"Beware of the empty claims of individuals who may hold up Christ, but only preach or teach a scant aspect of Him..."
[This message is part of a series through the book of 1 John, entitled "Salvific Assurance Through Testimony," preached by Pastor Senter].
There are many in the world who consider “belief” to be simply a belief in God, and that, through this belief, and the subsequent conviction of wrong doing, that you do better, become a better person, and therefore obtain eternal life. This passage today lays to rest any doubt concerning the requirement for eternal life, the promise given by God. The requirement for it is belief, faith, confession, or dedicated affirmation of the Son of God.
Please look at 1 John 2:22. We have just finished studying the section where John has encouraged us, and all believers, that they know the truth. We are studying through 1 John, and the instruction given to us by the apostle concerning our testimony and how it gives us assurance of our salvation. We should be asking ourselves, as we study this book, “What changes, what testimony, what actions am I taking differently today than I did yesterday because I am changing for Christ?” If you can give honest, heart-felt conviction answers to that question, if you can actually see Christ changing your life, and if others see it in you, you know the assurance of salvation through your testimony that this scripture gives us. Read 1 John 2:22-25.
I actually had a guy who thought he was an intellectual tell me one time that he was “comfortable in his religiosity.” Unfortunately, we were at work and I was attempting to work a way into our conversation to witness to him; but he closed the door with this statement. He indicated he did not want to hear any further discussion. I had to leave it alone. He is a really great guy too, and I pray some day I will not have to look at his tormented face across the abyss. However, if he maintains this view of God, that it is some religious thing that we can pick and choose what we believe, I will have to face him. In addition, you should know, he was Jewish – a non-practicing Jew. Many people approach life in this fashion, even some Christians do. The approach is, the Bible says all we have to do to be saved, to have eternal life, is to believe in God. Ladies and gentlemen, it is much more than that. Today we find in scripture the typical worldly response, which, for the most part, indicates, “I believe what I believe and you believe what you believe, and as long as we believe in God, we’re okay.” I am here to tell you right now, the scripture calls for something more specific than that. It is true that man can believe whatever he wants. What is also true, though, is that man is not the final arbiter of his salvation. The final arbiter is Christ Jesus who gave Himself for that specific purpose. This, therefore, is where we find ourselves today. We are finally set to a monolithic decision. Either we accept or we reject fellowship in and with Him.
I. Antichrist defined (verse 22)
When we look through scripture there are very few direct definitions offered. We have one on faith in Hebrews 11:1. We know Jesus is the Son of God from John 10:31. We are not given a definition for “redemption,” or “justification,” or “glorification” for that matter. Romans 3:24 tells us where redemption comes from, and we read how that we are justified by faith in Romans 3:28. However, these are the how’s not the definitions of the words. Theologians struggle to correlate scripture for many of these definitions. Here, though, like in Hebrews, we have a clear definition. Here we not only have a definition, but attitudes and activities that better identify these individuals. We should therefore endeavor to understand it as best we can from the scriptures.
We should know there are some quickly identifiable definitions in scripture, and one of them is what an antichrist is.
Two things people frequently ask, and that are directly tied to John and his writings are: ”What do Antichrists do? What behaviors should we expect to see?”
A. Liars deny Him
First we see that they are liars. Those who would deny Jesus as the Son of God are simply not telling the truth. In a multitude of ways, they attempt to convince you that this is the case. People may themselves claim to be able to provide salvation. This is the epitome of arrogance and takes on the assumption that they are themselves God and able to forgive sins. We see this in the super-charismatic personalities, some of which we have mentioned. Names such as Charles Taze Russell, Joseph Smith, Adolf Hitler, William Jefferson Clinton, and L. Ron Hubbard among others are mentioned on a list of charismatic leaders. Most of these people on this list we would find in the group known as liars, who would deny Christ. Even some, who have claimed to testify of Christ, used the message of our Lord to further their own agendas.
Second, we also see people who claim Christ, however they really know nothing of him. These are equally liars, however some of them may actually believe they are saved. We can see this in the efforts of Russell, Berg, Smith, Hitler, Clinton, and a new addition to the list: Barack Obama. These individuals claim to know Christ as a different person than what we find in scripture. Jesus becomes someone whom they see as a sympathizer in their supposed misfortune. They claim Jesus connects with them because He is what they are, or they know people will like them better if they do claim to know Christ as Savior.
While the first two are rather tricky and hard to spot, there are those who are more direct in their denial. We find individuals who seek their own pleasure over submission, such as Wiccans and Satanists. Yet, others just want to submit to some leadership and see their own self-abasement as a way to get closer to God in such religions as Islam, Buddhism, and Monasticism. We also find some athletes falling prey to this in their rigorous and systematic lifestyles where they worship their bodies.
There are others such as those on Wall Street who worship the dollar. There are those who worship their wives or family to a point that they forsake all for them, even God. Yet others seek acceptance and friendship or companionship in such a way that they would never want to offend someone by talking of a belief in Christ Jesus.
Therefore, we have an array of individuals whose various forms of denial define them as “liars”: from the boldest charismaticism the world has seen, to those who attempt to change the gospel for their benefit, to those who blatantly refuse to believe, and finally to those who, in their normal operation in life, just do not acknowledge Him.
We must continually seek the testimony of scripture, look at the truths that are borne out in the Word, and seek instruction in the Holy Bible in order to discern between the true believers, and those who deny Jesus Christ. Individuals who do not stand up to the test of scripture are liars.
One might ask, “Does denying Christ in any form then label them as one who denies God?” Man’s simple logic should answer this in the affirmative.
B. Antichrists deny both
In our next phrase we find the totality of denial. One might say that those who do not acknowledge God the way we acknowledge Him just do not see Him the same way, but they still worship God. The fact is that they do not. Either Jesus Christ is the Son of God and is God, or the God we worship is simply not God.
If we first say that God throughout time has required blood sacrifice for the atonement of sin (as exemplified by God covering Adam and Eve in the garden after their sin), then we say He required it of Abel who gave it, and Cain who chose not to, and therefore sinned. We back up this argument with the Levitical requirements and ceremonies throughout the Old Testament. We also support the argument with testimonies of faith such as Abraham giving Issac, and Job sacrificing for his family. We survey the entire record of scripture, and, time after time, we show the requirement for the exacting perfection of sacrifice associated with atonement as a requirement for a Holy God. Then we permit someone to say Isaiah 53 and 55 are lies. We either acknowledge His death foretold (Mk 8:31), His dominion (Is 9:6), His incarnation (Is 7:14), His kingdom (Jn 18:36), His meekness (Is 42:2), His priesthood (Heb 4:14), His prophetic office (Deut 18:18), His rejection (Is 8:14), His resurrection (Ps 16:10), His sufferings (Is 53), and His triumph (Ps 110:1) as detailed clearly in scripture, or we deny scripture and God the Father both. If we deny the Word of God, we make Him a liar, therefore not God, and not holy. If we deny the truths of scripture, we say that God is no better than man simply boasting of Himself and providing nothing of the promises He has given. If we deny the Son whom He has so frequently promised and spoken of in His scripture, then we deny God Himself.
Denying any part of God makes God a liar, makes God changeable, makes God like man. That is not God; that is Satan’s trickery. Do not fall prey to this treachery.
Who are these that deny the Son and God then? Is there a term for them?
II. Unbelievers defined (verse 23)
Once, before I was saved, I thought you could “have your cake and eat it too.” I thought that man just conceived these theistic beings and brought them about in his own mind. After all, we have so many from which to choose. I felt like many people of the world. Live and let live. Let me do my thing, and I will let you do yours. Then I sat down one time and analyzed some of these beliefs. As I studied, I found repeatedly that people in every other religion were required to do things to earn their salvation. Then one person said to me once that they do what they do because “God needs.” I thought about that and concluded that if in fact “God needs”, He is not the all-powerful God that I hear about in Christianity. I continued learning and eventually, in acknowledging the truth that is God, the one real God, I began down the road to belief. Here in verse 23 we have two polar opposites. There are those who deny the Son the secessionists, the antichrists, and the ones who do not believe He is God. Then, on the other hand are those who testify of Him, acknowledge His great majesty and power, and affirm His equality with God the Father. These are believers.
Let us take a close look at these two sides.
A. Denial of either means both
We have clearly identified the result of denial of Christ–that you deny God in the process. We have made this argument thus far based on His Word, which admittedly is the most solid foundation we can find. Our arguments were based upon the testimony of scripture in the form of prophecy that showed all the divine elements of Jesus Christ.
There are other arguments though, through scripture that we have not covered. One glaring example is in John 10:30 where we find a statement “I and my father are one.” Once again, if we claim Jesus is not God, we make Him a liar as well. Further, denying His statement as truth again denies that scripture carries truth. Take a look at Romans chapter 3.
The argument is not necessarily concerning circumcision and uncircumcision or Jew versus Gentile, as much as it is concerning the truth of God and His faithfulness. Clearly, regardless of what man thinks or does, God is faithful in either reward or condemnation. You can think what you want, but God is God and your thoughts do not change Him. Whether you believe in the Son or not, He exists. Your belief does not make God real, God makes God real.
Whether you believe in the Son or not, God is God and He has said plainly that if you do not believe in His Son, you deny Him as well.
On the other side of this argument, though, is the belief and acceptance of Christ.
B. Accepting the Son accepts both
They that confess the Son have the Father. The interesting thing is that if you deny the Son, you deny both, but if you accept even just the Son, you accept the fact that the Father exists and is acting for you. You have then acknowledged the fact that God sent His only Son to die for your sins. In acknowledging this, you are on your way to salvation. The confession and acceptance of the Son does require one more step. The Son is God, and accepting Him as God, co-equal with the Father, in this you are saved. You must truly believe. Biblical belief is based not just in an intellectual affirmation and agreement as our form of the word indicates. Biblical belief has the connotation that indicates a faith in, a resting in, or a dependence upon. It indicates a complete trusting in or reliance upon for sustenance, existence, and life. Our belief is therefore laying our dependence for our eternal life upon the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. In this, you have salvation. In this, you admit He is living with God the Father in heaven. In this, we acknowledge the virgin birth; in this, we acknowledge His vicarious atonement for our sin. In this, we confess His resurrection to defeat death and hell. In confessing that there is an existing Son of God, you confess that He lives.
If, therefore, you have never confessed Jesus Christ as the Son of God, I implore you to do that today. You must submit to His will in your life, you must give all things over to Him. You must bow down and commit your soul to the only God that can save you, Jesus Christ.
What of others that claim-to-claim Christ, but do not?
C. Empty claims
One aspect of confession is that it is with the mouth. Our tongues are wicked. Therefore, what if someone claims to know God? Ask them who their God is. What if someone says, “I’ve been religious all my life.” Tell them so were the Pharisees, Scribes, and Sadducees that persecuted and submitted Christ to Pilate for crucifixion. What about AA and their acknowledging “a higher power.” By not recognizing specifically who God is, they actually fear they will offend man. In this is the fear of man that makes man more important and of a greater fear than God. They fear man, so they do not know God. In not admitting Christ, they are not of Christ. Some claim other revelation such as Berg and his Children of God, Family of Love, or Family International. Berg concentrated on the love that Christ is but made it a disgusting thing in the flesh for his own pleasure. Beware of the empty claims of individuals who may hold up Christ, but only preach or teach a scant aspect of Him, or they attempt to just skim the surface and not reveal or confess His full glory. If you confess Christ, you must confess Him wholly and completely.
Confessing Christ Jesus as your Savior involves acknowledgement of His human form, His divinity, His eternal existence, and His singular path to salvation.
What is this confession then? How does John relay this in scripture? We will find the answers to these questions in the next post, regarding verses 24 and 25.
