The apostle John was aware of it, and it concerned him greatly, so he wrote letters to the churches of which he was overseeing, to warn them of false teachings and to combat the accusations that the false teachers were making, with the truth. These letters are named, 1, 2 and 3 John in the Bible.
John called these false teachers liars and antichrists because they denied that Jesus was the Christ. He said that though they had heard that the antichrist was coming, many antichrists had come into the world and were already here:
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. 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. But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. 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. 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. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. – 1 John 2:18-23
John says that whoever denies that Jesus is the Christ and whoever denies the Father and the Son, is the antichrist - 2:22.
John said that “No one who denies the Son has the Father “ – 2:23.
John mentioned the antichrist again later in 4:3:
and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. - I John 4:3
Whoever does not confess that Jesus came in the flesh has the spirit of the antichrist, who was already in the world at that time.
Part of what the false teachers were teaching, was a heresy called, Docetism, which taught that Jesus only “seemed” to have a human body, denying His full humanity. Docetism taught that Jesus did not have a natural body of flesh, but only a heavenly body. If Docetism were true, then there would be no death and resurrection of Christ. This is why John said what he said in 4:3. There were many antichrists teaching that Jesus did not come in the flesh, in direct opposition to what the apostles had personally witnessed to and were teaching.
These false teachers were a part of the church, but they left it, indicating that they were not ever really a part of it – 2:19.
John had been a disciple of Jesus and was personally appointed by Jesus to be one of His apostles, so he was a witness of everything that Jesus taught and did while he was on earth. Because he was an apostle, his assignment was to tell everyone everything that he saw Jesus do and heard Jesus say.
John was keenly aware of his assignment, and he opens his first letter to the churches with a statement to make it clear to them that he and the other apostles were witnesses of Jesus’s life, death, resurrection and ascension, and therefore they knew the truth of who Jesus was and what He taught:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life— the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us— that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. – 1 John 1:1-3
Apparently, another false teachings that was infiltrating the early church was that the spirit is good, and matter, which includes the body, is evil. They also taught that salvation is escape from the body, and is achieved by special knowledge, not by belief in Jesus. These teaching led people to believe that they could live however they wanted, including in sin. Since they believed the body was evil, they believed they did not have to live according to Jesus’s commands. When they sinned, they would punish themselves by causing harm to their bodies. This teaching led to immortality in the church:
This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. - I John 1:5-10
John urged the church to remain in Christ and not to be led astray by the false teachings of the antichrists:
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. And this is what he promised us—eternal life. I am writing these things to you about those who are trying to lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him. – 1 John 2:24-29
The final thing I want to mention today is that John describes believers in his first letter to the churches as “my dear children” and “children of God “, and the church as a spiritual family with siblings and a Father. Because of this, we have hope:
See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. - 1 John 3:1-3
Let’s look at some other passages where John refers to believers as “children of God” and the church as a spiritual family. Note that John refers to himself as “The elder “ in 2 and 3 John. An elder is an overseer of the church. John uses language of family for the church that he is overseeing by calling them “My dear children”. He also often uses the term "brother" for spiritual siblings:
“My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin.” – 2:1
“I write to you dear children…” – 2:12 x2
“Dear children…” – 2:18
“And now dear children…” – 2:28
“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” – 3:1
“Dear friends, now we are children of God…” – 3:2
“Dear children” – 3:7
“No one who is born of God will continue to sin…” – 3:9
“he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.“ – 3:9
“This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God; not is anyone who does not love his brother.” – 3:10
“Do not be surprised my brothers…” – 3:13
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.” – 3:14
“Anyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life in him.” – 3:15
“And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” – 3:16
“If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” – 3:17
“Dear children “ – 3:18
“You dear children “ – 4:4
“Everyone who loves has been born of God “ – 4:7
“And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the savior of the world.” – 4:14
“If anyone says, ‘I love God’, yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” – 4:20
“And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” – 4:21
“Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves His child as well.” – 5:1
“This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out His commands.” – 5:2
“This is love for God: to obey His commands. And His commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world.” – 5:3-4
“If anyone sees his brother commit a sin that does not lead to death…” – 5:16
“We know that anyone born of God does not continue to sin; the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him.” – 5:18
“We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one.” – 5:19
“Dear children, keep yourself from idols.” – 5:21
The apostle John records Jesus using similar language when speaking with the Pharisee, Nicodemus, in the account he wrote of Jesus’s life:
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.”
“How can a man be born when he is old?” Nicodemus asked. “Surely he cannot enter a second time into his mother’s womb to be born!”
Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. You should not be surprised by my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” – John 3:3-8
Jesus also described the church as a spiritual family:
Then one said to Him, “Look, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside, seeking to speak with You.” But He answered and said to the one who told Him, “Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” And He stretched out His hand toward His disciples and said, “Here are My mother and My brothers! For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.” - Matthew 12:47-50
Though he doesn't use language of family, the apostle Peter said, when writing his letter to Christians who included Jews and Gentiles who had been scattered throughout much of Asia Minor, that believers are a royal priesthood. Royal because we are the subjects of a King - King Jesus.
Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame.” Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious; but to those who are disobedient, “The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone,” and “A stone of stumbling And a rock of offense.” They stumble, being disobedient to the word, to which they also were appointed.
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they Observe, glorify God in the day of visitation. - I Peter 2:4-12
Conclusion
God's people are extremely special and important to Him because they are His children and the royal subjects of King Jesus who reigns over His eternal kingdom.
The apostles John and Peter combatted attacks made against the early church by false teachers.
John described the false teachers as antichrists because they denied that Jesus was the Christ and that He came in the flesh. He said that though they had heard that the antichrist was coming, he was already there, and that those who do not confess that Jesus came in the flesh has the spirit of the antichrist - an anti-Christ spirit. John is not talking about eschatology here, but false teachers who were present in his day.
Believers who are born again by the Spirit are the children of God and God is their Father. They have a spiritual family comprised of brothers, sisters and mothers who comprise the body of Christ which is the church.
These same believers are also the subjects of the kingdom of God where Jesus reigns as King, making them a royal priesthood. Though not everyone would agree, I believe the church comprises the kingdom of God.
Because God sacrificed His Son Jesus to forgive man’s sin and to reconcile them back to Himself, there is no longer a need for sacrifices, a temple or priests. The old sacrificial system is gone! To restore this system would be an abomination to God, making Christ's sacrifice for man's sin worthless.
Now, Jesus is the Temple, and whoever believes in Him are His people and priests.
There is no longer need for a priest to meditate between God and man, because Jesus is the Mediator of the new covenant, where God’s laws are written in our minds and on our hearts, and where He is our God, and we are His people.
We, who were once living in darkness and were not God’s children or people, are now a chosen generation, a holy nation, His own special people. We are now His children by rebirth through belief in Jesus.
Believers are now the temple of God, where God’s Holy Spirit dwells. All who believe in Jesus are now God’s people, hallelujah!
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