Is the Anti-Christ here yet?



I grew up hearing various interpretations of “anti-Christ.”  These definitions ranged from a special person, a specific denomination or church—someone or some organization that would rise up and deceive the religious world—after the true church had vanished.  While there may or may not be some credence in some or all of that, John in his epistles is the only biblical writer who actually uses the term anti-Christ.

John’s definition. ἀντίχριστος,—Literally means, an opponent of the true Christ—John uses it:
1John 2:18, 22; 4:3; 2John 7


This is the spirit of Anti-Christ.

1.  People who say that Jesus was not truly human—that is, Jesus didn’t have a human body.  His body was an illusion.  (This is the ancient heresy of Docetism)

2.  People who say and preach that Jesus was not truly divine. (This is the ancient heresy of Arianism)

The other day I heard a radio talk show host state the following.  “I believe in Jesus—but I don’t believe he was divine.”  That is anti-Christ.   There are organizations that knock on doors that are anti-Christ—they do not believe Jesus was truly divine.  This is the ancient heresy of Arianism.    

1 John 4:1-4
“Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.”


The spirit of anti-Christ, is literally, against Christ, or instead of Christ.  It is opposing Christ.  It is an attack on Jesus as the Christ.  If Jesus is NOT the Christ—if He is NOT divine, then all humanity is lost in sin.

Don’t look for a person you can label ‘Anti-Christ.’  Be vigilant—the spirit of anti-Christ has since ancient times been attacking the true person of Jesus Christ beloved Son of the Father.  

The historic Nicene Creed was written, learned, and recited by the ancient church to combat such heresies as Docetism and Arianism.  Perhaps we might learn and recite it again? 

Comments

  1. Unknown31 December 2018 at 09:35

    Good words, Peter. Much needed as people still seem to want to identify THE Anti-Christ and end up missing the everyday, ongoing battle with the spirit of antichrist.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Unknown31 December 2018 at 09:35

    Not sure why it’s not publishing my name, but that was Michael Krahn.

    ReplyDelete

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