The anti in "Antichrist" is a Greek word which typically means "in place of". And given the usage in scriptures speaking of the antiChrist, it's not one who rejects Christ, but rather replaces Christ. (Or one who rejects the real Christ by replacing him with their own version)
1John 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.
2John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
By the way, the word "flesh" σαρξ is the same work the NIV many times translates "sinful nature"
The docetists viewed themselves as believing in Christ and respected him in their own mind. But the idea of Christ coming in the flesh was something they rejected because due to their Gnostic presumptions they thought that the flesh was inherently evil and Jesus is holy. So they would say that their doctrine of view Jesus as a phantasm preserves Christ's holiness. Yet John views that doctrine as so heretical that he makes the statements that he does.
Just a side thought. Makes me wonder about those multitudes of Christians today who deny Jesus' human nature, not sharing the same kind of sinful flesh that we have, not being subject to temptations in the flesh due to our human nature, seemingly contrary to Heb 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin." Which seems to indicate that if Jesus came in some sort of non-human flesh, not unlike the Docetist's phantasm theory, he would not be able to sympathize with us. Those who defend the idea of the non-human nature of Jesus' flesh argue much the same as the docetists. We're tempted by the world, the flesh (the sinful nature), and the devil. What temptations was your "Jesus" subjected to?
Heb 2:17,18 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Makes me wonder how John would classify those who deny Jesus' incarnation into the flesh containing a sinful nature.
Anyhow another Antichrist verse is 2Th 2:4 "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." So again, not an atheist, but rather he replaces God.
As such just because a person says they believe in "Jesus", doesn't mean they believe in the Jesus of the scriptures. Even Muslims believe in a "Jesus". "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." 2Cor 11:4
If that was the case back then, not surprising to find it the case these days.
1John 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.
2John 1:7 For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.
By the way, the word "flesh" σαρξ is the same work the NIV many times translates "sinful nature"
The docetists viewed themselves as believing in Christ and respected him in their own mind. But the idea of Christ coming in the flesh was something they rejected because due to their Gnostic presumptions they thought that the flesh was inherently evil and Jesus is holy. So they would say that their doctrine of view Jesus as a phantasm preserves Christ's holiness. Yet John views that doctrine as so heretical that he makes the statements that he does.
Just a side thought. Makes me wonder about those multitudes of Christians today who deny Jesus' human nature, not sharing the same kind of sinful flesh that we have, not being subject to temptations in the flesh due to our human nature, seemingly contrary to Heb 4:15 "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are— yet was without sin." Which seems to indicate that if Jesus came in some sort of non-human flesh, not unlike the Docetist's phantasm theory, he would not be able to sympathize with us. Those who defend the idea of the non-human nature of Jesus' flesh argue much the same as the docetists. We're tempted by the world, the flesh (the sinful nature), and the devil. What temptations was your "Jesus" subjected to?
Heb 2:17,18 For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Makes me wonder how John would classify those who deny Jesus' incarnation into the flesh containing a sinful nature.
Anyhow another Antichrist verse is 2Th 2:4 "He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God." So again, not an atheist, but rather he replaces God.
As such just because a person says they believe in "Jesus", doesn't mean they believe in the Jesus of the scriptures. Even Muslims believe in a "Jesus". "For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough." 2Cor 11:4
If that was the case back then, not surprising to find it the case these days.
