“Antichrist - or Anointing?”

May 17, 2009 1Jn 2:15-27, 4:1-6    Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (wmv)

●    ANTICHRIST - THEN AND NOW?!

    ○    end-times enthusiasts anticipate coming of ‘the beast’ / ‘man of lawlessness’ (2Thess 2; Rev 13; Mk 13:22)
    ○    yet many antichrists have already come: bent on world’s desires (1Jn 2:18)

●    UNDER THE SPELL OF PASSING DESIRES

    ○    ‘2-4' holidaying susceptible to passing excesses (Eph 5:18)
    ○    departure from churches due to popularity of Gnostic teaching (2:19,26; 4:5f)
    ○    ‘antichrist’ = deny Jesus Christ came in the flesh (2:22; 4:2f; Gal 1:7f)
    ○    speak from world’s viewpoint, exalt self over God (4:5; 2Thess 2:4)
    ○    world characterized by lust of flesh & eyes, & pride of life (2:15f; Gen 3:3,6; Mt 4:3-9)
    ○    world and its desires passing away like a bulldozed shack (2:17)

●    LASTING BENEFITS OF THE GODLY

    ○    LOVE (2:15, 3:1, 4:15f)
    ○    LAST: live forever (2:17,25)
    ○    LEAN: ‘anointing’ of Holy Spirit, God-in-us (2:20,24,27; 4:4,6)
    ○    LEARN: teaching of Holy Spirit / New Testament (2:20, 27; Jn 14:26, 16:13)
    ○    LISTEN: need mentors, heed church leaders; Barnabas / Paul / Timothy (4:6)

●    BEYOND ‘THINGS’-IDENTITY

    ○    folly of getting our identity from money/things instead of in Christ