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[0:00] Let's take our Bibles this morning, would you, and turn once again to a passage that we looked at, at least part of it, last week, and that is 1 John chapter 2 and verse 18.

[0:29] 1 John chapter 2 verse 18. Last week I read through to verse 23, and this time I want to read all the way through to verse 27.

[0:45] Starting with verse 18, 1 John, little children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many Antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour.

[1:04] They went out from us, but they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out that they might be manifest, made manifest, that none of them were of us.

[1:20] But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

[1:34] Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is Antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either.

[1:48] He who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. Therefore, let that abide in you which you have heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

[2:04] And this is the promise that he has promised us, eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you.

[2:15] But the anointing which you have received from him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you. But as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, it is true and is not a lie.

[2:29] And just as it has taught you, you will abide in him. Shakespeare's Macbeth lamented these words.

[2:42] Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player, that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more.

[2:54] It is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. How depressing. But now, you know, hopefully you know, you should know, that this is not the Christian hope.

[3:10] And it's not the Christian view of life or the history of life. Because the history of life on this planet is really his story.

[3:23] His story. See, the Lord determines the course of history according to his divine purposes. Whether we see it or recognize it or acknowledge it or understand it is not the point.

[3:37] He is ordering the course of things according to his plan. And really, he is the teller of the story. The Lord is no idiot.

[3:48] I mean, the Lord created this world. Right? I mean, we know that. And the Lord came to dwell in this world that he might bear our sin.

[4:01] To die. To be raised. To be ascended. To ascend back into heaven. And we also know that the Lord will one day return to this world. As Wade just sung about.

[4:14] He's going to return. He's going to return to complete his plan. He's going to bring this age to an end. This present evil age. Now, until then, what?

[4:26] What are we to do? What are we to learn? What are we to be aware of? Well, I think that is John's purpose in this passage. Verse 18. Little children, John said.

[4:38] Little children, this is or it is the last hour or the last time. And we started to look at this last week, didn't we?

[4:50] The age we must realize. That's the first thing we see here in this passage. The age, this present age, this present evil age.

[5:01] We must realize that we're in this last evil age. In other places in Scripture, it is referred to as the last days.

[5:14] And that, too, is sometimes confusing to us. Because we take that, you know, just on the surface, mean that we're at the end of it. But we're not necessarily at the end of it.

[5:25] The last days, the final hour. All of that is to describe a time, a period of time, between the first and second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[5:37] It's the age of the gospel. It's the age of the church. And this whole period of time is marked by a number of things. But it's primarily marked by hostility, isn't it?

[5:49] A time that's marked by hostility from the unbelieving world in the form of persecution, of course. We know that. That is hostility from without, from the unbelieving world toward believers, toward Christians.

[6:03] More persecution, perhaps Christian persecution going on in our day than ever before in the history of the church. So certainly the hostility from the unbelieving world comes to, in the form of persecution.

[6:20] But also in the form of infiltration. Infiltration, that is, you know, hostility from within.

[6:32] From within. Infiltration. Infiltrating the church with doctrinal error. And it is the second of these that John is emphasizing in this passage.

[6:44] This, this, this hostility or the false doctrine that is coming from within. Working its way from within the church. It is the infiltration of unbelievers.

[6:58] Infiltration of false teachers. And that's why he then uses the word antichrist. Antichrist. He introduces this word antichrist.

[7:08] And really John does introduce the word. It doesn't appear anywhere else in the New Testament. Antichristos. It appears only right here in John's first letter. Antichrist.

[7:19] And we started to look at that last week too, didn't we? The antichrists we must recognize. The age we must realize that we're in. And all that pertains to it.

[7:31] But also the antichrists we must recognize. And so Paul wrote here in verse 18. Little children, it is the last hour. And as you have heard that the antichrist is coming.

[7:45] Even now many antichrists have come. By which we know that it is the last hour. The final evil age. And again as I pointed out last week.

[7:57] John uses this word antichristos. He uses it twice. In this one verse. First in its singular form. Then in its plural form.

[8:09] So first it is to refer to antichrist. With a capital A. The antichrist. You have heard that the antichrist is coming.

[8:19] And in the Greek form of the word. It is in the masculine. So that leaves the ladies off the hook. Not going to be a female antichrist.

[8:31] Okay. I would suppose. Also it appears in the singular. As I have said. And also by the way in the Greek text.

[8:42] There is no definite article. Now we have it there in the English. But in the Greek text. There is no the before antichrist. Now we add the the because the English grammar.

[8:53] Wants to call emphasis to the antichrist. Being the antichrist. But in the Greek text. It is kind of just the opposite. When a noun doesn't have a definite article.

[9:03] In front of it. It means something. Something different. And so here. The lack of the before antichrist. In the Greek text.

[9:14] Means that this is a formal title. In fact it really ought to read. It could read. You have heard that antichrist is coming. The one who is the antichrist.

[9:27] And therefore. John is referring to the one. Who will come near the end of this present evil age. And shortly before the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[9:41] And he is the one. Remember Paul referred to in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. As the man of lawlessness. He also refers to him as the man of sin.

[9:53] Also as the son of perdition. He uses kind of three descriptions. Of this one. That John calls the antichrist. The antichrist.

[10:04] And so Paul remember said. That you know. Don't be deceived. Don't be confused here. Before the Lord comes. The man of sin is revealed. That's the antichrist.

[10:17] The son of perdition he said. And then he goes on to describe him. In pretty astounding words. He says who opposes. This one opposes. And exalts himself above all that is called God.

[10:29] Or that is worshipped. So that he actually literally sits as God. In the temple of God. Showing himself that he is God.

[10:41] That's quite a description isn't it. Of the antichrist. The one who is yet to come. And Paul goes on to say. The coming of the lawless one. Another term just for the antichrist.

[10:53] The lawless one is according to the working of Satan. With all power. Not all power of God. But all the power of Satan. With all power. Signs.

[11:05] And lying wonders. And with all righteous. Unrighteous. Deception. Among those who perish. That is those who are unsaved. And why would God allow that to happen to the unsaved?

[11:18] He says because they did not receive the love of the truth. That they might be saved. As they rejected the gospel. Of Jesus Christ. So this is the antichrist.

[11:32] Whose coming has been foretold. And also foreshadowed. In Daniel's prophecy. In Daniel 7. 8. 9. Also in chapter 11 of Daniel.

[11:43] You can read that and study that for yourself. Also whose coming has been predicted. As we just read in 2 Thessalonians chapter 2. Verses 3 through 12. And also whose coming has been revealed in Revelation chapter 13.

[11:57] And we looked at those passages last week. Alright so we talked about that last week. The Antichrist. With a capital A. But though it is important.

[12:08] And why I spent some time talking about him last week. Though it's important for us to learn. About what the Bible says concerning the Antichrist. That's really not John's focus here.

[12:22] Alright. It's important to study those passages about the Antichrist. And have a correct understanding about him. But this is not what John's emphasis is. His focus here. In fact John really just mentions Antichrist in passing.

[12:36] Just you know. He says you have heard that Antichrist is coming. And that's it. That's all he says about him. Then very quickly John turns his attention to his second use of the word Antichristos.

[12:50] This time in the plural form. And then he begins to zero in on them. Antichrists. With a lower case a.

[13:01] Okay. Not the Antichrist. But Antichrists. And so he begins to focus on them. And he says even now. Many Antichrists. Many of them. Have come.

[13:14] John said. That is they're here right now. And we can say that today as well. They have come. They appear. They're present. All throughout this present evil age.

[13:24] So they have come. By which we know that it is the last hour. It characterizes this present age. And so these are the ones that we need to be concerned about.

[13:37] Really. To look for. To recognize. And so what does John tell us about these Antichrists? What does he tell us so that we'll be able to recognize them? How will we know them?

[13:48] And there are three things basically. Number one. Their fatal problem. Their fatal problem. And what is that?

[13:59] They deny the fundamentals. Of the faith. The fatal problem for the Antichrist. Is. That they deny. The fundamentals.

[14:11] The fundamentals of the faith. And we need to skip on down to verse 22. To see this. Who is a liar? John is asking. Who is a liar? But he who denies. That Jesus is the Christ.

[14:23] He is Antichrist. Or so. It leaves no doubt in our minds. He is Antichrist. Not the Antichrist. With a capital A. Though this is true of him as well.

[14:33] Will be true of him. But all the many Antichrists. Who have come. And will continue to come. All throughout this present evil age. They're liars. Because they deny that Jesus is the Christ.

[14:46] He is Antichrist. He says there in verse 22. Who denies the Father and the Son. Also the very first. Fundamental of the true faith.

[14:57] Faith is that Jesus is the Christ. You say well. That sounds very profound. I certainly know that. This is what we need to understand. That Jesus.

[15:08] Not just any Jesus. There have been many Jesuses. Who have made their appearance in history. Even back in biblical times. Who claimed certain things. There have been some Jesuses in our day.

[15:20] We're talking here about the Jesus of Nazareth. The one who was born in Bethlehem. The Bible describes. And lived in Nazareth. Came out of Nazareth.

[15:31] And this is the Jesus we're talking about. And this Jesus is the Christ. This is the most basic fundamental. Of the true faith.

[15:43] And it's crystal clear from scripture. That the correct belief about Jesus Christ. His unique person. His miraculous works. His saving ministry.

[15:53] And many other things. It is absolutely essential. An essential mark. To genuine saving faith. This is what John. Is saying.

[16:04] And we know this don't we. But listen. No one. No one can claim. To be truly saved. And at the same time.

[16:15] Deny the biblical teachings. Concerning the person. And work. Of Jesus Christ. No one can. You listen to what Jesus said. To the antichrists of his day.

[16:26] The pharisaical antichrist of his day. In John chapter 8 verse 21. Then Jesus said to them again. He's speaking to the pharisees. The antichrists of his day.

[16:37] He said to them again. I'm going away. And you will seek me. And will die in your sin. And then he says. Where I go. You cannot come.

[16:50] Pretty bold statement. But the Jews totally misunderstood this. They said. And effectively said to one another. He said. Will he kill himself. That is commit suicide.

[17:01] Because he says. Where I go. You cannot come. And what do they say. They say. You must be going to hell. Because their theology. Of course.

[17:11] Suicide was unforgivable. And so. He must be going to hell. And certainly. We're not going there. But that's not what Jesus was saying. Was it. Because he goes on to say.

[17:22] And he said to them. You are from beneath. If hell has any part of the subject. It is the place from where you came. But you are from beneath. I am from above. You are of this world.

[17:33] I am of. Not of this world. Therefore. I said to you. You can. You will die in your sins. And why will they? Jesus says.

[17:44] For if you do not believe. That I am he. That is the Christ. You will die. In your sins.

[17:56] I mean. It couldn't be clearer. It could. Crystal clear. You see. Everything. Depends upon this. Everything depends upon.

[18:06] What a person believes. About. Jesus. Jesus of Nazareth. That he is the Christ. And if a person does not believe. That Jesus of Nazareth.

[18:18] Was and is. God. And always has been. Always will be. God's unique son. Sent from the father. As the only savior. From sin. Then that person. Is against Christ.

[18:30] Antichrist. Now. That is not the only thing. You must believe. In order to be saved. Okay. This is the most fundamental. The most fundamental.

[18:42] Of the faith. Christ. You deny that. And that's it. No matter what else. You claim to believe. And notice what John says. He says.

[18:52] Those who deny. Effectively says. That those who deny. That Jesus is the Christ. Also. Deny the father. Deny God the father.

[19:04] That is. If you. Deny. That Jesus. Is the Christ. Then you have. No relationship. With God. None. No matter what you want to say.

[19:15] About God. Okay. See. There are a lot of people today. Who say they believe. In the God of the Bible. You met people like that? They say they believe. In the God of the Bible.

[19:27] I'm telling you today. Jews believe that. They say that. They claim that. They believe in the God of the Bible. Even the Muslims.

[19:40] Claim that. Even some of the many cults. Major cults. In the world. Include in their faith claims. A belief. In the God of the Bible.

[19:51] The Jehovah's Witnesses. Claim that. The Mormons. Claim that. Even. But if.

[20:02] They deny. That Jesus. Is. The Christ. The one and only. John says. They are all liars. They're liars.

[20:14] John. States. Categorically. In verse 23. Look at it. Whoever. Denies. The son. Does not have. The father. Either. Okay.

[20:25] They can talk about God. All they want to. People do. Don't they? Talk about God. All they want to. And this. Absolutely. Obliterates. Any notion. That somehow.

[20:36] All roads. Lead. To heaven. All roads. Lead. To God. This is. Antichrist. This is. Antichrist. And it's very basic.

[20:47] Isn't it? Very basic. Let's go a step further. And see. Second. Their fiendish program. Which is.

[20:59] To deceive the faithful. Or at least try. I would argue that. It's not possible. To deceive. The true.

[21:10] Faithful. This is what they try to do. And this is what John says. In verse 26. These things I have written to you. Concerning those. Who try to deceive you. They try to deceive you.

[21:22] And he's talking about those. Inside the church. Who try to deceive you. And this is what they do. Or attempt to do. And it comes directly. From Satan. Doesn't it?

[21:33] He's the one who's pulling the strings. He is the deceiver. And these. Antichrists. The many. Antichrists. That have come. And are in the world. Even today. These Antichrists.

[21:43] Are simply the forerunners. Of the Antichrist. Who will one day come. Whom Paul said. Will be according to the working of Satan.

[21:54] It's Satan who's pulling the strings on this. And. In fact. John will say. In the fourth chapter. Of this letter. In verse 3. 1 John 4.

[22:04] 3. He says. And every spirit. That does not confess. That Jesus Christ. Has come. In the flesh. Is not of God. Not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist.

[22:17] Which you have heard was coming. And is now already in the world. Now he's not saying that the Antichrist. Is already in the world. He's talking about the spirit of Antichrist. The teaching.

[22:28] The way. The. The. The forerunners. Of the Antichrist. Are in the world today. The spirit of Antichrist. Antichrist. And so.

[22:38] What. Do they do. They infiltrate. The church. They infiltrate the church. And they seek.

[22:49] To deceive. Even. Those of the true faith. To deceive. Through the teaching. Of false doctrine.

[23:01] In the church. And they do. Do it. In a number of ways. Their goals. Are. Are. Multiple. They. In the first place. Seek. To sow. Seeds.

[23:11] Of confusion. About the truth. Get people. Confused. About. The truth. About doctrine. They sow.

[23:22] Seeds. Of confusion. And doubt. And questioning. And. And wavering. About. The basic elements. Basic fundamentals. Of the faith. They actually attack.

[23:34] The credibility. Of certain key doctrines. Of the faith. Namely. And primarily. The person and work. Of Jesus Christ. Which. Which takes in a huge number. Of subjects.

[23:44] Doesn't it? So they want to. To attack the credibility. Of these things. To make people confused. To make people doubt. To. To. To. Hopefully lead. Some people.

[23:55] Inside the church. To. Deny these things. To be. Led away from them. That's what they try to do. They also seek.

[24:06] To weaken. The believers. Confidence. In the word of God. I mean. Our own. Convention. SBC. Battled with this. For a number of years.

[24:17] There are false teachers. I think. Antichrists. Within our denomination. And in our seminaries. Even trying to lead people. Away. From.

[24:28] The word of God. To begin to doubt. Its credibility. This is what they do. They also seek to rob.

[24:39] The believers. Of their assurance of salvation. Casting doubts in their minds. And hearts. About. About their.

[24:51] Position before Christ. Their salvation. They also. Ridicule. The believers. Hope. In the return of Christ. Christ.

[25:03] They also. Cast doubt. About the narrowness. Of the gospel. And this is one of their chief things. To cast doubt. About the narrowness.

[25:14] Of the gospel. Teaching that Jesus. Is not the only way. This is what they do. Do. And they would have us believe. That it doesn't really matter.

[25:25] What you believe. As long as you are sincere. About it. I know. Putting those terms. We. Think. Well that's ridiculous. And yet.

[25:37] Many are teaching this. Many. Even within. The church. Of entertained. Of this idea. Or even believing. In this idea.

[25:47] That. Yeah. I'm a Christian. And I'm sincere. About my faith. And so I have my salvation. But there are. Mormons. And there are Muslims. And there are Buddhists. And there are.

[25:59] People within these. Other world religions. Who. Okay. They don't believe. The same way I do. But they're very sincere. About it. And they're all. Going the same direction. Anyway. All believing in. Ultimately.

[26:10] The same God. Anyway. So it doesn't really matter. What you believe. Just make sure. You. You. Believe it sincerely. John reveals.

[26:23] Their primary targets. In the church. He doesn't just come out. You know. Explicitly. And say this. But it's implied here. In verse one. With this. These words.

[26:35] Little children. Those are their primary targets. And we're not talking about little children. According to age. John's talking about.

[26:46] Believers. Or. Those who are young in the faith. Immature in their faith. Perhaps. Even those who may have been believers.

[26:56] For. A number of years. But are still immature in their faith. Which. You're a little bit on shaky ground there. I would say. Because. According to scripture. That's a bit of an anomaly.

[27:07] I don't think that. I think you'd be hard pressed. To find that possibility. In the Bible. That. That a believer. Could be one. For many many years. And never really grow in their faith. Never really grow in their understanding.

[27:18] Of Bible doctrine. And. Be immature believers. Little children. In this sense. So. If you're. Counting on that. I would caution you.

[27:31] So. The antichrist. The antichrists. We must recognize. Their fatal problem. They deny. The fundamentals.

[27:42] Of the faith. Their fiendish program. They deceive. Or at least try to deceive. The faithful.

[27:53] And then third. Their false profession. Their false profession. They desert the fellowship. They desert the fellowship.

[28:03] They abandon the fellowship. They depart from the fellowship. Eventually. Verse 19 says. They went out from us. But they were not of us. For if they had been of us. They would have continued with us.

[28:15] But they went out. That they might be made manifest. That none of them were of us. The reality is.

[28:26] Antichrists. Cannot long remain. Where the truth. Is taught. And preached. Believed. And lived out. Can't long remain there.

[28:37] Eventually. They will. They will depart. They will leave. And by that very leaving. It's manifested. That they were. Never really true believers.

[28:48] To begin with. This is what John's talking about. So eventually. They depart. They leave. They don't just stay. Years upon years. Eventually.

[28:58] They depart. But not. Before they. Wreek their havoc. Or. Do their damage. They. Infiltrate.

[29:08] This is the. Modus operandi. They infiltrate. The church. They begin to. Mingle with the true believers. And. And.

[29:19] Build relationships. And. Also. Foster some. Bit of. Confidence. And respect. Among the people. Of the church. And. And. And. Eventually. Either.

[29:30] On a very small scale. Maybe even a large scale. Begin. To take places. Of leadership. Roles. In teaching. And so forth. Maybe it's just. In a small little group.

[29:41] Around them. Or maybe. In the church. At large. And. They wreak. As much. Spiritual havoc. And destruction. As they can. And then. Eventually. They.

[29:51] Desert. The fellowship. Of the church. Taking. With them. Some of the. Weak ones. It happens. All the time. And.

[30:03] Then. Those who remain. Are left to. Wonder. You know. About all of this. And. Begin to question. Whether or not. These people. That they have respected. These people.

[30:14] Who have. You know. Been. You know. In places of leadership. In the church. You know. Respected leaders. They. They begin to wonder. You know. About their. You know. Were they really saved?

[30:27] And. And. Perhaps. It's. Some friends. You know. They've left. And gone off. Into some kind of cult. Or whatever. And so. We're wondering. You know.

[30:37] Trying to evaluate. Were they really saved? Perhaps they were. Perhaps they weren't. Maybe it's. Family members. You know. A son. Or a daughter. Grew up in the church.

[30:48] And then. Up and just leaves. And gets off. Into something else. And we want to. We want to. Believe and hope. That they were really saved. But they just kind of got.

[30:59] Got off track a little bit. You know. Whatever. And so. You know. We think. Well. Perhaps they were just confused. Or perhaps.

[31:09] They. Weren't taught quite right. Little problem with the foundation. I mean. This is pretty serious. But no.

[31:22] It's not that. Not according to John. Because John says. Emphatically. If they had been. Of us. That is.

[31:32] True believers. They would have. Continued with us. And by the way. John is not suggesting. Some scenario. Where these people. Have somehow.

[31:44] Lost their salvation. I mean. If you want to try. To make a case. For that. From scripture. I don't believe you can. But there are those. Who try.

[31:54] And point to certain passages. In the bible. They're a little obscure. A little vague. And whatever. But you can't go here. For that. He's not talking about. People have lost their salvation. They were saved.

[32:05] Into church. And then they. Strayed. And got off. And left the church. And so forth. He's not talking about that. That they somehow. Lost their salvation. The very way this is written. And it's written.

[32:15] Multiple times. I mean. It's almost redundant. In the way he writes this. The idea. Is that they never. Ever. Were of the true faith. To begin with. Otherwise.

[32:26] They would have remained. They would have remained. And their departure. Is proof. Of. Their. Unbelief.

[32:38] Their lostness. Again. John said. They went out. That they might. Be made manifest. It's not that they want. To manifest themselves.

[32:48] As unbelievers. But this is the. This is the working of God. This is. This is God's hand. In this. So that they might be. Made manifest. That is. The truth is revealed.

[33:01] That. None of them. Were of us. That is. They were not true believers. Now I do feel compelled. To ease your mind.

[33:11] On something. Not. Everyone. Who has left. Highland Park Baptist Church. Over the years. Are antichrists. Okay. But. When you see people. In this church.

[33:24] Leave. Because they have been. Influenced by. Some false teacher. Or some false doctrine. Perhaps. Joining some cult. Going off. And getting involved.

[33:34] In some cult. Or perhaps. Maybe. Occasionally. You know. Still attending the church. But they are now. Meeting with some outside group.

[33:45] That is teaching. An aberrant theology. From the word of God. Or perhaps. Just simply. Abandoning the church. All together. And really not linking up. With anything. Or anyone else. At all.

[33:56] What is this proof of? John says. It is that they might be. Made manifest. That their true colors. Would be revealed.

[34:08] That none of them. Were of us. This is serious. Isn't it? And perhaps. For some of us. In this room. Doesn't make us feel very good.

[34:18] Because we have known. People like that. Perhaps people. Very close to us. And instead of us. Continuing. To just hope.

[34:28] That they really were saved. Well I would be praying. For their salvation. And I would also say this. It is surprising.

[34:39] Perhaps. That this reveals. One of God's ways. To purify his church. In fact. We ought to. Really look at this.

[34:50] In this way. That God's. This is God's method. For. Purifying. His church. John MacArthur.

[35:01] Put it this way. And I like the way. He put it. So I'll quote him. In his. Perfect plan. God uses. False teachers. To draw away.

[35:11] False believers. From the church. So they will not. Remain in the assembly. As harmful. And corrupting. Influences. He permits.

[35:22] Antichrist. To do their sinister. Work. In his own church. For the ultimate. Good of his body. You remember. Something Paul said.

[35:32] In Galatians 5. 9. A little leaven. Leavens. The whole. Lump. Now. What is. Our most effective.

[35:43] Weapon. Against the many. Antichrists. That have come. And will continue. To come. Into. The world. And into. The church. It's our most effective. Weapon.

[35:54] Great question. And it is the question. That we'll seek to answer. Next Sunday. From this passage. But here's the short answer.

[36:04] The short answer. To this question. Our most effective. Weapon. One word. Truth.

[36:18] Truth. God's. Truth. Revealed. In the Bible. Is our most effective. Weapon. Against the many.

[36:29] Antichrists. And by the way. Not just. Truth. Here. But truth. Here. This is what.

[36:41] John is talking about. When he talks about. The anointed ones. The anointing. We'll. Talk about this next week. But what I'm saying is.

[36:51] That most effective. Weapon. We have. Is the truth. Against. Antichrists. It's not. Argument. I mean.

[37:03] Unless. It's. Simply. The. Statement. Of truth. But it is. Truth. Taught. In the church.

[37:14] Taught. To all ages. From the youngest. All the way. To the oldest. It is. Truth. Truth. Truth. Preached.

[37:25] From the pulpit. Through sound exposition. Of God's word. Which I seek to do. It's also truth.

[37:39] Sung. Dan. Dan knows this. It's all. It's truth. Sung. In our worship. I tell you.

[37:51] There's more. I've said this before. There's more. False. Doctrine. In the church. Through singing. Than we would ever allow. In any other medium. I mean.

[38:04] A lot of the songs. That are out there. They're very popular. In some of the churches. They either. Have false doctrine. In them. Many of them. Well they don't have. Any doctrine. Whatsoever. Completely void. Of any truth.

[38:15] Just touchy feely. Kind of things. You know. But there's a lot. Of singing. Going on. That is. False. Doctrine. Aberrant theology.

[38:28] And it just. We just. Can't. Can't let it roll. Off of our lips. And our tongues. And we don't. Really even think. About what we're singing. See.

[38:39] This is the. Most effective weapon. Against. Antichrists. Truth. Taught.

[38:49] Preached. Sung. Let me add another one. Truth. Prayed in our prayers. I've heard over the years. Some of the most ridiculous things.

[39:01] Prayed in prayers. In the church. Publicly. I'm serious. You just. Listen to. A person's prayers. Sometimes. And you'll understand. You'll recognize.

[39:13] That. You know. It's a little difficult. To really. Pinpoint what they believe. Some of the things they pray. Are not even correct. Theologically. And then.

[39:27] Of course. Finally. Truth. That's lived. Truth. And by the way. This is a big one. It's. It's one thing. To profess. Knowledge of the truth. And. Acceptance.

[39:38] Of the truth. Belief in the truth. It's another thing. To live it. And quite often. There is this. Huge. Glaring. Disconnect. Between what we say.

[39:50] We believe. And the way we live. And. Many. Of. The people. In. Churches. Just like ours. Are good at living it. While they're inside. These four walls.

[40:01] You know. We can get them outside. And it's a different story. This is the. Most effective weapon. Against.

[40:11] The many. Antichrists. That have come. And will continue to come. All throughout this. Present evil age. Until Jesus comes. All of them.

[40:22] Forerunners. Of the. Antichrist. Who will one day. Come to power. Be revealed. Come to power. And then. The end of the end. Will come.

[40:34] And our most effective weapon. Is the truth. Get to know it. Don't be one of these. Little children. I'm not talking about our kids. Talking about our adults.

[40:45] Let's not be a. Little child. Do everything that we. Can. As God leads us. And the resources. God makes available to us.

[40:55] To. Get the truth in here. And to live it out. Thank you.