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Read: 1 John 2:18-22
Listen: 1 John 2

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. 1 John 2:18

John desires to see his spiritual children remain in the truth. He writes to warn them about the “antichrists.” These false teachers threaten believers’ ability to remain in the truth. John tells of a primary antichrist—a key and powerful world leader who deceives many, opposes God and persecutes the church. He also warns of many “antichrists,” some of whom had been part of their community. The “antichrists” include anyone who opposes Jesus and deceives others about him.

It is crucial that we hold a correct view of Jesus and his finished work. The greatest threat to the church isn’t external, it’s internal. It’s believing an almost truth or a distorted truth about Jesus.  We must be grounded in the core truths of the gospel and the Christian faith. The heart of true teaching about Jesus includes at least three correct beliefs about him: Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is the Savior. Jesus is the King. To remain in the truth, we must be convinced of these realities and resist teachings that suggest the contrary.

TODAY: Take action to protect yourself from distorted teachings about Jesus. Make a list of the spiritual voices you listen to regularly. Ask yourself, “Do they teach that Jesus is the Son of God? Do they teach that Jesus is the only way to God? Do they treat Jesus as the ultimate authority?” Ask God for help in recognizing when someone is distorting the truth about Jesus.