Beware of Counterfeiters 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.

Beware of Counterfeiters Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist—he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 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—even eternal life.

Beware of Counterfeiters I. This is the last hour A. Death? "Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might destroy him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death." Hebrews 2:14-15

Beware of Counterfeiters B. The Last Era of Time “And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:11-12

Beware of Counterfeiters II. Recognize the Counterfeit A. Know Who the Counterfeiters are. 1. Physical Abandonment 2 Timothy 4:10a For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 2. Moral Desertion

Beware of Counterfeiters Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. 9 But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men 2 Timothy 3: Intellectual Desertion Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. 2 John 9.

Beware of Counterfeiters “You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies” (John 8:44).

Beware of Counterfeiters B. Remaining This verb "remain" is used 3 different times in the verses we’re looking at today, and it means to "abide," to "continue," to "persevere and to persist." 1. Perseverance of the Saints

Beware of Counterfeiters Jesus says, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; and I give eternal life to them, and they will never perish; and no one will snatch them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. I and the Father are one.“ John 10:27-30 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.” John 5:24

Beware of Counterfeiters C. The Real Enemy “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:7-8 “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.” James 4:7-8 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith...” Satan is real and is out to eat you alive! I Peter 5:8-9 “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith...” Satan is real and is out to eat you alive! I Peter 5:8-9 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” Ephesians 6:10-11

Beware of Counterfeiters III. The Characteristics of Authentic Christians A. They are Anointed with the Holy Spirit of God But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Corinthians 6:11

Beware of Counterfeiters B. They Acknowledge the Son of God B. They Acknowledge the Son of God The word “acknowledge” is homologeo, "to speak the same thing that another does," hence, "to agree with that person." The word “acknowledge” is homologeo, "to speak the same thing that another does," hence, "to agree with that person." C. They Abide in the Word of God