Are you team Jesus Christ or team Antichrist? This may seem like a frivolous question, but I mean it in all seriousness because it is getting harder and harder to know the difference.
“Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. (Matthew 12:30 NLT)
“Then if any man tells you, ‘Behold, here is the Christ,’ or, ‘There,’ don’t believe it. For there will arise false christs, and false prophets, and they will show great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the chosen ones. “Behold, I have told you beforehand. (Matthew 24:23-25 WEB)
Little children, these are the end times, and as you heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen. By this we know that it is the final hour. (1 John 2:18 WEB)
So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor. (James 4:7-10 NLT)
Therefore, it is important to evaluate our lives and our behaviors to see which team we are supporting. I know many self-confident Christians who are more antichrist-like than they are Christ-like. They are unwittingly bringing reproach on the name of Jesus Christ. How about you?
Team Jesus Christ | Team Antichrist |
Gave his life for our salvationJesus Christ died alone in silent, submissive, willing, obedience to his father without fighting for his own survival which won the victory over sin and death. (Hebrews 5; Luke 22; Matthew 26; Hebrews 2; Hebrews 3)
| Fought for his own rebellionSatan was lifted up with pride and fought to be higher than God which resulted in a great war in heaven where Satan and one third of the angels were defeated and thrown down to Earth. (Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28; Revelation 12)
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Affection and longing for eternitySince you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory. (Colossians 3:1-4 NLT) | Love the world and what it offersDo not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever. (1 John 2:15-17 WEB) |
Love the sinner and scofferJesus was ridiculed for being a friend of sinners (Matthew 9; Matthew 11; Mark 2; Luke 5; Luke 15) | Ultimate cancel cultureThe antichrist will cause all who refuse to worship the image of the beast to be killed (Revelation 13) |
Love Christians unconditionallyWe know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. He who doesn’t love his brother remains in death. Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life remaining in him. By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. (1 John 3:14-16 WEB) | Condemns other ChristiansI heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now is come the salvation, the power, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Christ; for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them before our God day and night. They overcame him because of the Lamb’s blood, and because of the word of their testimony. They didn’t love their life, even to death. (Revelation 12:10-11 WEB) |
Have the attitude of ChristDon’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. (Philippians 2:3-4 WEB) | Ungodly acts of wickednessThese people are grumblers and complainers, living only to satisfy their desires. They brag loudly about themselves, and they flatter others to get what they want. (Jude 1:16 NLT) |
Lays down life for othersI am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. (John 10:11 WEB) Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends. (John 15:13 WEB) | Comes to kill and destroyThe thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy. I came that they may have life, and may have it abundantly. (John 10:10 WEB) |
In unity with ChristiansI therefore, the prisoner in the Lord, beg you to walk worthily of the calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love; being eager to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as you also were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all, and through all, and in us all. (Ephesians 4:1-6 WEB) | At war with ChristiansA mouth speaking great things and blasphemy was given to him. Authority to make war for forty-two months was given to him. He opened his mouth for blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his dwelling, those who dwell in heaven. It was given to him to make war with the saints, and to overcome them. Authority over every tribe, people, language, and nation was given to him. (Revelation 13:5-7 WEB) |
Always telling the truth in kindnessLet no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:29-32 WEB) | Liar who can’t stand the truthYou are of your father, the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. He was a murderer from the beginning, and doesn’t stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks on his own; for he is a liar, and its father. (John 8:44 WEB) |
God’s will is most importantWhen he was at the place, he said to them, “Pray that you don’t enter into temptation.” He was withdrawn from them about a stone’s throw, and he knelt down and prayed, saying, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him, strengthening him. (Luke 22:40-43 WEB) | I will is most importantYou said in your heart, “I will ascend into heaven! I will exalt my throne above the stars of God! I will sit on the mountain of assembly, in the far north! I will ascend above the heights of the clouds! I will make myself like the Most High!” (Isaiah 14:13-14 WEB) |
Glorifies God with whole lifeFor whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 15:4-6 WEB) | Forces everyone to worship SatanI saw another beast coming up out of the earth. He had two horns like a lamb, and he spoke like a dragon. He exercises all the authority of the first beast in his presence. He makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast, whose fatal wound was healed. He performs great signs, even making fire come down out of the sky to the earth in the sight of people. He deceives my own people who dwell on the earth because of the signs he was granted to do in front of the beast; saying to those who dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast who had the sword wound and lived. It was given to him to give breath to it, to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause as many as wouldn’t worship the image of the beast to be killed. (Revelation 13:11-15 WEB) |
Sealed with the Holy Spirit of promisein whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13-14 WEB) | Ready for the mark of the beastHe causes all, the small and the great, the rich and the poor, and the free and the slave, to be given marks on their right hands, or on their foreheads; and that no one would be able to buy or to sell, unless he has that mark, the name of the beast or the number of his name. (Revelation 13:16-17 WEB) |
Now score yourself. Do you have more behaviors and attitudes on the Team Jesus Christ column or the Team Antichrist column?
- Are you walking in Christ’s love or fighting for your own opinion?
- Have you set your affections and longings on heaven or a better life here?
- Do you love sinners as Jesus did or do you cancel those you disagree with?
- Do you love all Christians unconditionally or are you condemning other Christians?
- Do you have Christlike behaivor or ungodly acts of wickedness?
- Do you sacrifice yourself for others or seek to kill and destroy?
- Are you in unity with most Christians or are you at war with most Christians?
- Do you always speak the truth in love, or do you live a hypocritical life of lies?
- Are you more concerned about God’s will in your life or your own convictions?
- Is your behavior glorifying God or are you forcing people to live your way?
- Have you been sealed by the Holy Spirit of promise, or do you have barriers to fellowship?
How to change from team Antichrist to team Jesus Christ
If you have more behavior and attitude on Team Antichrist that Team Jesus, you can be reconciled to God.
Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away. Behold, all things have become new. But all things are of God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation; namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, not reckoning to them their trespasses, and having committed to us the word of reconciliation.
We are therefore ambassadors on behalf of Christ, as though God were entreating by us: we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. For him who knew no sin he made to be sin on our behalf; so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. (2 Corinthians 5:17-21 WEB)
You, being in past times alienated and enemies in your mind in your evil works, yet now he has reconciled in the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and without blemish and blameless before him, if it is so that you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and not moved away from the hope of the Good News which you heard, which is being proclaimed in all creation under heaven; of which I, Paul, was made a servant. (Colossians 1:21-23 WEB)
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off are made near in the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who made both one, and broke down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in the flesh the hostility, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man of the two, making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body to God through the cross, having killed the hostility thereby. He came and preached peace to you who were far off and to those who were near. For through him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father. (Ephesians 2:13-18 WEB)
Excellent! Thank you!