Today's encouragement comes from 1 John 2:22, where we read these words:
“Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the anti-christ, he who denies the Father and the Son.”Everyone who hears the clear gospel message, and yet continues to deny that Jesus is the Christ, is a liar. They are liars, because they know the truth, and yet willfully deny it. The gentle apostle (John) is even compelled to call these people “antichrists.”
The reason unrepentant sinners deny that Jesus is the Christ is not because of a lack of intelligence; rather, it is a stubborn insistence on maintaining their own alleged “righteousness.” Christ is the only true righteousness. All God’s authentic children embrace Him in faith and love.
[Puritan quote of the day: "Keep conscience clear and clean from secret sins. . . . Will you be so bold as to come before the God of heaven when He knows you maintain some secret sin in your hearts?” —Samuel Lee, in, "Secret Prayer Successfully Managed"]
