For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed[.]

Zechariah 11:15-17

For behold, I am raising up in the land a shepherd who does not care for those being destroyed[.] Zechariah 11:16a

I continue my study of the last four books of the OT (complete: Zephaniah, Haggai; to complete: Zechariah, Malachi) - using the Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary volume for this book.  For today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of Zechariah 11:15-17, which the commentary outlines as the fourth of four divisions for the text 10:1-11:17 (10:1-12, 11:1-3, 11:4-14, 11:15-17). The commentary shares how God asked Zechariah to portray a good shepherd in the previous division (see post yesterday), but in this division is asked to portray a "foolish, evil and worthless shepherd."  It prophecies how although Jesus arrives and fulfills prophecy as the Promised King, He is not recognized as such by the Jewish elders and leaders.  These shepherds (and false teachers) do not save as Jesus does but instead "take advantage of people and harm them mercilessly."  The commentary shares how many conservative scholars "say that the ultimate expression of the foolish shepherd is the Antichrist of the end times, who will deceive and abuse not only Israel but the entire world (Revelation 13:7)."  Believers must be constantly reminded of how this Antichrist is real and he is on the prowl looking to devour those who are lost - see 1 Peter 5:8. Once again, as the commentary emphasizes yesterday, we are encouraged to follow the only Shepherd that truly leads and saves - Jesus Christ.  We must also follow the words of Jude who exhort believers to "have mercy on those who doubt...snatching them out of the fire" (Jude 22-23). 

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My Prayer: Father God, You are the Good Shepherd - as You seek and save the lost, and You care for them.  Thank You Jesus for saving me as I was lost - and You care for me and I know I can never be separated from Your love.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You save and love.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please continue to heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth.

 1 John 2

But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.  I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 1 John 2:20-21

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books. My study today focuses on a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 2:18-27. 

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: There have always been those, and more will come, who actively oppose Christ and the gospel; Christians must resist such error and cling to the truth of God as revealed by the Spirit in the Scriptures.

Excerpt from introduction:

• John seeks for believers to be on watch for signs that end times are near - and one of those signs is the antichrist, false teachers who deny God and seek to lead/deceive believers away from God. "[I]t is absolutely essential that we have a biblically balanced understanding of who the antichrists are and what the antichrists do."
  

Divisions:

1. Antichrists Attack Christ (2:18): John is the only Bible author who uses the term antichrist, yet other authors in the Bible refer to the same figure, including Daniel ("the coming prince" - Daniel 9:27), and Paul ("the man of lawlessness" - 2 Thessalonians 2:3), and as the beast from the sea in Revelation 13:1-10. We are urged to live with a sense of urgency, not knowing when the second coming of Christ will appear and we are to be ready. We are also to be aware that during the end times (defined as the period between first and second coming of Christ) there will be those who serve as antichrists denying God and deceiving others, and then there will be the Antichrist who "comes at the end of the last hour. Jesus Himself warned us of all of this in Matthew 24:4-5,24-25." The antichrists that oppose Jesus who come before the final Antichrist "do not directly oppose Jesus." Instead they practice deception and seduction and they "redefine Him."  By "chipping" away at who He is, believers quickly lose sight of the One True God and begin following false Gods and their ways.  "This is the spirit of the antichrists, and it will attempt to lead you down the road of spiritual error that is a theological dead end....[B]e on the lookout for those who attack the biblical teachings about Christ. They will do you no good." 
   
2. Antichrists Abandon the Church (2:19,22-23): We are warned about "enemies within" the church.  We should recognize that antichrists who leave the church were never truly part of the church.  "Perseverance is the proof of possession. Defection from the fellowship gives evidence of a defective faith. That was certainly John’s perspective." Those who are truly saved persevere as part of the church.  We are referred to John 10:27-29 where Jesus refers to His followers as sheep who follow the shepherd when they hear His voice and how no one will be able to "snatch them out of His hand."  We must avoid the false belief that Jesus is significant but not preeminent and that not the Savior. This belief leads us away from the church.
   
3. Antichrists Assault the Christian (2:20-21,24-27): Believers are equipped with the Holy Spirit and the Word of God to truly know God and to discern truth from falsehoods. If we abide in Him we can defend ourselves from the attacks of the antichrists. We must also be clear that we are not to add or subtract anything from God. "The false teachers will attempt to deceive you into thinking you need something more than Christ or something other than Christ."
   

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the One True God who gives me the Holy Spirit and Your Word and You protect me and save me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such blessings.  My sin is great and it continues...daily. Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith. Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life.

 1 John 2

 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life. 1 John 2:24-25

This morning, I continue my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  My study today focuses on an unassisted review of 1 John 2:18-27.  In the text for today, John focuses on end times, how it is approaching, and how we are to avoid false teachers/Christs and those who deny Jesus is the Christ.

Believers must hold fast to faith and to the knowledge imparted to us through the gospel (v20).  John's warning is urgent that we be reminded of the truth (v21) that it stands in contrast to the lies spread by false teachers and the prince of this world (Satan), and that this truth protects us in our efforts to hold fast.  The word "abide" appears 10 times in this chapter, and 5 times in the text for today - hence John considers that the truth abide in us as critical in our walk.  

I am reminded of Deuteronomy 6:4-9 how God's Word is to abide in us.  John 15:1-11 also shares how Jesus is the True Vine and how we are branches and to remain in Him.

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who promises to give me life to the full now and forever in Heaven - and You are faithful as Your promises all find a yes in You.  Thank You Jesus for life and salvation and Your faithfulness....rich blessings that indescribable and I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him.

 2 Thessalonians 2

But the court shall sit in judgment, and his dominion shall be taken away, to be consumed and destroyed to the end. And the kingdom and the dominion and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; his kingdom shall be an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey him. Daniel 7:26-27

I continue my pause on my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus is John MacArthur's discussion of the man of lawlessness as raised in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 as part of Paul's description of the great tribulation.  Per MacArthur, this man of lawlessness is the culmination of all false teachers and deceivers throughout human history who speak at behest of Satan.  Although we understand him to be the final antichrist - we must understand that per 1 John 1, 2:18, 22, 4:3, and 2 John 1:7 all who deny Christ in the present age (before Christ returns) are the spirit of this final antichrist.  Attributes of this man of lawlessness/sin include: 

• lawless, blasphemer
• acts in defiance of Christ 
• destructive of all things Godly
• final man of sin - final earthly figure
• plays a crucial role in last days
• culmination of all hatred towards Christ, blasphemy, false teachers, etc.

MacArthur urges us to understand that the spirit of the antichrist is in the world today - it is real.  He provides one example - Adolph Hitler - and Hitler is described as possessed of Satan. We are also urged to understand how scripture portrays the antichrist in Ezekiel 38-39, Daniel 7-9, 11, Zechariah 11, and in Revelation as the beast.  The man of lawlessness represents a scary time for those who are not part of God's elect (by God's choosing - not of any effort on their/our own).  He will dominate the whole world during the great tribulation, but will be destroyed per Daniel 7:23-27. 

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My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an amazing God who loves me and who protects me from harm as You arm me with all that I need to battle sin.  Thank You Jesus!  I know sin (and the antichrist) is real and I continue to have sin in my life - as such I am not deserving of the blessings You pour out for me.  Help me turn from and overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.