1John 2:22 - 25

We spoke last week about a special anointing from the Holy Spirit, from God Himself, that imparts His will and situational knowledge that we could not know otherwise. In fact John uses a different word for knowledge which is knowledge by perception or intuition (eidō) rather than experiential knowledge (ginosko), used earlier.

So this morning we pick in 1 John in verse 22.

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.

24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

28 And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. 29 If you know that He is righteous, you know that everyone who practices righteousness is born of Him.

Verse 22 is stunning when understood.

22 Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son.

This one of those exclusive statements that give many heartburn. What is John saying here in plain English?

In Greek it reads identical to the NKJV. Liar in Greek is pseustēs , we have seen this before. Where we get our word pseudo.

Denies is arneomai in Greek. Its is used in these ways:

to deny

to deny someone

to deny one's self

to disregard his own interests or to prove false to himself

act entirely unlike himself

to deny, abnegate, abjure

not to accept, to reject, to refuse something offered

The 4th is the applicable usage here.

What does it mean to deny that Jesus is the Christ? Christ comes from the Greek Christos, which comes from the Hebrew “the anointed one or Messiah.

So true saving faith in Christ requires some personal revelation of Him to the individual even though the new believer does not understand all that Jesus is. In time Jesus will reveal Himself to each believer.

Ultimately we must put our faith in the Jesus revealed in His word. Which is why sound doctrine or teaching is so important.

So. do we have to believe that Jesus is God to be saved?

the man born blind answered the Pharisees when questioned : 25 He answered and said, “Whether He is a sinner or not I do not know. One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see.”

Article: Must we believe Jesus is God

Verse 22b & 23 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.

The Father and the Son come together. Jesus said He and His Father are one. He said if you have seen me you have seen the Father.

So when a JW says that Jesus was the first creation not the creator. and change to say he is a god not The God, they are a liar.

Memorize verse 23. You might think you know the Father without Jesus, but you don’t.

Verse 24 & 25

Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.

And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life.

Therefore refers to what was said previously, the Father comes by way of the Son, let that reality “marinate” your soul. Abide is an active imperative, meaning this is an order to be continuously obeyed.

If we obey this command, we will abide or remain. and thus have the promise of Verse 25 - Eternal Life.

In Greek it reads life (zōē) the eternal (aiōnios) meaning:

without beginning and end, that which always has been and always will be

without beginning

without end, never to cease, everlasting