Understanding the Spirit of Antichrist and Abiding in Christ

Devotional

Day 1: The Spirit of Antichrist: Denying Jesus as Messiah

There are many teachings and influences in the world that may appear religious or even godly, but if they deny that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Son of God, they are not of God but of the spirit of antichrist. The Bible is clear that anyone who denies Jesus as the Messiah is not only rejecting the Son but also the Father, and such denial is a mark of deception. As believers, it is crucial to recognize that the greatest danger is not always blatant opposition to religion, but subtle distortions that specifically reject the person and work of Jesus. Stand firm in the truth that Jesus is the Christ, and be vigilant against any teaching that seeks to undermine this foundational truth. [16:19]

1 John 2:22-23 (ESV)
"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."

Reflection: Is there any teaching, influence, or voice in your life that subtly questions or diminishes the truth of Jesus as the Christ? How can you intentionally guard your heart and mind against such deception today?

Day 2: The Anointing: Relying on the Holy Spirit’s Guidance

Every believer has received an anointing, an unction from the Holy Spirit, which enables discernment between truth and error. This inner witness is not about secret knowledge or mystical experiences, but about the Spirit of God guiding you into all truth and alerting you when something is off—even if you can’t immediately explain why. When you sense a check in your spirit, don’t ignore it; pause, pray, and seek God’s wisdom. Trust that the Holy Spirit within you is faithful to lead you, teach you, and protect you from deception, even when you are alone or unsure. [08:55]

1 John 2:20, 27 (ESV)
"But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge... 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."

Reflection: Can you recall a time when the Holy Spirit gave you a sense that something was not right, even if you couldn’t explain it? How can you become more sensitive and responsive to the Spirit’s leading this week?

Day 3: Abiding in Christ: Beyond Belief to Daily Fellowship

Believing in Jesus brings salvation, but abiding in Him is about ongoing, daily fellowship and discipleship. Abiding means maintaining your union with Christ through faith, love, obedience, prayer, and self-denial. It’s possible to be saved but not walking in the fullness of obedience and intimacy with God. When you abide, you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you, producing the fruit of righteousness in your life. If you find yourself drifting or living in your own strength, remember that abiding is a daily choice to remain connected to Jesus and to let His life flow through you. [25:32]

1 John 2:28-29 (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. If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him."

Reflection: What is one practical way you can intentionally abide in Christ today—whether through prayer, worship, obedience, or loving others?

Day 4: The Privilege of Being God’s Children

God’s love is so great that He calls us His children, giving us a new identity and relationship with Him. The world may not understand or recognize this transformation, because it does not know God intimately. As children of God, we are set apart, and our lives should reflect the love and character of our Father. Even when the world misunderstands or rejects us, we can rest in the security and privilege of being part of God’s family, knowing that our true identity and future are found in Him. [28:52]

1 John 3:1 (ESV)
"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

Reflection: How does knowing you are a beloved child of God shape the way you see yourself and interact with the world around you today?

Day 5: The Hope of Transformation: Becoming Like Christ

Though we do not fully know what we will be in eternity, we have the promise that when Jesus is revealed, we shall be like Him. This hope is not just for the future, but it purifies and motivates us to pursue holiness and Christlikeness now. Fix your eyes on the hope of seeing Jesus face to face, and let that hope inspire you to walk in purity, faith, and expectation. God is at work transforming you, and one day, you will be fully like Him—this is the glorious destiny of every believer. [32:04]

1 John 3:2-3 (ESV)
"Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure."

Reflection: In what area of your life do you most long to be transformed to be more like Jesus? What is one step you can take today to pursue that transformation?

Sermon Summary

Today, we dove deep into the heart of 1 John, exploring what it means to live as children of God in a world that often misunderstands or even opposes the truth of Jesus. John’s words remind us that we are living in the “last hour,” a time marked by the presence of many who oppose Christ—not just in open hostility, but often in subtle distortions of who Jesus is. The spirit of antichrist isn’t just about being anti-religion; it’s specifically about being anti-Jesus, denying His divinity, His relationship with the Father, and His role as Messiah.

We talked about the importance of discernment, that every believer has an “anointing”—an unction from the Holy Spirit—that helps us recognize truth from error. This isn’t about having secret knowledge or spiritual elitism, as the Gnostics claimed, but about the Spirit of God guiding us into all truth. Sometimes, you’ll encounter teachings or ideas that sound right on the surface, but something in your spirit feels off. That’s the Holy Spirit prompting you to pause, pray, and seek God’s wisdom before accepting anything as truth.

John also draws a clear line: anyone who denies Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God, is operating in the spirit of antichrist. This isn’t just a theological debate; it’s a matter of spiritual life and death. Our faith is rooted in the reality that Jesus is the Messiah, fully God and fully man, and that through Him we are born again—transformed from the inside out. The world may not understand us, and that’s to be expected, because it doesn’t know Him. But we are called to abide in Christ, not just believe in Him for salvation, but to walk daily in union, obedience, and love.

Abiding is more than a one-time decision; it’s a continual, living relationship. It’s about letting the truth of who Jesus is shape every part of our lives, trusting that the Spirit within us will keep us from deception and lead us into abundant, eternal life—the God kind of life. And while we may not know exactly what we will be when Christ returns, we have the hope and promise that we will be like Him, purified by this hope and empowered to live as true children of God.

Key Takeaways

1. The Spirit of Antichrist Denies Jesus’ Identity The most dangerous opposition to Christ isn’t always open hostility, but subtle distortions that deny Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God. This spirit can even appear religious, but it ultimately rejects the core of the gospel. We must be vigilant, recognizing that any teaching which diminishes or denies Jesus’ divinity is not from God, no matter how spiritual it sounds. [16:19]
2. Every Believer Has the Anointing to Discern Truth God has given each of us the Holy Spirit, an inner “unction” that helps us discern right from wrong, truth from error. This isn’t about secret knowledge or spiritual superiority, but about a living relationship with God who leads us into all truth. When something feels off in your spirit, pause and seek God’s wisdom—He is faithful to guide you. [06:07]
3. Abiding in Christ Is a Daily, Ongoing Relationship Believing in Jesus brings salvation, but abiding in Him is about daily discipleship—living in faith, love, obedience, and self-denial. It’s not about perfection, but about continually yielding to the Spirit, letting His life flow through us. This abiding keeps us rooted in truth and empowers us to live as God’s children in a world that doesn’t understand us. [25:32]
4. Our Hope: Becoming Like Christ When He Appears Though we don’t know all the details of our future in eternity, we have the promise that when Jesus is revealed, we will be like Him. This hope purifies us, motivating us to pursue holiness and intimacy with God now, trusting that our ultimate transformation is secure in Christ. [28:52]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:30] - Introduction and Prayer
[01:20] - Context of 1 John and Its Audience
[02:41] - Understanding the Antichrist
[04:30] - The Spirit of Antichrist: Anti-Jesus, Not Anti-Religion
[06:07] - The Anointing: Discernment by the Holy Spirit
[08:55] - No Need for Secret Knowledge
[12:16] - Application vs. Truth: Personal Convictions
[14:07] - False Teaching and the Identity of Jesus
[16:19] - Marks of the Antichrist
[19:04] - Why Jesus Is Uniquely Opposed
[22:30] - Eternal Life: The God Kind of Life
[25:32] - The Anointing Teaches All Things
[28:52] - The Privilege of Being God’s Children
[32:04] - Closing Prayer and Blessing

Bible Study Guide

**Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living as Children of God in a Confused World**

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### Bible Reading

**1 John 2:18–3:3 (ESV)**

> 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.
> 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.
> 28 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.
> 29 If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
> 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
> 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
> 3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

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### Observation Questions

According to John, what is the main characteristic of the “spirit of antichrist”? ([16:19])
What does John say every believer has that helps them discern truth from error? ([06:07])
What does it mean to “abide” in Christ, as described in these verses? ([25:32])
What promise does John say we have if we abide in what we heard from the beginning? ([22:30])

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### Interpretation Questions

Why does John emphasize that the spirit of antichrist is not just openly against Christ, but often distorts who Jesus is? How might this look in our world today? ([16:19])
The sermon talked about the “anointing” or “unction” from the Holy Spirit. How does this inner witness help believers when they encounter teachings or ideas that seem “off”? ([06:07])
John draws a line between believing in Jesus and abiding in Him. What is the difference between the two, and why does it matter for our daily walk? ([25:32])
The passage says that when Jesus appears, “we shall be like him.” How does this future hope affect the way we live now? ([28:52])

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### Application Questions

The sermon said the most dangerous opposition to Christ is often subtle, not open hostility. Have you ever encountered a teaching or idea that sounded spiritual but didn’t sit right with you? How did you respond, and what did you learn from that experience? ([06:07])
John says every believer has an “anointing” to discern truth. What are some practical ways you can pause and seek God’s wisdom when something feels off, instead of just going along with it? ([06:07])
The world may not understand us because it doesn’t know Jesus. Have you ever felt misunderstood or out of place because of your faith? How did you handle it, and what encouragement can you draw from this passage? ([28:52])
Abiding in Christ is described as a daily, ongoing relationship—not just a one-time decision. What are some specific habits or choices you can make this week to “abide” more closely in Christ? ([25:32])
The sermon mentioned that abiding is about letting the truth of who Jesus is shape every part of our lives. Is there an area of your life where you struggle to let Jesus’ truth lead you? What’s one step you can take to surrender that area to Him?
John says our hope is that we will be like Jesus when He appears, and this hope purifies us. How can you let this hope motivate you to pursue holiness and intimacy with God right now? ([28:52])
The sermon talked about the privilege of being called children of God. How does knowing you are God’s child affect your confidence, your decisions, or the way you relate to others? ([28:52])

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Sermon Clips

The Holy Spirit can bring all things to your remembrance. The Holy Spirit can teach you things that you did not know. For example, when I got spirit filled, all right, I'm telling you right now, I knew God was a healer even though I didn't know one Bible verse. I knew God was a deliverer even though I didn't have any Bible verses to go with it. I knew God was good, and I had a lot of questions still, but I knew God was good and I didn't even have a Bible verse. Why? Because I got the spirit of God on the inside of me. [00:09:37] (29 seconds) #SpiritKnowsBest

Sin was passed down through Adam and the only way out of the sin nature is a relationship with Jesus. When you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you're born again, you're born out of darkness into the light. Now you're a new creation in Christ and that sin nature is gone out of you, amen. Remember a couple weeks ago, you may still have some of the fruit, but the root is gone, fair body, and this is what he is attacking in this. [00:15:57] (28 seconds) #BornAgainNewCreation

Anyone who denies Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the son of the living God who came and died, the Bible says he's a liar. That's direct, y'all. It says he is the antichrist who denies the father and the son. So if you deny Jesus is the Messiah, you are denying the father and the son. Now watch this next part. Whoever denies the son does not have the father. What? You deny Jesus, you don't have the father. God is not in you. You don't know God. [00:16:41] (36 seconds) #DenyingJesusIsLying

Any teaching that denies Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior, denies the relationship between the father and the son, and denies the Messiah has come, all these things are the spirit of antichrist, and the antichrist is in the earth. He done said it, the spirit of antichrist. Am I making sense, everybody? Now watch this next part: antichrist is any teaching that denies or distorts the word of God in the declaration of who, what Jesus is. [00:17:56] (29 seconds) #WhyAttackJesus

It's not saying that. It's just saying you left by yourself are not an orphan, that the spirit of God lives in you, and if you were stuck on an island without anybody to teach you, you have an anointing on the inside of you and the spirit of God can teach you even if you are all by yourself, amen. You are not by yourself. I like to say it this way: you may be alone, but you're not lonely. You know what I mean? You may be by yourself, but there's always someone with you. [00:25:44] (31 seconds) #WorldDoesNotKnowUs

If you walk on this planet and you're born again, you should be looking at the earth going, uh-oh, something's wrong here, something's wrong here. There should be an unction on the inside of you that says, uh-uh, this problem is bigger than politics, this problem is bigger than political leaders, this problem has been here for about six thousand years. It's not going to resolve until the king of kings and the lord of lords returns and fixes it, amen, amen. It's bigger than that, it's bigger than all that. [00:29:53] (30 seconds)

You should know that this world is a fixer-upper at best, all right. If it would, I've told you this before and I'm gonna say one more time, you're ready, here it is, you're ready, if it was me, I'd have flipped it, okay. God has decided to restore it, which I think is a better option, all right, but nevertheless, look at this, you ready, therefore the world does not know us. This is not about information, it's not saying the world doesn't know who we are, but rather it doesn't have intimacy, fellowship, and connection with us. [00:30:31] (29 seconds)

But we know that when he is revealed, in other words, we don't know what we're going to be, but here's what we do know: when he is revealed, we shall be like him. Come on, that's all you need to know, praise God, you're going to be like him. Look at this next part, for we shall see him as he is, as he is, and look at this next one, and we're gonna land it, and everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself. God, help me walk after you just as he is. Do you believe that? Praise God. [00:31:49] (34 seconds)

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