1 John 2:20-23 - The Big Question

Today, Friday July 23 The Big Question 1 John 2:20-23 “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. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” The most important question that can be asked is, “Who is Jesus?” And the answer is even more important! Remember John is giving us three distinguishing marks of a false teacher, called here an “antichrist”.  The first was that they “depart from the faith” (v. 19). The second mark is that they deny the faith, the truth about Jesus Christ. So many people today believe that Jesus was a good example, that He was a good man, He was a great teacher and did great things. If you ask them what they believe about Jesus that’s the answer they would give. The big question is do you know the truth about Jesus and believe that Jesus is God in the flesh? Do you believe that Jesus is indeed the Son of God? The foundation of our faith is to acknowledge and believe this truth! Saul of Tarsus was persecuting Christians and having them put to death until he met Jesus as the Son of God! When you believe this it changes everything! John's readers knew the truth about Christ, or else they would not have been saved. "You all know the truth, because you have the Spirit of God, an unction, and the Spirit teaches you all things"(1 John 2:20, 27). "Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of His" (Romans 8:9). John points out that all true Christians know God and have received the Spirit of God! And because they have believed the truth, they recognize a lie when they meet it. The great assertion of the faith that sets a Christian apart from others is this: Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh (1 John 4:2). Not all preachers and teachers who claim to be Christian are really Christian in their belief (1 John 4:1-6). If they confess that Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh, then they belong to the true faith. If they deny Christ, then they belong to Antichrist. To confess that "Jesus Christ is God come in the flesh" involves much more than simply to identify Christ. The demons did this (Mark 1:24) but it did not save them. True confession involves personal faith in Christ—in who He is and what He has done. A confession is not a mere intellectual "theological statement" that you recite; it is a personal witness from your heart of what Christ has done for you. My friend, if you have trusted Christ and have confessed your faith, you have eternal life (1 John 2:25). Those who cannot honestly make this confession, do nothave eternal life, which is an ultimately serious matter. Beware of those who do not teach the truth about Jesus! God bless!