Letters from the Beloved – I Don’t Know Him
We are still working on the section of 1 John 2 that is titled (in the NKJV) “Deceptions of the Last Hour” and discussing antichrists. We know that anyone who teaches anything that is false, conflicts with or adds to scripture is antichrist because he/she is working against Christ’s message.
We know that the sheep hear and respond to the voice of our Good Shepherd so that we are not fooled by antichrist rhetoric, by the power of the Holy Spirit living in us and creating that connection. And John has assured us that it
1 John 2:22-23 [NKJV] 22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. 23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.
When we think about denying Christ, we may be tempted to assume John is talking about the Jewish people of his day or ours, as well as those of other faiths like Muslims, Hindus and so forth, and, of course, atheists.
We’d be mistaken to focus on that list, though. John is writing to believers.
Similarly, we’d be wrong to focus on the kind of denial that Peter committed as outlined in passages like John 18:27. We don’t have to say, “I don’t know Jesus” to deny Him.
Our words and actions can show that we don’t really know Him – or at least that we don’t know Him as well as we should.
I must ask myself questions like
“Am I known for honesty and openness, or do I tell ‘white lies’ to get out of trouble or hide a mess up?” James 5:12 [NKJV] (latter part) tells us, “But let your "Yes" be "Yes," and [your] "No," "No," lest you fall into judgment.” Can people trust my word to be my bond?
“Am I a worker who gives my boss my best?” Colossians 3:23 [ESV] tells us, “Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”. We work for a higher power than our immediate supervisor or the corporate leaders. My performance at work should reflect that.
“Am I faithful in tithing?” [Lev. 27:30] And also, “Am I more focused on tithing than the weightier matters of the law?” [Luke 11:42]
“Am I setting a good example at home?” [Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21]
You see, if I am not a living example of Jesus, if I am not living Matthew 5:16 [NKJV] "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”, setting an example of light at home, at work, at school and in my community, then I am denying Christ.
Why do I say that? Because Christ not only came and died for us, but He was resurrected so that He could send the Holy Spirit back to dwell in us. If the Holy Spirit is dwelling in us, we should be becoming more like Christ. To do anything else is denying the whole plan and purpose for which we were created. To do anything else is to deny “Christ in us” by showing no evidence that we are becoming more like Him.
Colossians 3:23 [ESV]“Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men,”
Sweet sisters, we are always going to have more to do to be more Christ-like. We are not going to achieve perfection in this life. But it would be denying Him if I my life is not visibly reflecting some continued growth toward being more like Him.
Yes, there are religions that deny Christ Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior. But our greater worry is how our lives either show proof of His indwelling or deny His work in us.
I welcome your comments and questions. You can write me in the comments section or at Nancy@DynamicChristianMinistries.org