This is Spoken Gospel.

We’re dedicated to seeing 
Jesus in all of scripture.

In each episode, we see what’s 
happening in a Biblical text

and how it sheds light
on Jesus and his gospel.

Let’s jump in.

John’s letters are the only books in the
Bible to mention a figure called the antichrist.

And in 1 John, he addresses
them directly in chapters 2 and 4.

In chapter four, John will call this 
same group of people “false prophets”.

John is quick to point out that there is not just one, 
but many antichrists and that the antichrists 
are a normal part of church life.

And antichrists share two things in common.

First, they were once a part of 
John’s church, but have since then left.

Second, they deny that Jesus is the “Christ,” 
which is a Greek word that means “Anointed One”.

Throughout Scripture God
has anointed many people.

King David is one of the most famous examples.

Being anointed meant God chose, commissioned,
and filled someone with his Spirit to save his people.

So, to deny that Jesus is God’s Anointed One
means you are literally “against-Christ”  

and against God’s plans to save his people.

But these antichrists weren’t just teaching 
their beliefs, they were killing for them.

In John’s Gospel, Jesus warned that people
like this would persecute and kill his disciples.

And John’s community
knows this from experience.

So, John encourages them in their 
confusion and despair with good news.

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The good news is that John’s 
disciples have been anointed by God,  

and those who are against 
God’s anointed have no power.

John’s disciples don’t need to be afraid 
of the lies that God’s enemies throw around  

because the Holy Spirit has 
filled them with the truth.

God has sent his Son in the flesh.

Jesus is the Anointed One.

And the Anointed One has risen 
from the dead to save his people.

The truth is, those anti- the Anointed 
One have already been defeated.

And just as John’s disciples, we
are filled with the same anointing.

Antichrists live in the world, 
but God’s anointing lives in us.

Antichrists might teach and sound 
convincing to the world outside,  

but we have a better teacher living 
in us to remind us of what’s true.

We don’t need to fear philosophies,
arguments, and worldviews

that are anti-Jesus, because the
world and its lies are passing away.

Soon, all that will be left is the truth that Jesus passed
away but rose as the Anointed One, 
commissioned by God to save us from death.

As John says: Little children, you are 
from God and have overcome the antichrists,  

because he who is in you is
greater than he who is in the world.

Even if the antichrists conspire 
together to kill us, they can’t win.

God’s Anointed One died and rose and we 
have been anointed with that same Spirit.

And even when we die, Christians win.

There is no antichrist 
that’s ultimately threatening  

because Jesus the Christ has
risen from the dead and lives in us.

May the Holy Spirit open your eyes to 
see the God who's anointed his Son, Jesus.

And may you see Jesus as the Christ who has
already defeated the antichrists and all their power.