Deeper Reflection
THE TERM “ANTICHRIST” (GREEK ANTICHRISTOS)⁴⁸ REFERS to a false teacher who opposes Christ. Antichrists arose from within the Christian communities (v.19) and propagated two central lies – Jesus is not the Christ (v.22) and Jesus Christ has not come in the flesh (1 Jn 4:1-3). Essentially, they denied that Jesus was both fully God and fully man. In denying the Son, they also denied the Father (vv.22-23). Under demonic influence directed by Satan,⁴⁹ antichrists will continue to arise and oppose the true knowledge of Jesus in “the last hour” (v.18) – the final period before His Second Coming (v.28).⁵⁰ Taught by the Holy Spirit, true believers know the truth and can discern the lies (vv.20, 27).The Holy Spirit also empowers God’s children to practise righteousness (v.29; 1 Jn 3:7). When we abide in Christ, we will not keep on sinning (1 Jn 3:6). It is the devil’s children who make a practice of sinning (1 Jn 3:4, 8, 10). No one born of God will keep practising sin (1 Jn 3:9). It is not that Christians are perfectly righteous and do not sin at all in this present life.⁵¹ Rather it is that God’s children have been transformed by God’s Word and Spirit, such that they cannot live in a pattern of continual sin. When we do sin, we must confess and repent of our sins, receive God’s forgiveness and cleansing,⁵² and renew our fellowship with God. The glorious truth is that when Jesus returns, all of God’s children will be like Jesus (1 Jn 3:2) – conformed to Jesus’ image, perfected in purity and righteousness, and without any sin in us!⁵³

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⁴⁸ Mentioned only five times in the Bible and all in John’s letters (vv.18, 22, 1 Jn 4:3; 2 Jn 7). ⁴⁹ See 1 John 4:1-6. ⁵⁰ See further https://thirdmill.org/studybible/note.asp/id/42444 ⁵¹ See 1 John 1:8-10. ⁵² On account of Jesus’ atoning sacrifice for our sins: 1 John 2:1-2; 4:10. ⁵³ Cf. 1 Jn 3:3, 5, 7. Jesus is perfectly pure and righteous, without any sin.