What do Nero, Napoleon, Stalin and Hitler all have in common? They were all accused of being the Antichrist. 

The apostle John uses the word “Antichrist” five times in his letters. But what does it mean? The Louw-Nida Greek lexicon defines the term like this: “one who is opposed to Christ, in the sense of usurping the role of Christ… The term antichristos appears to have become increasingly equivalent to a proper name as the personification of all that was opposed to and contrary to the role and ministry of Christ.”

John the apostle certainly envisions a day in the future when a major Antichrist figure will come before the return of Jesus. This is most likely the same as the “man of lawlessness” who Paul mentions in 2 Thessalonians 2:3. 

At the same time, however, he says that “many antichrists have come” (1 John 2:18). In fact, they “went out from us,” meaning there are more than one and that they had once been a part of his own congregation!

In the context of his letters, these antichrists were false teachers who had heard the truth, rejected it, and were now engaged in deliberating misleading others with an incorrect understanding of Jesus. They were also, therefore, misrepresenting him. They were “anti” (against) the real Christ.

It is tempting to read passages like these and point our fingers at others. And make no mistake about it—we should definitely be on guard against deception. But passages like this also compel us to look in the mirror…

Are we misunderstanding Jesus? Are we misrepresenting him to others?

It’s tempting to latch on to certain likeable things about Jesus while dismissing everything else. But let’s avoid the temptation to cherry-pick. Misunderstanding Jesus—or, at least, partially understanding Jesus—can lead to misrepresentation.

How do we know if the Jesus we follow is the real Jesus? By ensuring he is the Jesus we find in the Bible.

Let’s look in the mirror, study the Scriptures, and follow the real Jesus with integrity.

Notes:

-“Purging the Antichrist from our Midst.” Click here. Sermon.
-Bible quotes are from the ESV.