1 John 2:20-23

"But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and all of you know the truth. I do not write to you because you don't know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. Who is the liar? It is the man who denies that Jesus is the Christ. Such a man is the antichrist - he denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also." 1 John 2:20-23

John affirms that he is writing to those who know Christ, those who have been set free by the truth, but is warns about those among them who deny the truth about Jesus. They may be religious and have fervor for "the Father" but they deny the Son. John makes the point that true faith has to acknowledge Jesus. If you deny Jesus, then you have denied the Father no matter how devout you might be toward God. The opposite is true as well, that if you acknowledge the Jesus then you have the Father. This is one of many litmus tests for the truth. What does a person believe about Jesus? If a person denies the truth about Jesus, then they are a liar and do not know God! So what is the truth about Jesus? Jesus is the Son of the living God, fully God yet fully man, and perfect by nature (born of the virgin Mary) and by practice (He was sinless). He took on flesh to share our humanity, not just to relate to us, but to satisfy God's wrath by offering Himself as a sacrifice for the sin of mankind. This is the truth! Do you believe it? Any attempt to be right with God apart from Jesus Christ is a LIE! He is the way, the TRUTH, and the life, and no ones comes to the Father except through Him (John 14:6). God's plan is that we are hopeless and helpless on our own, but Jesus will exchange our sin for His righteousness, making us acceptable to God. Why is it that we try to get to God on our own? I think of a hamster running on its wheel. It keeps moving and moving but going no where. We can try all we want, but we will never measure up to a Holy and Righteous God! It is bondage, and that is why I can't stand religion! Only through a relationship with Christ can you be acceptable to God! Quit trying to score points...its futile! I'm rambling... I could write a book about this, and it is something near to my heart because I see this happening everywhere. Maybe I'll do that, but not here...

God, thank You for revealing truth to us through the life, death, and resurrection of Your Son. I thank You for the salvation I have in Him alone. Thank You that I don't have to live in bondage trying to fruitlessly be acceptable to You. I am accepted based on Your Son and His gift of righteousness. Help me to live as a testimony to Your great love and grace!

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