Saturday, December 6, 2008

1 John 2:22-25 - Pluralism

Scripture:

1 John 2:22-25
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.
23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.
24 As for you, 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 This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life.
NASU


Thoughts:

The answer to pluralism is here.  Modern thought has led us to the belief that all philosophies and religious viewpoints are equally valid and true.  The Bible stands in stark contrast to this assertion.

There are many today who like to say that they follow "Christ" while rejecting His teachings in the New Testament and rejecting the God of the Bible.  Others say as long as you follow "God" that we're all following the same entity, it's just a matter of what tradition you choose to follow that gives this being a name.

But without even examining these other points of view in depth, these verses render pluralism obsolete.  You cannot know God if you reject Jesus, the Son (verse 23).  And Jesus cannot be divorced from God the Father.  They are two Persons of the triune Godhead, inseparable.  Therefore, You cannot truly follow Christ, while rejecting God the Father.

And what is at stake in all of this?  The goal of every faith system, eternal life (verse 25).


Prayer:

Lord, pluralism is a cancer in our world, today.  It has even found its way into the minds of true believers.

Thank You that Your word is so clear.  Only an irrational rejection of the clear teachings of the Bible, could lead someone to believe pluralism is true, perhaps coupled with a superficial understanding of the competing philosophies and varying religious views.

Help me to reach out to those around me who are infected by this deceptive point of view.  Help me to lovingly share with them the good news that they can know objectively, what is true.  Eternity is not a gamble, it's a guarantee for all who bow their knee to the true Christ, Who has revealed Himself in the Bible.

Amen

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB.