Reflections with Andy - 1 John 2: 18-28 – What Are We Pulled to?

In this Friday reflection on 1 John 2:18–28, John’s warning about “the antichrist” gets reframed in a way that’s far more practically useful than the endless game of identifying one singular villain — whether that’s Mikhail Gorbachev’s birthmark in the ‘80s or whoever’s being cast in that role today. John’s real concern is the plural: many antichrists, defined simply as anyone who denies the Father and the Son. The more honest question for us is how we ourselves deny Christ — not in our stated beliefs, but in our actions, our words, and the company we keep on social media and beyond. The reflection lands on a pointed diagnostic: look at the voices you allow to speak into your life, and ask what they’re producing in you. If the fruit is anger, contempt, and division, those voices are pulling you away from Jesus regardless of how righteous they sound. John’s closing word is simple: abide in him — and be very careful what you let shape your soul.

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Good morning, and happy Friday! Hope you have a great weekend ahead. We don’t have much planned — just hoping to get a little work done outside if the rain stays away. If you’re looking for a place to worship this Sunday, we’d love to have you at Saint Matthew’s. We’re combining services in the sanctuary, and our District Superintendent Trey Harper will be preaching — it’s always good to have Trey with us.

Today we’re finishing up chapter 2 of First John, reading verses 18 through 28:

“Children, it is the last hour! As you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. From this we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they did not belong to us; for if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us. But by going out they made it plain that none of them belongs to us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and all of you have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and you know that no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; everyone who confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is what he has promised us, eternal life. I write these things to you concerning those who would deceive you. As for you, the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and so you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming.”

So — the Antichrist. I’m not going to go deep into Revelation today. Holly and I taught through Revelation for many, many months in our Sunday school class at Saint Matthew’s, and my standing summary is basically this: it’s going to be hard, people are going to be mean and ugly, and it’s not going to be a lot of fun — but we’re going to be okay. God sees the suffering of his people. God sees their persecution. He will not leave them nor forsake them, and to those who overcome goes the victory. That’s Revelation. You’re welcome.

But what I find really fascinating in today’s passage is what John actually does with the concept of the Antichrist. Because notice — he doesn’t say the Antichrist is here. He says many antichrists have come. Plural.

And I think that’s the more practical word for us today. I’m almost 50, so I remember Mikhail Gorbachev being identified as the Antichrist in the ‘80s — the birthmark on his forehead was supposed to be the mark of the beast. Some of you remember that. Then we had the whole Left Behind era in the ‘90s — book after book, movie after movie, and it was basically a game of pin-the-tail-on-the-Antichrist. And whoever you liked politically, they were not the Antichrist. Whoever you didn’t like? Definitely the Antichrist. That game hasn’t stopped. You can find someone calling just about anyone the Antichrist online today if you look hard enough.

But John redirects us. Don’t fixate on tracking down the one big bad Antichrist — God’s going to handle all of that. What John says to watch for is this: who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? The antichrist — with a lowercase a, plural — is anyone who denies the Father and the Son. Anyone who denies the work of God, the work of the Spirit, the lordship of Jesus Christ.

And I think the more honest and practical question for us is: how do we deny Christ? Not necessarily in our stated beliefs, but in our actions. In how we speak. In how we treat people. In whether we’re actually being the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.

And then there’s this — who are the voices speaking into your life? This is a real test, friends. The people you follow on social media, the podcasts you listen to, the media you consume — when you finish watching or listening, what are you filled with? Are you filled with love, peace, patience, joy, kindness, gentleness, mercy, self-control? The fruit of the Spirit? Or are you filled with anger? Contempt? Rage?

Because there are voices on all sides — all sides — that are designed to inflame. That push us toward division and contempt for our neighbors, our fellow believers, our fellow citizens. And the question isn’t just whether those voices are politically agreeable to us. The question is: do they push you closer to Jesus? Do they increase your devotion to the gospel? Do they make you want to serve your neighbor, worship more deeply, read your Bible, pray, receive the sacraments, love God with everything you have and love your neighbor as yourself?

Or do they push you away from all of that?

Little children, abide in him, John says, so that when he is revealed we may have confidence and not be put to shame before him at his coming. That’s the word. Abide in him. Be careful what you let into your soul — what you watch, what you absorb, what you allow to shape you. If it’s not pushing you toward Jesus and loving like Jesus, it’s pulling you somewhere you don’t want to go.

Love God. Love neighbor. If we do that, everything else finds its place.

Have a great weekend, friends. We’ll pick back up Monday. See you then!