Sermon # 124
July 15th 2007
Sunday Morning
Series: “Christ the Sum & Substance of The Bible
Subject: “ He That Is Against Christ Is Antichrist”
Text: I John 2:18-23
Intro: The subject of Antichrist has long been a stirring subject among those who try to figure out who he is! This is as old as the early church Fathers who in part agreed that the ROMAN EMPIRE was the antichrist in system. I have a book in my library call Antichrist and Optimism that was written or republished for the third time in 1994.
It is an eye opener to say the least. It is not my intention in this message to get into the many and various ways that men have come up in my lifetime as to who this antichrist is, but in my life time men have said it is the POPE, Henry Kissinger, a succession of Popes, a system of evil headed by one final revelation of a man...
There are only four times in the whole bible that this word is found, it means the adversary of Messiah. Two of those four times are in this text I read, the other two are in this book: 1Jo 4:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 2Jo 1:7 For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
From the days of John the Baptist men, nations, religions have risen up against the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Let it be clear this morning that the bible is clear about those who love not Jesus Christ... who openly oppose him, deny him, ridicule him, deny he is GOD. Listen to what Paul said:
1Co 16:22 If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. These two words at the end of this verse, clearly and irrevocably announce loud and clear two opposing views.. (1.) Anathema– which means cursed, but it carries the idea of “to bind under a great curse”. (2.) Maranatha– it is origin is Aramaic meaning our Lord has come.
The answer to the struggle of who this man is or personage is or system is, is right under our noses.... the answer is anything anyone any system that opposes the LORD JESUS CHRIST and his people and his gospel and his church.
I... “ THE ORIGIN OF THE ANTICHRIST ..VS 19
1. They were among them: “ They went out from us”
2. They were infiltrators: “They were not of us”
3. They were quitters: “ They would have continued with us”
4. They were exposed: “They were clearly identified”
So the next time someone says do ye believe the ANTICHRIST is so and so, that he is a Jew, he is this that or something else, just say I know who he is, anyone, anything, any system that is against CHRIST. That covers a lot doesn’t it!
II... THEY HAD AN UNCTION: VS 20-21
Who is the Holy One, it is Christ, if you remember that it was promised to the Apostles and the followers of Christ that they would be baptized with the Holy Spirit. This is the unction of which John speaks of..
Mt 3:11 I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:
Ac 1:5 For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence.
This unction served many purposes:
(1.) A means of knowing truth: vs 21
(2.) A method of working:
Ac 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.
Follow this unction that they had in the Acts of the Apostles and see the mighty power of the unction of Christ with them. Ac 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Follow this unction of Christ with the early workers and see the grace of God with them:
It was said of Paul Ac 14:26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled.
III... “ THE WARNING HE GIVES THEM: VS 22-26
Those that oppose the LORD JESUS CHRIST are known by at least two things..
(1.) They are liars: vs 22
When you trace the origin of lying it goes back to the garden, and hear how subtle the Satan is.Genesis 3-4 And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die: 5 For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.
Jesus calls him a liar: Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
(2.) They are deceiver and they deceive others: vs 26
One of the principles that the Lord taught his disciples was this very truth: Lu 21:8 And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.
2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Conclude with some observations about this subject in general:
1st. To deny Christ is to seal ones eternal doom:
I do not mean simply to say I don’t believe in him as Lord and saviour, but to deny his existence, to deny his reality, to deny he is GOD and remain that way is to seal ones eternal destiny.
2nd. To deny Christ is to remain in your sins and that too is fatal:
Joh 5:47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words? Joh 8:24 I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.
Why does the LORD hate sin? Why is it that we make such a deal out of it, why do I speak against it all the time? I will try to show you..
a. Sin is very grievous to the Lord: Ge 18:20 And the LORD said, Because the cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous;
b. Sin is deadly thing: Ro 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
c. Sin is self- serving thing: Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
3rd. To deny Christ is spend eternity under the judgement of the Lord:
Re 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
4th. To acknowledge Christ is the greatest thing that could happen to you today:
a. It means that he has been revealed to you:
b. It means that he is your Lord and saviour:
c. It means that he is your all in all:
d. It means that he is life for you:
Can you, this morning fall before him and say I need you LORD now right now right where you are sitting... come just as you are to Christ, come without a plea, come without reservation, come without a moment of hesitation, come now....