Over the last few weeks, we have been learning from John the apostle how much God desires fellowship with people. God has made this possible through the removal of our sins for all who will confess them to Him and turn from their attraction. John has told us what to love and what not to love, and he has been giving us barriers and distractions to having fellowship with God. One of those distractions is following after something that is not the truth. Today he provides more understanding about what is the truth and what is a lie. He says in First John chapter two and verse twenty two:
Who is a liar but he that denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.
How could this statement be more plain? John identifies the liar by stating that whoever denies “that Jesus is the Christ” is a liar. Jesus Christ is the Messiah that was promised of so many prophets and priests throughout the Bible. He is the per-eminent one, the Savior, the One and Only One who can save a person from their sins. John quoted Jesus saying it this way in the gospel of John chapter fourteen verse six:
“I am the way, the truth and the life, and no man comes to the Father but by me.”
Peter the apostle said it like this in the book of Acts chapter four and verse twelve:
Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
There is no one else who can bring man into relationship and fellowship with God. Other religions tell people they can, but according to the Bible, they cannot. John the apostle states this so emphatically that he says if a person says anything other than this, “He is antichrist, that denies the Father and the Son.”
There is a deceiver to our souls who roams around the world to persuade every one he can to believe anything other than the truth. This is the truth, “Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners”. Jesus Christ came “to seek and to save that which was lost,” and there is no other way to be in fellowship with God unless a person recognizes Jesus for who He is, understands his or her own sinful state, and receives Jesus Christ as their own personal Savior and Lord. Jesus' purpose was to bring us all into relationship and fellowship with God Any other belief or creed is against Him, and we will find no other way that will satisfy the Father's requirement to be saved.
Next time we will look at what happens when a person denies Jesus as the Son of God, so read ahead, and we will share together then.
Until tomorrow...there is more...
Look for the new devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation” in all major bookstore sites, www.amazon.com ; www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, find locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore
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