Three-in-One: The Relational GodНамуна

God's Fellowship (12)

True Sons & Daughters

The term antichrist has taken on mythic proportions, both in pop culture and in religion. People often associate it with a global war, the end of the world, Armageddon, doomsday, final judgement, and other apocalyptic things.

Would you be surprised to learn that the word antichrist appears only five times in the Bible, all in 1 John and 2 John? According to 1 John, an antichrist is anyone who denies the Father and the Son. In Greek, the word can mean more than just “against” or “opposed to” (anti) the anointed one (Christ, which means Messiah). It can also mean “in place of in order to work against.” That would be someone who claims to be Christ in order to work against Christ.

The answer to the antichrist isn’t a mystery. “Remain faithful to what you have been taught from the beginning. If you do, you will remain in fellowship with the Son and with the Father” (1 John 2:24).

Antichrists don’t get the last word in the book of First John or in the history of the world. Beware of them, yes. But don’t fear them. They don’t have any hold or power over God’s true children.

Reflect

• Your true identity is a son or daughter of God. Are you confident in that identity? Why or why not? How does knowing and believing your true identity help protect you against fear, worry, and lies?
• What do you learn about God in these verses? (When Paul writes "God" he almost always means the Father.)
• What do you learn about Jesus in these verses? (When Paul writes "Lord" he almost always means Jesus).
• What do you learn about the Holy Spirit in these verses?
• What do you learn about humanity and yourself in these verses?