Everyone who believes
that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the
Father loves whoever has been born of him.
THE STUDY:
In this passage of scripture I want
to focus on the phrase, “Jesus is the
Christ.” What do we know about this day and time John is living in? The
Gnostics (secessionists) believed in a better way other than Christ. John is reminding
his readers that only those who believe that Jesus is the Christ are born of
God.[1]
Today, we live in a world much like
that of John’s day. We find that many know of Jesus but don’t know
Jesus. We have so many cults that claim the allegiance of Christ but distorted or
embellish the truth of Christ. Some religions believe Christ was a good man, a
prophet, or something so far from the truth.
John is very clear and to the point
when it comes to this one named Jesus: He is the Christ! The word "CHRIST" means anointed,
the Greek translation of the Hebrew word rendered “Messiah”, the official title
of our Lord. To believe that “Jesus is the Christ” is to believe that he is the
Anointed, the Messiah of the prophets, the Saviour sent of God, that he was, in
a word, what he claimed to be. This is to believe the gospel, by the faith of
which alone men can be brought unto God. That Jesus is the Christ is the
testimony of God, and the faith of this constitutes a Christian.[2]
WHAT WE CAN WALK
AWAY WITH ….
- We walk away this morning with the understanding that believing that Jesus is the Christ, our savior, means we have been born again. This is not a one shot deal (believe it once and you are in) but a continual belief. Ongoing belief and obedience (v 2) provides evidence that one “is born of God.” [3]
CONCLUSION:
Some
rabbis taught that it was necessary to be buried in the Holy Land in order to
have a part in the resurrection which would precede the Messiah’s reign on
earth. Some even taught that the bodies of the righteous, no matter where on
earth they might have been buried, would roll back, underground, to Israel and
be raised there.
There are so many false teachings in
our world today, which are trying to deceive and destroy. Some are doing a good job and
causing many churches to break away from the truth of Christ. But just remember
this, Jesus is the Christ, and this truth will set you free.
Blessings my friends
Pastor Rod
[1]
Kruse, C. G. (2000). The letters of John.
The Pillar New Testament commentary (170–171). Grand Rapids, Mich.; Leicester,
England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos.
[2]
Easton, M. (1996). Easton's Bible
dictionary. Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.
[3]
Williamson, R. (2010). 1, 2, & 3
John: A Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition. New Beacon Bible Commentary
(157). Kansas City, MO: Beacon Hill Press.
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