1 John 2:22 - Exposition

The greatest possible lie.

Connecting link: The chrism from the Christ will ward off antichrist, because it will give such clear and quick intuitions concerning what is true and what is false, that the lie of antichrist will be instantly seen to be such, and Christ's anointed ones will not be deceived by him. And the value of this safeguard against antichrist is seen in the fact that the lie he would propagate being not merely on a minor point of detail, but concerning the Person of the Christ himself, it covers so much ground and carries so much along with it, that this lie of antichrist is the greatest which could be uttered. "Who is the liar," etc. ὁ ψεύστης ? Hence the topic presented to the homiletic expositor. Topic— The lie of antichrist the greatest falsehood possible.

I. WHAT IS THAT WHICH ANTICHRIST DENIES ? The several references to antichrist indicate that the main, if not the sole, mischief of antichrist lies in denial. It is not unfrequently so. To deny, or, if that be too daring an effort, to call in question, Divine testimony and even first principles, is the favourite method of the father of lies. It is an easy way of seeking to unsettle and beguile unstable souls, to cast doubt on everything. And as if he himself did not know the difference between a spirit of inquiry and a spirit of doubt, one of our foremost men of science has laid it down as an axiom that the first step in science is to doubt everything! The evil one knows too well that it is much quicker work to throw down than to build up. And hence he tries this easy way of ruining souls by attempting to overthrow all that is sacred in their religious beliefs. As he could not prevail against the King when he met him in single combat, he aims his deadly blow at his subjects, in order to seduce them from their loyalty by casting doubts upon and even denying the Christ. This denial, not without motive, gathers round the Son of God. If we lose him, all is lost that is peculiar to our faith, as we shall presently see. The denial of Jesus as the Christ may take one or more of four forms.

1 . The denial of Jesus as the Messiah, the Anointed of the Father. £ In this respect the minds of the Jews (among others)are blinded to this day.

2 . The denial of Jesus as combining the Divine and human natures in one person: according to the Gnostic theory that the Christ descended upon the man Jesus at his baptism, and left him before his Passion (see Westcott, in loc. ).

3 . The denial of Jesus as the eternal Son of the Father, and the consequent denial of the Incarnation. All the present systems of unbelief are at one on this point; though "neither so does their witness agree together" in aught save the denial.

4 . The denial of Jesus as the Lord of his Church enthroned in heaven. The latest result of theology is affirmed to be, inter alia, "that the Christ holds no office whatever." The same in substance, the denial changes its forms.

II. WHAT DOES THIS DENIAL INVOLVE ? Many errors are not only serious in themselves, but are even more so on account of others which they drag along with them (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:1-58 ). We have remarked that if we lose our Christ, we lose all. So, indeed, the apostle himself argues. "Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father;" i.e., as Westcott aptly puts it, "He hath not the Son, whom he rejects, nor yet the Father, whom he professes to regard." According to this denial:

1 . There is no Fatherhood and Sonship in the Divine Nature.

2 . God is not the Father as Christ represented him (see 'Speaker's Commentary' on 1 John 2:23 ).

3 . We have no personal revelation of God, nor any message of love from the eternal throne.

4 . We have no redemption.

5 . We have no Saviour and no salvation.

6 . We have no Head of humanity with living and regenerative power to quicken the dead mass of souls. We may have from one source or other, to some extent, a revelation of law, order, and duty; but we have no disclosure of any power or provision to quicken to obedience to the Law, observance of the order or fulfillment of the duty. £

III. ON WHAT GROUNDS IS SUCH A DENIAL MADE ? Broadly and generally this denial comes either of a misguided intellect or a depraved heart. It may be made in the name of philosophy or of science (in both cases falsely so called). The Christ comes as Revealer and Redeemer. Antichrist denies both the revelation and the redemption, either on the ground

IV. THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH THE DENIAL IS MADE .

1 . In spite of the dearest testimony to the facts and doctrines denied— testimony , given by blameless men, in the teeth of their own natural and strongest prepossessions to the contrary. (Let this last clause be duly weighed.)

2 . In spite of the tenderest seal. The blood of Christ. "The blood of the everlasting covenant."

3 . In spite of the most powerful confirmation. The resurrection of Christ. The descent of the Holy Ghost. The sustentation of a living Church to this day, in spite of every conceivable effort to destroy it.

4 . And in many cases the denial is made with a defiant recklessness, or a proud supercilious scorn, as if by the efforts of their pen men would wish the dearest hopes of millions to be dashed to the ground!

V. THE CONSEQUENCES WHICH WOULD FOLLOW THE SUCCESS OF ANTICHRIST 'S DENIAL .

If (as shown under division II ) the denial drags along with it all other Christian doctrines, then the basis and support of the noblest life ceases. Men talk largely about the evolution of the race, forgetting to note:

1 . That it is only the portion of the race which is leavened by Christian thought that is thus advancing.

2 . That the advance is prompted by men who, because leavened with Christian thought, are inspired by faith, hope, and level But destroy Christian doctrine, then

VI. APPLICATION AND INFERENCES .

1 . If these things be so, then no one need be surprised that some of the controversies respecting Christian doctrine which have been carried on in the Church have been so sharp and bitter. The many who took thoughtlessly over the history of the divisions of Christendom, and who laugh at or pour scorn on the sternness of religious war, would do well to look a little deeper. If they understood more, they would jeer less. Tolerance may arise from short-sightedness or indifference; intolerance, from the clear foresight of what must follow if such and such an error be permitted to flourish. And the more ardently a believer loves his Lord, the more angry is he likely to be at aught which would obscure his glory! Of all the apostles John loved most fervently, yet he it is who lashes most severely.

2 . Let us, too, be very jealous for the honour of our Lord and Master; and if any, in our hearing, deny him the glory which is his due, let us not be found wanting in the defense. We should at least insist on such points as these:

3 . The confession of Christ, by contending for the right doctrine concerning him, should in every case be attended with a Christ-like life. We shall best contend for him non sonando, seal amando.