Am I listening to the right teachers? – Lesson 8

1John 2:18-27

The Five Man Electrical Band, the rock band, sang a song, Signs, which came out in 1971.  One lyric said, “Signs, Signs, everywhere are signs.”  “Les Emmerson wrote the song after taking a road trip on Route 66 in California where he noticed a score of billboards that obscured the beautiful scenery begging the question: Who may put up signs that interfere with nature, and who gets to make the rules that appear on them?”.

Signs are everywhere, obscuring the beauty of the landscape.   No matter where you go, there are signs advertising everything.  With so many signs around, it makes it difficult to distinguish what signs are important and what are trivial.  

However, there is one sign to obey: “Danger Signs”.  Usually white, red, and black to stand out, the sign warns of danger ahead.  Message is simple: “If you go past this point, you are in danger.”  It is direct, so you do not miss its meaning.  

John warns the Christian of the dangers outside and inside the church.  In chapter 2, verses 15-17, he warns the Christian not to be seduced by the allurements of the world and its systems.  Dangers of the flesh, eyes, and ego of yielding to the glitter and attractions portrayed by the world.  

In chapter 2, verses 18-27, John warns the Christian of the dangers inside the church.  Dangers which can destroy the life of a person and send them into eternity without Christ if they yield to the deception of the false teachers and doctrine hiding in the church.

For the immature or baby Christians, this is a tough concept that within the church are those who seek to destroy the lives of others.  The church is to be a haven where ones can come and hear the Word of God.  How can there be agents of the devil working in the church?  How can one recognize and remove them?

1 John 2:18–27 ESV “2:18 ¶ 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. 

2:19 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. 

2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

2:21 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. 

2:221 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. 

2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 

2:24 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. 

2:25 And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 

2:26 ¶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 

2:27 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.”

Danger!  Antichrist is coming and antichrists are already here!

1 John 2:18–19 ESV “2:18 ¶ 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. 

2:19 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.”

1 John 2:22–23 ESV “2:22 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. 

2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

1 John 2:26 ESV “¶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”

Last hour is here!

When I was a child in church, I heard preachers and evangelists proclaim we are living in the last days.  From Daniel to Matthew 24 to Revelation 2&3, the Word of God speaks of the last days when Christ will return and sit upon the Throne of David in Jerusalem.  That day is quickly approaching and at the very doorsteps.  If Dr. Gorham, an evangelist who loved preaching Biblical prophecy in the 1970s, saw the world today, he would proclaim the last hour and last minutes have arrived.  

We are living in the last portion of the dispensation of grace or church age.  This is the time from the ascension of Christ to the rapture of the church before the Tribulation Period.  During this time, Jesus warns the disciples about those coming who claimed to be Christ, but are not.

Matthew 24:3–8 ESV “24:3 ¶ As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the age?” 

24:4 And Jesus answered them, “See that no one leads you astray.

24:5 For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

24:6 And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet.

24:7 For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places.

24:8 All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.” 

Jesus warns the disciples that many will come, claiming to be Christ who are not.  However, they will lead many astray, which means they will deceive many.

Look at I John 2:19.  These individuals will be in the church and come out of the church.  However, they were not saved, just professed to know Christ.  The warning of John is for the church to know Christ and not be fooled by false teachers who have infiltrated the church with their false teachings and proclamations.  

Jude warned the church in his letter.

Jude 1:3–4 ESV “3 ¶ Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. 

4 For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” 

Jude wanted to write about the wonderful grace of the Lord but necessity was placed on his heart to write about the dangers of false teachers in the church.  Notice how he writes “certain people have crept in unnoticed.”  The word translated crept in unnoticed means to have slipped in secretly like a predator who creeps along secretly to pounce upon a prey and devour it.  Individuals disguised as men of God who are teaching damnable heresies that destroy lives and souls.

2 Corinthians 11:12–15 ESV “11:12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 

11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 

11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 

11:15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” 

Paul issues a danger warning to the church of agents of Satan who infiltrated the church with heresies.  Disguised as men of God, they teach damnable doctrines whose purpose is to deceive and destroy others.  They look right, dress right, talk right, and portray themselves as workers of the Lord.  But they are ravening wolves sent among the flock to bring division, deception, and destruction.

Paul issues a warning to the church!

Jude issues a warning to the church!

John issues a warning to the church!

The church needs to listen and heed their warnings.  The church is in a spiritual warfare with an enemy who will use any tactic to destroy the work of the Lord and His children.

Men like, Jim Jones, is easily recognized by the church as a false teacher and prophet.

“On November 18, 1978, more than 900 members of the Peoples Temple died in a mass-suicide under direction of Jim Jones in what is known today as the Jonestown Massacre.

The Jonestown settlement began as a church in Indiana, but it relocated to California and then finally moved to Guyana in South America in the 1970s. The moves were prompted by negative attention in the media. Nearly 1,000 followers moved with the hopes of forming a Utopian community. On November 18, 1978, U.S. Representative Leo Ryan traveled to Jonestown to investigate claims of abuse. He was murdered along with four other members of his delegation. Jones then ordered his followers to ingest poison-laced punch while armed guards stood by. Prior to the 9/11 attacks, Jonestown was the single largest loss of U.S. civilian life in a non-natural disaster.”¹

Of the 912 who died, 276 children were murdered.  Those who refused to drink the cyanide-laced punch were forced at gunpoint or shot.

But, many false teachers and so-called prophets are more subtle by mixing truth with their false doctrines.  They gain the trust of the people then bring in their heresies.  Either to destroy people or line their pockets by fleecing the flock of its monies, they bring destruction and death.

How to recognize the antichrists?

What is the difference between The AntiChrist and antichrists?

The word “Antichrist” means to be an adversary of Christ or to oppose, work against, or be opposite of Christ.  

1 John 4:3 ESV “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.”

2 John 1:7 ESV “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

Antichrist (Capital A)

The Antichrist is a specific person who will be under the control of Satan and will directly oppose Christ and God during the Tribulation period.  He will be a political figure that will bring about a false peace upon the world, he will set himself up to be worshipped as God, and persecute and martyr the Christians.

2 Thessalonians 2:3–8 ESV “2:3 Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,

2:4 who opposes and exalts himself against every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, proclaiming himself to be God. 

2:5 Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things? 

2:6 And you know what is restraining him now so that he may be revealed in his time. 

2:7 For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work. Only he who now restrains it will do so until he is out of the way. 

2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming.”

Revelation 11:7 ESV “And when they have finished their testimony, the beast that rises from the bottomless pit will make war on them and conquer them and kill them,” 

Revelation 13:1 ESV “¶ And I saw a beast rising out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, with ten diadems on its horns and blasphemous names on its heads.”

Revelation 13:12–15 ESV “13:12 It exercises all the authority of the first beast in its presence, and makes the earth and its inhabitants worship the first beast, whose mortal wound was healed. 

13:13 It performs great signs, even making fire come down from heaven to earth in front of people, 

13:14 and by the signs that it is allowed to work in the presence of the beast it deceives those who dwell on earth, telling them to make an image for the beast that was wounded by the sword and yet lived. 

13:15 And it was allowed to give breath to the image of the beast, so that the image of the beast might even speak and might cause those who would not worship the image of the beast to be slain.”

antichrist (little a)

These are the individuals who throughout history have opposed Christ and His people.  They have used a variety of methods and ways to oppose Christ. 

Characteristics of the antichrists

1 John 2:19 ESV “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.”

Brought division in the church.

The antichrists left the church.  In order for the antichrists to go out from the church, they must be in the church.  They affiliated with the church, even though they were agents of Satan.  Infiltrated would be a better word to describe the antichrists in the church.  They left the church to continue their pathway of destruction and deception.

Notice that in the verse, the antichrists began with the apostles and then later left their fellowship and went out on their own.  They rejected the teachings of the Apostles and went after their own teachings.

The word antichrist is the Greek word avnti’cristoj antichristos {an-tee’-khris-tos} which the prefix anti means against – meaning is against Christ.

Verse 22-23 – First sign is the rejection of the Apostles Doctrine – basic doctrines of the Scriptures.

1 John 2:22–23 ESV “2:22 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. 

2:23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.”

Denial of the Lord Jesus Christ and His relationship with the Father.

They deny either the humanity or deity of Christ. 

They deny the Messiahship of the Lord.

They are not denying that Christ existed, but rather His deity or humanity.  They deny that He was the Messiah.  They teach that He was just a good man, little god, or something less than His true position and work.

Verse 22-23 – Second Sign – Denial of Christ’s work, ministry, nature, or relationship with the Father.

Deceit is their primary goal.

2 John 1:7 ESV “For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.”

1 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV “4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 

4:2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,”

How do you recognize the antichrists, those who teach against Christ?  Anyone who denies that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, is a false teacher.  Anyone who teaches there are many ways to eternal life is a false teacher because Jesus Christ is the only way to the Father.

John 14:6 ESV “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” 

Chapter 2 verse 23 of 1^st John shows anyone who denies the deity and Messiahship of Christ does not know the Lord and does not have eternal life.  They are lost and in their sins.

Those who are abiding in Christ know Jesus and those who are not are lost.

How to respond to antichrists?

I must make sure that I am not deceived by their teachings.

1 John 2:26 ESV “¶ I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you.”

1 Timothy 4:1–2 ESV “4:1 ¶ Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons, 

4:2 through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared,”

The Lord has given us all things necessary to stand steadfast in the Lord and not be seduced or lead astray by the antichrist’s false teachings.  

“4105 plana’w planao {plan-ah’-o}  •  from 4106; TDNT – 6:228,857; v •  AV – deceive 24, err 6, go astray 5, seduce 2, wander 1, be out of the way 1; 39 •  1) to cause to stray, to lead astray, lead aside from the right way 1a) to go astray, wander, roam about 2) metaph. 2a) to lead  away from the truth, to lead into error, to deceive 2b) to be led into error 2c) to be led aside from the path of virtue, to go astray,  sin 2d) to sever or fall away from the truth 2d1) of heretics 2e) to be led away into error and sin”²

How do I do this?  I do this by taking the things that God has provided for me to prevent from being deceived.  

What has He given to keep us from being deceived?

God gives us an anointing of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:12–15 ESV “16:12 ¶ “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

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.

16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

16:15 All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

1 John 2:20 ESV “But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.”

Anointed – Greek word that means to rub in, anointment.

Only by the Holy Spirit can we have the understanding and anointing to recognize false preachers and teachers.  The Holy Spirit indwells the believer and guides him into the truth of the Gospel.

Being identified as a child of God, being anointed by the Holy Spirit at his inauguration as a Christian, you know things according to the teaching of the Holy Spirit.

The child of God receives the Holy Spirit in his life at the point of conversion.

God gives us the Word of God.

Psalm 119:105 ESV “¶ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

2 Timothy 3:16–17 ESV “3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 

3:17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

2 Peter 1:19–21 ESV “1:19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 

1:20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 

1:21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”

God has given His word to us so we might understand the truth of the Gospel.  There is one truth and one correct interpretation.  God’s word came not from men but from God as He, by the Holy Spirit, moved on the hearts of those who spoke and wrote the Word of God.  It was not by their will, but by God’s will.

Ephesians 6:12–18 ESV “6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 

6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. 

6:14 Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 

6:15 and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace. 

6:16 In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; 

6:17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, 

6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,”

Holy Spirit teaches us the truth.

1 John 2:20–21 ESV “2:20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.

2:21 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.”

What does this phrase, ‘you all have knowledge’ mean?  It does not mean that once we are saved, Holy Spirit gives us an immediate understanding of all spiritual matters.  It means that Holy Spirit has opened our mind and eyes to the wonderful truth of the Scriptures, where He can reveal through the Word the wonderful message of God.  As we study God’s word, the Holy Spirit opens our heart to the truth.

1 Corinthians 2:14–15 ESV “2:14 ¶ The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 

2:15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one.”

John 16:13–14 ESV “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.

16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

How does the Holy Spirit reveal these spiritual truths to us?

By reading and studying the Word of God, the Holy Spirit opens our spiritual eyes and heart to see the truth.  He prepares our hearts to receive the Word of God.

Psalm 119:105 ESV “¶ Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.”

John 14:26 ESV “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.”

Holy Spirit calls us to continue in Christ.

1 John 2:24 ESV “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.” 

The words abide, remain, and continue are the same Greek word.  The call is to daily walk with the Lord and to daily abide in His love.  As the Christian walks daily with the Lord, he will not be seduced by the false teachers and doctrines of the world.

Holy Spirit gives us the promise of eternal life in Christ.

1 John 2:25 ESV “And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.” 

John gives this to encourage the Christian to continue in the truth and not yield to the seduction of the antichrist’s teachings. 

Holy Spirit gives us the reason to continue in His Word.

1 John 2:28 ESV “¶ And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.”

Why, so we will be ready for His coming.

Why, so we will not be ashamed when He comes.

What must I do to prevent others from being seduced by the antichrist?

1 John 4:1 ESV “¶ 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 John 1:7–11 ESV “7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. 

8 Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. 

9 Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 

10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, 

11 for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.”

Begins with what I teach to my family.

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 ESV “6:4 ¶ “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.

6:5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. 

6:6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 

6:7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 

6:8 You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 

6:9 You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Before I can teach my family, I must love the Lord with all my heart, soul, and might.  I cannot teach what I do not live or know.  Lord must be first in my life so I can teach my family by example and word.

The teaching is not philosophy or psychology, but the Word of God.

Begins with what I teach the church.

Acts 20:28 ESV “Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.”

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV “4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 

4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 

4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

As the pastor of the church, I have the responsibility to teach and preach the Word of God.  I must teach correct Bible doctrine and expose any teachings in the church contrary to the Word of God.

Paul encouraged young Timothy to preach the Word of God at all times.

2 Timothy 4:1–5 ESV “4:1 ¶ I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 

4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 

4:3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 

4:4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. 

4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.”

What must you do to prevent being deceived by a false preacher or teacher?

Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and heart.

John 14:26 ESV “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 16:13–14 ESV “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.

16:14 He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”

Study the Word of God.

2 Timothy 2:15 ESV “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”

Examine what is being taught by the Word of God.

Acts 17:11 ESV “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

Grow in Faith.

Romans 10:17 ESV “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:11–16 ESV “4:11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers,

4:12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, 

4:13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, 

4:14 so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes. 

4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 

4:16 from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”

Things to Consider:

When listening to teaching, do not listen to how it is delivered but what is being delivered.

Everyone has their own personality in how they teach.  But, what counts is the content of the teaching.  Examine the content to make sure it is according to the Word of God.

Understand correct Biblical doctrine by studying the Word of God.

Message is to dig deeper into your Bible studies to understand what is right and what is wrong.  You will recognize false teaching when you understand correct Bible doctrine.

To recognize counterfeit currency, you must know what real currency looks like.  The more you know what is real, the easier to recognize the false or counterfeit teaching. 

¹ https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/mass-murder/jonestown-massacre/

² Strong’s Concordance