Sunday Livestream | 1 John 2:18-27 | Attributes of Antichrists and Ambassadors of Christ

May 10, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: Anointing From the Holy One

The disciples faced false teachers who denied Jesus’ divinity. John wrote to believers who’d received the Holy Spirit’s anointing—a mark of true belonging. This anointing wasn’t mystical oil but God’s own Spirit teaching them to discern truth from lies. Even now, the Spirit guards believers against deception. [01:12:55]

Jesus promised His Spirit would guide His people into truth. When antichrists twist Scripture or deny Christ’s nature, the Spirit stirs unease in those who know Him. You don’t need secret knowledge—you have the living God within you.

When a coworker questions Christ’s divinity or a podcast undermines the gospel, lean into the Spirit’s quiet witness. Open your Bible to John’s letters. Let truth anchor you. What teaching about Jesus have you recently felt compelled to defend?

“But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth.”
(1 John 2:20-21, NIV)

Prayer: Ask the Spirit to sharpen your discernment when you hear teachings about Jesus.
Challenge: Write down three core truths about Christ from 1 John 4:2-3. Share one with a friend today.

Day 2: They Went Out From Us

John watched former church members spread lies about Jesus. These antichrists had shared pews and potlucks, but their departure revealed their true allegiance. True believers remain—not perfectly, but persistently—in fellowship. Their staying proves the Father’s grip. [01:23:32]

Jesus warned wolves would infiltrate the flock. Antichrists mimic believers until conflict exposes their rebellion. Their exit isn’t tragedy but clarity—God sifts wheat from chaff. Your commitment to Christ’s people isn’t optional; it’s evidence.

Do you know someone who left the faith after a disagreement? Pray for them, but let their departure strengthen your resolve to stay. When have you been tempted to walk away from Christian community?

“They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.”
(1 John 2:19, NIV)

Prayer: Confess any pride that makes you think you don’t need the church.
Challenge: Text one church member who’s been absent lately. Invite them to coffee.

Day 3: The Lie That Unmakes

A single lie defined the antichrists: “Jesus isn’t the Christ.” They swapped the Son of God for a philosopher, a symbol, a mere martyr. John called this the ultimate deception—denying the Person who holds all things together. [01:18:18]

Satan doesn’t invent new lies; he repackages old ones. Every false teaching about Jesus—whether denying His miracles, resurrection, or divinity—traces back to Eden’s “Did God really say?” Truth isn’t a concept but a Person: Christ in flesh.

When someone dismisses Jesus’ miracles as myths or His resurrection as metaphor, don’t debate—point to the Gospels. Which of Jesus’ claims feel most offensive to our culture today?

“Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son.”
(1 John 2:22, NIV)

Prayer: Thank Jesus for being fully God and fully man—the only bridge to the Father.
Challenge: Underline every “Jesus is” statement in 1 John 2:18-27. Pray one aloud.

Day 4: What Remains in You

John urged believers to “let what you heard from the beginning remain.” The gospel isn’t a stepping stone but a foundation. Antichrists crave novelty; saints cherish the old story of Christ crucified. Your endurance proves the Word’s staying power. [01:34:57]

Jesus compared His words to a house on rock. Storms come—cultural shifts, personal doubts, slick false teachers—but the foundation holds. Each time you repent, serve, or open Scripture, you’re building on that rock.

What habit helps you “remain” in Christ daily? If you’ve neglected Bible reading, start with five minutes in John’s letters. Where do you need to plant yourself deeper in gospel truth?

“As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father.”
(1 John 2:24, NIV)

Prayer: Ask God to rekindle your love for the “basics” of Scripture.
Challenge: Memorize 1 John 2:24. Recite it when facing confusing teachings.

Day 5: Until He Appears

The church waited then—and waits now—for Christ’s return. Antichrists multiply, but so do Christ’s witnesses. Every meal shared, every prayer uttered, every truth defended fuels the waiting. Our staying isn’t passive—it’s war. [01:42:25]

Jesus told the Eleven, “You are those who have stood by me” (Luke 22:28). He sees your fumbling faithfulness. Your grip on doctrine and community, imperfect as it is, shouts louder than the enemy’s noise.

This week, you’ve named lies and clung to truth. Now act: invite a neighbor to church, confess sin to a believer, or donate a Bible. What step will you take today to remain in Him?

“And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.”
(1 John 2:28, NIV)

Prayer: Beg God for perseverance to remain until Christ’s return.
Challenge: Write “REMAIN” on your mirror. Let it remind you to endure.

Sermon Summary

We live in the last hour between Jesus first coming and his return. We see that the spirit of antichrist already moves among people who claim faith yet deny core truth about Jesus. These false teachers reveal themselves in three consistent ways. First, they abandon the apostolic teaching about who Jesus is. Second, they separate themselves from the fellowship of true believers. Third, they work to deceive others by offering secret knowledge or new revelations that contradict what was given from the beginning. We must name these patterns plainly so we are not led astray.

At the same time we hold fast to two marks of true belonging. We remain anchored in the apostolic gospel, confessing that Jesus is fully God and fully man, that he died for our sins, and that he rose bodily on the third day. We also remain with the local body of believers, because a faithful heart longs for fellowship and cannot be content to wander apart forever. Remaining in doctrine and remaining in community serve as living proof of the Spirit at work and of the promise of eternal life.

We practice discernment not as a private hobby but as obedience. We test claims by asking concrete questions about Jesus and by asking where a movement came from. False movements dodge specifics and invent new revelations. True teaching stands up to scrutiny and traces back to the apostolic witness.

We also remember that exposure serves two purposes. It protects the flock and it calls the lost to repentance. When a group departs from Christ and from his people, we grieve and we pray for their return while we refuse their falsehoods. When we remain in the truth and in one another, we find assurance. Remaining is not mere stubbornness. It is the Spirit enabling us to persevere so that our faith bears the marks of life.

Key Takeaways

1. Antichrists deny the true Christ Those who reject that Jesus is both God and man reveal a heart turned from the Father. Denying the core facts of the incarnation, atonement, or resurrection is not a minor error but a sign that the person does not share the apostolic faith. We must treat such denials as decisive for doctrine and practice and not relativize essential truth. [72:55]
2. Antichrists leave the fellowship When people who once belonged to the church split away and do not remain with the faithful, their departure exposes their true condition. Leaving the community of believers often follows a pattern of doctrinal divergence and social separation. Persistent exile from local church life signals a deeper rupture than mere preference. [83:13]
3. Antichrists spread deceptive secret knowledge False teachers appeal with promises of hidden insight or new revelation that sit outside the apostolic witness. Such claims tempt those hungry for novelty and undermine the settled canon of Scripture. We must measure every alleged revelation against what was given from the beginning. [88:20]
4. True believers remain in doctrine Remaining in the apostolic teaching proves the Spirit works within us to preserve us in truth. Continued allegiance to the gospel shows that the promise of eternal life belongs to us. Remaining in right doctrine also equips us to recognize and reject error. [94:57]
5. True believers remain with saints Staying connected to the body of Christ indicates a heart shaped by fellowship and obedience. The local church cultivates accountability, teaching, and endurance that false movements cannot replicate. A persistent desire for communal worship and service confirms genuine belonging. [99:26]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[64:05] - Celebrations and testimonies
[65:26] - Paul on the day of the Lord
[67:04] - The mystery of lawlessness
[72:10] - Reading 1 John 2:18-27
[75:25] - Three attributes of antichrist
[78:18] - Denying the Son exposes error
[83:13] - Antichrist depart from fellowship
[87:52] - Deception and false revelations
[94:57] - Remaining in true doctrine
[99:26] - Remaining with fellow believers
[102:46] - Assurance and closing prayer

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 John 2:18-27 (ESV)
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. 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. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 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. 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. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 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. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 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.

Observation Questions

According to 1 John 2:18-19, what two actions expose antichrists as false believers?
What specific denial does John identify as the defining mark of an antichrist (1 John 2:22)?
The sermon mentions three consistent patterns of false teachers. What are they? [01:15:25]
How does the passage connect "remaining" in apostolic teaching to assurance of eternal life (1 John 2:24-25)?

Interpretation Questions

Why does denying the Son mean someone "does not have the Father" (1 John 2:23)? How does this relate to the core identity of Jesus?
The sermon states that "remaining in doctrine and community" are marks of true believers. How do these two actions reinforce one another? [01:34:57]
Why might false teachers emphasize "secret knowledge" (1 John 2:20-21, 27)? What makes this tactic effective in deceiving people?
John says antichrists "went out from us" (1 John 2:19). What does this imply about the relationship between doctrinal error and separation from the church?

Application Questions

How can you intentionally "remain" in apostolic teaching this week (e.g., specific practices, resources, or habits)? [01:34:57]
When someone leaves the church community, the sermon says their departure often signals deeper issues. How can you lovingly engage a friend or family member who has distanced themselves from believers?
The sermon warns about testing teachings by asking, "What do you believe about Jesus?" [01:30:55] How would you respond if a coworker shared a spiritual belief that contradicts Jesus’ divinity or resurrection?
What practical steps can you take to guard against being drawn to "new revelations" that conflict with Scripture? [01:28:20]
How does your involvement in a local church community actively help you discern truth from error? [01:39:26]
The sermon says true believers "hate missing" fellowship. Does your attitude toward gathering with believers reflect this? What might need to change?
If a group claiming to be Christian denies Jesus’ full humanity or divinity, how would you explain why this is a salvation issue? [01:20:19]

Sermon Clips

35s

“``As they do, this is a warning light that I hope is going off on the dashboard of your life, yelling, beware. Beware. Don't be deceived. Christians, our good father wants to protect us against deception. To protect us, he given us three attributes of antichrist that always expose them. They depart from the true teachings of Christ. They depart from true followers of Christ, and they try to deceive the true people of Christ. This is the way they work. Everything to oppose Jesus and his people.”

from 01:32:55

#BewareFalseTeaching

34s

“Brothers and sisters in Christ, there is no new revelation. The Canon is closed. We have the revelation of God is given to us through the apostles inspired by the spirit of God about the son of God in the teachings of God's word. Those who claim to have new revelations about Christ, their false teachers, they're antichrist, and they try to deceive followers of Jesus. The new movement in the Black Hills, the research academy of Joshua, their founder claims to have had some form of new revelation that he received through a vision.”

from 01:28:38

#CanonClosedNoNewRevelation

50s

“Remaining is proof that you belong to him, that you have fellowship with him, that you know the one who's from the beginning, that your sins are forgiven, that you are an overcomer, that you are saved. Doctor Jeremiah, David Jeremiah once said, the stage is set, and the curtain is about to rise on Earth's final act. We are living in the last hour. Antichrist is coming. But even now, antichrists are going out from us, denying Christ, and trying to deceive Christians. Be on the lookout. You'll know them by their denial of Christ, their departure from true followers of Christ, and their deception. Don't be deceived.”

from 01:42:07

#RemainingIsProof

38s

“And how can we know who they are? He says, well, they are those who deny that Jesus is the Christ. Verse 22, who is the liar except the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the father and the son. Whoever denies the son does not have the father. So these false teachers in John's day were denying that Jesus is the Christ. I I think you understand this. That's a pretty big denial, and it reveals clearly that someone is not a Christian.”

from 01:18:04

#DenyJesusNotChristian

43s

“Surrounded by the assaults of antichrist in a culture where being a Christian is no longer popular and our beliefs about Jesus and his teaching are being opposed. Are you remaining with true believers in Christ? John's saying, if so, this is good evidence that suggests you're likely saved because an attribute of a true ambassador of Christ is they'll remain with true followers of Christ. It's funny how this works. The attributes of true ambassadors are the exact opposite of antichrist. We remain in the true teachings of Jesus, and we remain with true followers of Jesus.”

from 01:40:45

#RemainWithTrueBelievers

34s

“This is because true Christians remain in the church. Yeah, being a part of a local church does not save a person, but a saved person is a part of a local church. It's because true Christians cannot stay away. Do you love gathering with other believers like this and exalting God, edifying one another, and even evangelizing the lost? Do you hate missing a Sunday? Do you long for that next Wednesday night meal with believers?”

from 01:40:01

#ChurchCommunityMatters

40s

“if you're remaining in the truth of the gospel trusting in his death and resurrection for your salvation, remaining in the right doctrines of Christ. John's saying you can be certain you're saved. You have eternal life because an attribute of a true Christian is they continue in the true teachings. They remain. True ambassadors of Christ remain in the true teachings of Christ. Attribute number one. Attribute number two, they remain with true followers of Christ. Verse 19 he said, Antichrist do not remain.”

from 01:38:14

#RemainInTrueDoctrine

30s

“Second attribute of antichrist is they depart from true followers of Christ. John uses the word remain six times in these verses. Five of them speak of Christians. One of them he used to speak of Antichrist. He says in verse 19, they went out from us. Pay attention to that. So these Antichrist were a part of the churches in Asia Minor. So they weren't coming from the outside, they were coming from the inside.”

from 01:22:52

#AntichristFromWithin

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