PROVISION FOR PROTECTION 'Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son" (1 John 2:22). -- Tomorrow:
"But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things . . . But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him." (1 John 2:20,27-29)
Devotion 11 of 30
The Spirit's approach to this matter contrasts rather sharply with common religious views of "the antichrist." Here, the greatest significance is placed on what is done, NOT who does it. That is, the person who "denies that Jesus is the Christ" becomes the focus of teaching. Thus, we are drawn to an activity instead of a historical person.
JESUS IS THE CHRIST
The particular lie is most significant. Although denying that Jesus is the Son of God is also mentioned (verse 23), the first point of denial is that "Jesus is the Christ." This is the first thing God revealed to Peter about Jesus – that he was "the Christ." You may recall that marvelous occasion on the coasts of Caesarea Philippi, when Peter confessed, "Thou art THE CHRIST, the Son of the living God" (Matt 16:16). Jesus declared him to be especially blessed, because His Father which is in heaven made this known to Peter (Matt 16:17). The fact that Peter confessed, was the appointed foundation upon which the very church of God would be built.
What does "THE Christ" mean? Linguistically, it means "the Anointed One," or the one upon whom the favor of God especially rests. He is the One of whom the prophets prophesied – the One who would effectively address and resolve the human dilemma. He would not meet SOME of God's requirements, but ALL of them. He would not deal PARTIALLY with the matter of man's fall, but THOROUGHLY with it. The prophets referred to a single Individual upon whom the hopes of the world absolutely depended.
Jacob spoke of "Shiloh," unto whom the people would be gathered (Gen 49:10). Job saw the faint outline of a "Redeemer" that lived and would stand on the earth in the latter day (Job 19:25). Isaiah spoke of a budding "Rod" upon Whom the Spirit of God would rest (Isa 11:1-2). He also spoke of this Person as a "Foundation Stone," and a "sure Foundation" (Isa 28:16). This Person would be God's "Servant" (Isa 42:1), a "Righteous Branch" (Jer 23:5), and "Messiah" (Dan 9:26). Everything would be addressed in a single Individual – one solitary Man! How succinctly the Lord moved Isaiah to declare it. "A MAN will be as a hiding place from the wind, and a cover from the tempest, as rivers of water in a dry place, as the shadow of a great rock in a weary land" (Isa 32:2, NKJV).
Confessing that "Jesus is the Christ" is acknowledging that He, and He alone, is God's answer to all sin has caused. There simply is no resolution anywhere else! God has made EVERYTHING dependent upon His Son, giving "all things" into His hand (John 3:35). John reminds us that his Gospel was written "that ye might believe that JESUS IS THE CHRIST, the Son of God" (John 20:31). After Saul of Tarsus was brought to faith, this is the very point he developed in the synagogues, "proving that this is VERY CHRIST" (Acts 9:22). When Paul came to Corinth he "was pressed in the spirit, and testified to the Jews that JESUS WAS CHRIST" (Acts 18:5). It was said of eloquent Apollos, "For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publicly, showing by the scriptures that JESUS WAS CHRIST" (Acts 18:28). Later in First John, the Spirit even says, "Whosoever believeth that JESUS IS THE CHRIST is born of God" (1 John 5:1).
The word "Christ," as applied to the Lord Jesus, occurs no less than sixty (60) times in the Gospels. It is found four hundred and fifty three 453 times in Romans through Jude, and eleven (11) times in the book of Revelation. Five Hundred and fifty-five times! Included are the phrases "Jesus Christ," "Jesus the Christ," "Lord Jesus Christ," "Christ the Lord," "the Lord's Christ," "Christ the Savior," and "Lord and Christ." By way of comparison, the word "church" appears seventy-seven (77) times "Love" is found one hundred and seventy nine (179) times. "Commandments" is found thirty-two times.
If the blessing of God is sought, our attention must be drawn to God's "Christ" – the solitary Person whom He has anointed to bring men to Himself. Our priorities cannot be turned from Him, else we will be lost. Should we allow any person, institution, or thing to supercede Jesus, salvation will be forfeited, and we will find ourselves engaged in war against the Son of God. There is no salvation anywhere else! No help, protection, or strength can be obtained apart from "the Lord's Christ."
But now comes "the liar" who denies this is the case. He offers hope in something OTHER than Christ. It may be in himself, his teaching, an institution, of even a discipline of life. But what is offered does not require the Lord Jesus Christ. In His relations with mankind, God Himself cannot do without Christ. Yet, "the liar" offers a way to God that has little or no room for God's Anointed One. He does not see or present "the Christ" as the ONLY way to the Father. He denies Christ the place of PROMINENCE, which the Father has already given Him. He does not make things ABSOLUTELY dependent upon Christ. More significance is placed upon a theological position, a particular activity, a belief system, or liturgical routine – but THE emphasis is NOT placed upon "the Christ."
To "deny Jesus is the Christ" is not simply to make a statement to that effect. It is to refuse Christ the place of unbounded prominence. It is to hold out to men, in the name of the Lord, something that actually overshadows Christ, pushing Him into the background of human thought and purpose. O, the tragedy of such a thing! To offer resolutions to the sin-problem that ignore Jesus is to deny HE is "the Christ." Surely, you must know there are impressive and dominating religious systems that do not have Christ at their center – if, indeed, they have made provision for Him at all.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, I thank You that the focus has always, and continues to be, the Person of Jesus Christ – YOUR Christ.