“Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God… and this is the spirit of antichrist, which you heard was coming, and now is in the world already.” —1 John 4:2–3
The spirit of antichrist works not by brute force but by subtle erosion, seeking to unthread Christ from the hearts of His own, yet the Spirit in us stands watch. —D.
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The false prophets are always close. They’re not out on the edge, shouting curses in open rebellion, but nearer, quieter, standing at the edge of the fold with soft tongues and well-dressed lies. They wear the face of family, speak in tones of fellowship, and yet carry within them no breath of the Spirit. They do not seek to deny Christ outright, but to water Him down, to cast just enough shadow that the light becomes dim, familiar words lose their weight, and the fire once kindled in the faithful grows cold. Whether they know it or not, their work is the devil’s work: to unweave the witness of Christ from the Church one thread at a time.
St. John, clear-eyed and steady, laid down the mark by which we know them: any spirit that denies Jesus come in the flesh is not of God. This is the spirit of antichrist, the same one spoken of from the beginning, and it does not wait in some distant future. It is here, now, crawling through pulpits, books, schools, and screens, slipping through the cracks in our confidence. It always sounds newer, more “loving,” more “reasonable.” But beneath the silk is steel. The aim is always the same: to loosen Christ’s grip on your heart, to make the Gospel seem outdated, too narrow, too fierce, too true.
And yet, Truth cannot be undone. The Spirit of Christ remains, undiluted, full of fire and breath. You are not called to argue with shadows, but to stand firm in the light. You are not called to make Christ easier to swallow, but to guard what He has planted in you. The enemy’s tricks are old, and his strength is borrowed. But Christ is risen, and in those who confess Him without shame, He dwells fully. So let the liars speak. Let them disguise and deceive. The Spirit of God knows His own, and in those who will not bend, He burns still. Stand. Speak. And guard the flame.