Counterfeit Christians; Is It Me?

Today we will be looking at 1 John 2:18-26.

18 Dear children, this is the last hour; and as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come. This is how we know it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us.



20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 21 I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 22 Who is the liar? It is whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a person is the antichrist—denying the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also.


24 As for you, see that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is what he promised us—eternal life.


26 I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray.


Here John is specifically warning against counterfeit Christians. Those who seemed to be part of Christianity, but are not in reality. He goes so far as to name them anti-Christs, the opposite of Christ. How do we know who these false teachers are? Here are some guidelines to help us.
1. Be anointed
     a. Know Jesus Christ
     b. Be filled with the Spirit
     c. Walk & Live in Christ

2. Know the truth
     a. Know who Christ is
     b. Know what Scripture says
     c. Be teachable

3. Identify the lie
     a. Does Scripture support it?
     b. Does tradition support it?
     c. Do respected teachers support it?
Conclusion: There are those among us who would draw us away from the truth. We need to know the truth and be able to identify the lie. We also need to look at ourselves. Am I on track? Am I in the truth and can I identify any lies in my own life?

It comes down to being willing to give over everything we are and let the transformation begin. and Lord let it start with me.

Just Connie