What does denying Jesus as the Christ imply about one's faith? Key Verse to Keep in View “Who is the liar, if not the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son.” (1 John 2:22) What Does “Denying Jesus as the Christ” Mean? • Rejecting His messianic identity—refusing to accept that Jesus is the promised Savior • Dismissing His deity—denying that He is fully God and fully man • Disowning His exclusive role—refusing His authority as the only Mediator and Lord (cf. Acts 4:12; 1 Timothy 2:5) Immediate Implications John Gives • A life built on falsehood—John calls such a person “the liar” • Alignment with the antichrist spirit (cf. 1 John 2:18; 4:3)—opposing Christ instead of confessing Him • Breach with the Father—denying the Son severs genuine fellowship with God (1 John 2:23) • Loss of truth’s anchor—truth is not merely ideas but bound up in the Person of Christ (John 14:6) Wider Biblical Echoes • John 8:24 — “Unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” Rejection of Christ leaves sin unforgiven. • Matthew 10:33 — “Whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny before My Father in heaven.” Public denial has eternal consequence. • 2 John 7, 9 — False teachers who “do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh” do “not have God.” • Hebrews 10:29 — Treating the blood of Christ as “an unholy thing” invites terrifying judgment. What Denial Reveals About One’s Faith • No saving relationship—faith that will not affirm Jesus as Messiah is not biblical faith. • Spiritual blindness—2 Corinthians 4:4 speaks of minds “blinded” to the light of the gospel of Christ. • Moral rebellion—denial is not mere ignorance; it is willful opposition to God’s revealed truth. • Absence of the Spirit—1 Corinthians 12:3 says only by the Holy Spirit can one confess, “Jesus is Lord.” Contrast: The Power of Confession • Romans 10:9 — “If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” • 1 John 4:15 — “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” • A true confession unites us to both Father and Son, securing forgiveness, adoption, and eternal life. Takeaway for Today • Guard doctrine—cling to the biblical witness about Christ. • Discern teaching—test every spirit against Scripture’s portrait of Jesus. • Boldly confess—declare Jesus as the Christ in word and life, demonstrating genuine faith that endures. |
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