Word for the day by Christian Education Forum

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We believe in Holy Trinity
1 John 2:18-25
Vs. 22: “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son." 
Apostle John is admonishing the believers to be beware or watchful of heretics and their false teachings. Not all false teachers are from without; some of them were formerly within the church. However, they did not continue in the fellowship and teachings of the apostles. It is quite evident from their false teachings that they did not belong' in the first place. How do we recognize these false teachers? John says that those who deny the deity of Jesus are false teachers. They deny that Jesus is the Messiah (Hebrew) or the Christ (Greek) foretold in the Old testament by the prophets. John calls these teachers liars and antichrists.

In the fullness of time God sent his Son into the world to save the world. "Whosoever that believes in the Son shall not perish, but has eternal life" (John 3:16). This is the central theme of the Gospel preached by the apostles. Jesus was not just a moral teacher, or a mighty prophet who performed great miracles. The Gospel very clearly states that Jesus is the Christ come in flesh. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God (John 1:1, NRSV). "And the Word became flesh and lived among us and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father's only son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14, NRSV) 

In the Gospel we read that while Jesus and his disciples were at Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples "who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God”. Jesus then told him "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven and on this rock I will build my church." (Matthew 16: 13-19, NRSV).

In other words, the Christian church is built on the affirmation of faith that Jesus is the Christ. This is the Gospel preached by the apostles. The Holy Spirit, “the Spirit of Truth', enables a Christian to accept Peter's faith proclamation as his/her own. Apostle John in very clear and unambiguous term states that "Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either, and he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also" (Vs 23). 

However, we should remember that the understanding that Jesus is the Messiah should not be just cerebral or intellectual alone. It should be coupled with, or followed by the faith declaration of Apostle Thomas. When the risen Lord appeared to Thomas and asked him not to be a doubter, but to verify that Jesus is risen indeed from the dead by touching the nail marks in hands and reaching out to touch his side, Thomas replied “My Lord and my God" (John 20:28, NRSV). If we believe that Jesus is the Messiah as Peter, and accept Him as our Lord and savior as Thomas, then we are anointed by the Holy Spirit and we have the promise of eternal life. 
PRAYER
Almighty God, our Heavenly Father, we thank you for sending your Only Begotten Son to save us from our sins and make us your children. Help us to live a life worthy of the calling. Amen.

Thought of the day
“This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners" (1 Timothy 1:15).

Dr. Mathew K. Sadhu
Bethel Mar Thoma Church, Frankfort

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