Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:22

 Who is the Liar? 1 John 2:22

John, the young disciple of Jesus, but now an old man, is fighting

for the life of the 1st century church. The apostles have

preached and thousands have believed, but there are also sinister

teachers that are leading people astray. Why? Perhaps they have

good intentions, and are just in error. More likely they have not only

false knowledge but also malicious intentions. They have seen the

attention and honor the apostles have received, and they may want

to make a name for themselves by creating a distinctive following

for themselves. Don’t be fooled. This is not just a 1st century

occurrence. It still happens today.

John runs through a few arguments to teach the Church what to

look for in “real” Christianity. In our text, John asks the question,

“Who is the liar?” The answer lies not with obscure doctrines and

fine points of disagreement. His answer: “He who denies that

Jesus is the Christ.”

“The Christ” is the One anointed and appointed by God to be

the Point Man in the mission to create “the people of God.” The

people cannot do so themselves, and must be redeemed, saved, by

One who stands firmly in God’s holiness but who is also able to bear

man’s sinfulness. Jesus Christ, the God-man, is the One, the only

One, who is able to do so.

The Jewish people, in large part, accept the hope of a “Christ” or

“Messiah,” but they do not accept that Jesus is that Person. Jesus, in

their eyes, was a problem, an imposter, who led people away from

proper attention to and obedience of the Law of Moses.

But it is not just unbelieving (in Jesus) Jews who fall into the “liar”

category. It is also any other religion who does not see and accept

Jesus as the central figure in procuring our salvation. Moslems share

some heritage with Jews, but they do not accept Jesus as the Christ.

Cults may adopt many features of the Christian faith, but in some

way diminish the perfect necessity of Jesus Christ being both

fully God and fully man.

When Jesus met the Emmaus Road disciples soon after the

resurrection and spoke with them without their knowing that He

was indeed the risen Lord, He asks them, “Was it not necessary

for the Christ to suffer these things and enter into His

glory?” Isaiah 53, in particular, in the Old Testament, makes clear

that “the Christ” would be a Servant who would suffer for the

people that He came to save, who would then become God’s own

people. It is a central truth; central enough that if you don’t agree,

you are a liar.