I John 2:22-23 (Part 1)

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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 STUDY:

 I find it interesting the fact that John asked a question and then answered it in the same sentence. This is done in today culture. We use this technique if we are really trying to stress a point. We see this on TV in those police shows. They say to the crook, “Who stole the jewels?” And before the crook can answer, the cop says, “You did!” They know he did it; they just wanted him to confess. John may be doing the same thing in this verse.

From the general context, we cannot say that John is speaking to Jewish opponents who refused to accept Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. John is opposing Gnostic teachers who taught that Jesus was a man who lived and died. During Jesus’ public ministry, the Gnostics said, the Christ descended upon him and gave him divine power from the time of his baptism to the time of his suffering. At the conclusion of Jesus’ suffering, Christ departed. To the Gnostics, then, Jesus was not the Christ. And John says that the person who proclaims this teaching is a liar. More than that, says John, he is the antichrist.^[1]

         

WHAT WE CAN WALK AWAY WITH ….

• This morning we walk away with the understanding that issues of this nature need to be addressed. Sometimes they can be handled behind closed doors in a very mild manner. But then there are times when we will have to address these types of issues publically. No one likes confrontation, but if the Gospel of Jesus Christ is being lied about, like John, someone needs to take the pastoral stance.

CONCLUSION:

          I see, more and more every day, the attempted to water down the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I hear so many excuses, which may be good excuses, in the world’s eyes, but in the realm of the Gospel it could lead to a false doctrine. I have seen good people turn from their upbringing, their beliefs, even their faith in order to appease others. Church, let us not compromise the Gospel to appease man. Look for the lies in the world today and rebuke them and continue on in the truth.

           

Blessings my friends

Pastor Rod

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^[1] Kistemaker, S. J., & Hendriksen, W. (1953-2001). Vol. 14: New Testament commentary : Exposition of James and the Epistles of John. New Testament Commentary (281). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.