letters of John who warns of many antichrist’s who are always among us:
“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (1 John 2:18-27 ESV)
The last hour refers to the time after the death and resurrection of Jesus as we read in Hebrews 1:1-2: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
When John refers to antichrist’s he is speaking of those who deny that Jesus was the Anointed One. To the Jewish believers The Anointed One was Messiah, whilst the Gentiles refer to The Anointed One as The Christ. Both Jewish and Gentile believers also affirm that Jesus is The Son of God. John describes antichrist as a spirit of deception in unregenerate deceivers:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” (1 John 4:1-3)
The other reference to antichrist is found in 2 John 1:7 where we read: “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
The amazing point in John’s reference to antichrist’s is that they were at one time members of the Church. The important lesson from this is that all who say they are Christian are not necessarily so. Just because a person claims church membership does not make them Christian, although to the world they may be classified as Christian. A reading of church history enforces one’s understanding of how unregenerate church men have brought discredit to the name of Christ.
A true Christian carries an anointing from The Holy Spirit of whom Jesus promised to send in the following verse’s:
John 14:26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Paul also confirmed the need of The Spirit in a believers life:
1 Corinthians 12:3: “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit”.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
It is through The Abiding Spirit that we learn to abide in Jesus which is the sign of a genuine follower; someone who lives and breeds their faith. Their genuineness is evident to one and all:
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)
Today, let us give thanks for the Abiding Spirit.
John Joseph Fox.
Talk about the antichrist has always been popular. Throughout history people have endeavored to name him, or foretell when he will appear. The Antichrist has caught the imagination of many to the point where televangelist constantly preach concerning him, and hundreds of books have been written about him. Interestingly, the name Antichrist only appears in the letters of John who warns of many antichrist’s who are always among us:
“Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.” (1 John 2:18-27 ESV)
The last hour refers to the time after the death and resurrection of Jesus as we read in Hebrews 1:1-2: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.”
When John refers to antichrist’s he is speaking of those who deny that Jesus was the Anointed One. To the Jewish believers The Anointed One was Messiah, whilst the Gentiles refer to The Anointed One as The Christ. Both Jewish and Gentile believers also affirm that Jesus is The Son of God. John describes antichrist as a spirit of deception in unregenerate deceivers:
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” (1 John 4:1-3)
The other reference to antichrist is found in 2 John 1:7 where we read: “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world. Any such person is the deceiver and the antichrist.”
The amazing point in John’s reference to antichrist’s is that they were at one time members of the Church. The important lesson from this is that all who say they are Christian are not necessarily so. Just because a person claims church membership does not make them Christian, although to the world they may be classified as Christian. A reading of church history enforces one’s understanding of how unregenerate church men have brought discredit to the name of Christ.
A true Christian carries an anointing from The Holy Spirit of whom Jesus promised to send in the following verse’s:
John 14:26: “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
John 16:13: “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.”
Acts 1:8: “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Paul also confirmed the need of The Spirit in a believers life:
1 Corinthians 12:3: “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit”.
2 Corinthians 1:21-22: “Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.”
It is through The Abiding Spirit that we learn to abide in Jesus which is the sign of a genuine follower; someone who lives and breeds their faith. Their genuineness is evident to one and all:
“So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31-32)
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4)
Today, let us give thanks for the Abiding Spirit.
John Joseph Fox.
