1 John 2:18-23

1 John 2:18-23 … Here we encounter the “antichrist” or one who takes a stand in opposition to Jesus. The term is unique to these smaller books of John and appears only in 1 John and 2 John. There is speculation that the antichrist might be a manifestation of Satan, but the use of the term by John seems to refer to anyone who denies the deity of Jesus Christ. According to verse 18, apparently the people of the time had an expectation that antichrists would appear, attempting to undermine the Gospel account. The antidote for antichrists is the anointing of the Holy Spirit (v.20), who reveals the truth to believers. (John 16:7-15 gives Jesus’ teaching of the ministry of the Holy Spirit to believers.) The condition of atheism (taking a stand against God) is a serious offense toward God. It’s clarified for us in verse 23: those who deny the Son of God are also denying the Father. Obviously that’s true because God has sent His Son into the world and any who would deny that has rejected God’s word. But there’s more: in receiving the Son, we receive the Father also, because, as Jesus has said, “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30)