Sermons on 1 John 2:18
The various sermons below interpret 1 John 2:18 by exploring the concept of the Antichrist and antichrists, emphasizing the urgency and discernment required in the "last hour." A common thread among these interpretations is the focus on the presence of false teachers, or antichrists, who attempt to lead believers away from the true teachings of Christ. This is seen in the analogy of a tachometer, which illustrates the rapid progression of end-time events, and the emphasis on the usurping nature of antichrists, who seek to replace Christ. Additionally, the sermons highlight the importance of remaining steadfast in the truth of Christ and recognizing the seductive nature of false teachings. An interesting nuance is the use of historical figures, such as King Ahasuerus, to draw parallels with the spirit of the antichrist, providing a unique perspective on how this spirit manifests both historically and in contemporary times.
In contrast, the sermons diverge in their theological themes and applications. One sermon emphasizes apostasy as a political revolt against historical church doctrines, urging the need to address it to maintain faith purity. Another sermon focuses on abiding in Christ as preparation for His return, warning against teachings that offer something "instead of Christ." The role of the Holy Spirit in providing discernment is highlighted in another sermon, countering false claims of "special knowledge." The perseverance of the saints is a theme in one sermon, emphasizing that true believers will not abandon their faith despite the rise of antichrists. Lastly, a sermon contrasts the antichrist spirit of self-exaltation with the humility of Christ, urging believers to reflect on their own lives.
1 John 2:18 Interpretation:
Faith, Maturity, and Discernment in Challenging Times (Westminster Calvary) interprets 1 John 2:18 by emphasizing the distinction between the Antichrist (capital A) and many antichrists (lowercase a). The sermon uses the analogy of a tachometer to explain the concept of the "last hour," suggesting that when events begin to unfold, they will accelerate rapidly, much like a tachometer revving up. This interpretation highlights the urgency and rapid progression of end-time events.
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) interprets 1 John 2:18 by focusing on the term "antichrists" as false teachers who seduce the church away from its mission. The sermon emphasizes that these antichrists are not just future figures but present realities that distract believers from the truth of Christ. The interpretation stresses the importance of recognizing these false teachings and remaining connected to the true teachings of Jesus.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) interprets 1 John 2:18 by explaining that the term "Antichrist" means "instead of Christ" rather than "opposite of Christ." This interpretation highlights the usurping nature of antichrists, who seek to take the place of Christ illegitimately. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing these usurpers and remaining steadfast in the truth of Christ.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) interprets 1 John 2:18 by emphasizing the dual meaning of "antichrist" as both "against Christ" and "in place of Christ." The sermon highlights that the antichrist will appear as a savior, performing miracles to deceive many. The pastor uses the Greek understanding of "antichrist" to explain that it is not just opposition but a substitution for Christ, which shapes the understanding of the passage as a warning against false teachings that replace the true Christ.
Faith, Sovereignty, and Peacemaking in Divided Times (First Baptist Church Crane, Texas) interprets 1 John 2:18 by drawing a parallel between historical figures like King Ahasuerus and the spirit of the antichrist. The sermon suggests that the antichrist spirit is characterized by self-glorification and the misuse of power, contrasting it with the humility and sacrifice of Jesus. This interpretation uses the Old Testament narrative as a foreshadowing of the antichrist spirit, providing a unique perspective on how such a spirit manifests in history and today.
1 John 2:18 Theological Themes:
Faith, Maturity, and Discernment in Challenging Times (Westminster Calvary) presents the theme of apostasy within the church, describing it as a political revolt against the historical doctrines of the church. The sermon emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addressing apostasy to maintain the purity of the faith.
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) introduces the theme of abiding in Christ as a means of preparing for His return. The sermon emphasizes that true followers of Jesus remain connected to the church and know who Jesus is, warning against the seductive nature of false teachings that offer something "instead of Christ."
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) highlights the theme of the Holy Spirit's role in providing believers with knowledge and discernment. The sermon emphasizes that believers have been anointed by the Holy Spirit and possess the knowledge needed to discern truth from falsehood, countering the claims of false teachers who offer "special knowledge."
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) presents the theme of perseverance of the saints, emphasizing that true believers will not abandon the faith despite the rise of antichrists. The sermon introduces the idea that the spirit of the antichrist is prevalent in false teachings that separate the physical and spiritual nature of Christ, a theme that ties into the Gnostic heresies of the early church.
Faith, Sovereignty, and Peacemaking in Divided Times (First Baptist Church Crane, Texas) introduces the theme of contrasting the antichrist spirit with the spirit of Christ. The sermon highlights the antichrist spirit as one of self-exaltation and power, while the spirit of Christ is one of humility and service. This theme is distinct in its application to both historical and contemporary contexts, urging believers to reflect on where they might harbor an antichrist spirit in their own lives.
1 John 2:18 Historical and Contextual Insights:
Faith, Maturity, and Discernment in Challenging Times (Westminster Calvary) provides historical context by explaining that the term "apostate" was used in the first century to describe a political revolt. This insight helps to understand the gravity of apostasy within the church as a rebellion against established doctrine.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) offers historical context by discussing the rise of gnosticism in the first century, which emphasized secret knowledge as a means of salvation. This context helps to understand the challenges faced by early Christians in discerning true teachings from false ones.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) provides historical context by discussing the rise of Gnosticism during John's time, which denied the physical reality of Christ. The sermon explains that John's letter was a response to these early heresies, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the true nature of Christ as both fully God and fully man.
Faith, Sovereignty, and Peacemaking in Divided Times (First Baptist Church Crane, Texas) offers historical insights into the Persian Empire and King Ahasuerus, drawing parallels between his reign and the spirit of the antichrist. The sermon explains the cultural norms of the time, such as the role of women and the political structure, to illustrate how the antichrist spirit manifested in historical figures.
1 John 2:18 Cross-References in the Bible:
Faith, Maturity, and Discernment in Challenging Times (Westminster Calvary) references Revelation 13:1-2 to describe the traits and origin of the Antichrist, using the imagery of the beast rising from the sea. The sermon also references Daniel 7 to explain the kingdoms represented by the beast's traits, providing a biblical basis for understanding the Antichrist's characteristics.
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) references John 14:6, where Jesus declares Himself as the way, the truth, and the life, to emphasize the centrality of Christ in salvation. The sermon also references various "I am" statements from the Gospel of John to affirm Jesus' identity and authority.
Abiding in Truth: Discernment in the Last Hour (Calvary Chapel Ontario) references Colossians 1:15 and Hebrews 1:3 to emphasize Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the exact imprint of God's nature. These references support the sermon’s emphasis on the unity of the Father and the Son and the importance of recognizing Jesus' true identity.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) references Matthew 24, where Jesus warns of false prophets and the rise of the antichrist. The sermon uses this passage to support the idea that the presence of many antichrists is a sign of the last hour. It also references 2 Thessalonians, where Paul speaks of the man of lawlessness, to further explain the characteristics of the antichrist.
Faith, Sovereignty, and Peacemaking in Divided Times (First Baptist Church Crane, Texas) references 1 John 2:18 in the context of foreshadowing Christ and the antichrist in the Old Testament. The sermon suggests that figures like King Ahasuerus serve as a type of antichrist, drawing connections to the broader biblical narrative of Christ's ultimate victory over such spirits.
1 John 2:18 Christian References outside the Bible:
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) references C.S. Lewis, who famously argued that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or Lord, emphasizing the necessity of recognizing Jesus' true identity. The sermon also references Herman Bavinck, who stated that Christ is Christianity itself, underscoring the centrality of Jesus in the Christian faith.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) references Charles Haddon Spurgeon, quoting him on the importance of discerning between right and almost right. This reference is used to emphasize the need for true discernment in identifying the spirit of the antichrist and false teachings.
1 John 2:18 Illustrations from Secular Sources:
Abiding in Christ: The Foundation of Our Faith (Impact Church FXBG) uses the cultural phenomenon of Y2K and the Left Behind series to illustrate the fascination with end times and the importance of focusing on the true teachings of Christ rather than speculative prophecies. The sermon also humorously references Bob the Builder to emphasize the futility of relying on oneself instead of Christ.
Discerning Truth: The Nature of Christ and Antichrist (Woodland Heights Baptist Church) uses the example of popular figures like Jay-Z and Iron Maiden to illustrate common misconceptions about the antichrist as merely a symbol of overt evil. The sermon contrasts this with the more subtle deception of the antichrist spirit, which masquerades as light and truth.
Faith, Sovereignty, and Peacemaking in Divided Times (First Baptist Church Crane, Texas) uses the historical figure of King Ahasuerus as an illustration of the antichrist spirit, drawing parallels to modern-day figures who exhibit similar traits of self-glorification and misuse of power. The sermon also references contemporary issues of power and privilege to make the message relevant to today's audience.