Antichrists Are Deceivers
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Here is John’s second reference: “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an ANTICHRIST” (II John 7). So antichrists are deceivers, plain and simple.
The apostle Paul also warned of “false apostles” and “deceitful workers,” disguised as “ministers of righteousness” (II Cor. 11:13-15), who went about seducing and deceiving even some true Christians into believing “another gospel”—following “another Jesus”—and bringing “another spirit”—not the Spirit of God (II Cor 11:3-4).
False ministers and teachers, and false brethren, are the “tares” among the “wheat” that Jesus referred to in His Matthew 13:1-58 parable. All of these function to some degree as antichrists. They sound sincere—seem godly—but are far from real Christianity. These tares (false ministers and Christians) are hard to discern from the wheat (real Christians—those who obey God and are led by His Spirit of truth). The confusion of distinguishing tares from wheat made it easy for false Christians to rise into leadership positions and then infect the Church with false doctrines—thus deceiving the many.
Among the worst deceivers in the late first century were the Gnostics, who claimed to possess “special knowledge,” which they considered higher than Scripture. (Gnosticism derives from the Greek word meaning “knowledge.”) They used this inside “knowledge”—that transgressing God’s Law carried no moral consequence—to lead many brethren back into sin, meaning disobedience to God’s Law (I John 3:4).
According to The MacArthur Study Bible, “…Gnosticism was the most dangerous heresy that threatened the early church during the first 3 centuries.” This is what John was dealing with.
Again, antichrists are DECEIVERS. They deceive by denying Christ—and in a variety of ways.
“Denying Christ”
Now John’s third reference: “Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is ANTICHRIST, that denies the Father and the Son” (I John 2:22). Obviously, antichrists in John’s time would not have openly declared, “I deny Christ,” or they could not have blended among God’s people.
So then, what did John mean by “deny Christ?” Vital explanation is required. Follow carefully. Fascinating, powerful and deeply sobering points appear from now on. Here are four distinct teachings of antichrist.
Think. The problem of denying Christ must be other than the obvious—which is merely stating, “I deny Christ.” Notice how Jesus had long before warned His disciples, including John: “Take heed that no man deceive you [true Christians]. For many shall come in My name, saying, I AM Christ [no denial here] and [still] shall deceive many” (Matt. 24:4-5). This deceit would have to do then with other truths in God’s Word—including how God defines antichrist. The devil—the “god of this world” (II Cor. 4:4)—does not want civilization—including you—to prepare for what is coming. He wants the truth about antichrist suppressed.
So then, again, how does one deny Christ?
The Gnostics taught that flesh is entirely evil and that spirit is entirely good. Except for demons, this is true. But the famous Gnostic leader Cerinthus, who lived in Ephesus (modern southwest Turkey), denied that God, who is Spirit, could become flesh. He taught that this was impossible. Thus, some believed that when Jesus walked the earth, He did not have a real body—it only seemed real. He was a kind of phantom.
Others believed that a divine Christ (who is spirit) joined with the human Jesus (who was flesh) at baptism, but left Him just before He died. Since the divine Christ did not die, they next reasoned that He did not need to be resurrected from the dead.
Both ideas are false. They deny that Jesus was once a flesh-and-blood human being—that He was tempted like all men, and capable of sinning, but did not. This belief centres around the idea, therefore, that His death was not actual. However, were this true, mankind would have no Saviour. This certainly denies Christ—and is thus ANTIchrist.
The false doctrines of Cerinthus and the Gnostics are based on human reasoning (Prov. 14:12;16:25). They reject the clear, simple truth of Scripture—the greatest problem with so many today.
Did Christ Overcome Temptation?
But this goes further—in fact, much further: If Jesus was not flesh, then He was not tempted to sin. If He was never tempted, He was not capable of sinning. If He was incapable of sinning, then He did not overcome sin—and therefore could not set a perfect example for us to follow.
John also recorded that Jesus Christ did become flesh: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God…and the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us” (John 1:1-2, 14). That’s plain! Jesus Christ was God and came to Earth in the flesh.
Matthew 4:1-25 describes Jesus’ 40-day temptation in the wilderness by Satan: “Then was Jesus led up of the spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil” (Mt 4:1). Again, if Christ was not flesh, temptation was no worry. Also consider. There would have been no need for Jesus to fast during the 40 days to remain spiritually strong so He could resist what would not have been, in fact, temptation. False teaching is always illogical in the end.
Let’s understand. James 1:13 states, “God [as a spirit—John 4:24] cannot be tempted with evil.” This is also plain. But Hebrews 4:15 states, “But [Jesus] was in all points TEMPTED like as we are…” And this is just as plain.
The point is that ALL flesh is subject to temptation.
Jesus declared plainly, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). And, “To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in My throne, even as I also overcame” (Rev. 3:21). How was this possible if He was never tempted and therefore never capable of sinning? Again, this means He did not overcome sin, as He said, and He could not have set an example for Christians to do the same, as the apostle Peter wrote. Notice: “For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us [via crucifixion, but also in overcoming and defeating sin. How do we know this? Notice.], leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: Who did no sin…” (I Pet. 2:21-22).
So then—and let’s continue to be plain—teaching that Christians do not have to OVERCOME SIN in their own personal lives—the breaking of God’s 10 Commandments (read I John 3:4)—and we should add, this includes the fourth one about the seventh-day Sabbath that almost all reject—is the doctrine of ANTICHRIST.
You must comprehend this entire statement. Read and reread it until you do.
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