The Pastor is currently preaching a series on end times. One of the points he has touched on is the different views within the church concerning the times and events of the last days. A literal interpretation (highly recommended) leads us to this perspective right here, another type of interpretation heads us over there, and so on. There are certainly other matters within the Body where debate is more the norm than agreement. It should be understood that the reason for this is not found in infallible Scripture, but rather within fallible man.

Unfortunately, in these last days pretty much everything (including the absolute essentials of the Faith) have been tossed on the table as fair game. As a result false teachers producing fraudulent disciples permeate the church. The Apostle Paul warned the Ephesians and us of this very thing: “For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after themselves.” (Acts 20:29-30) Later Paul instructs the faithful to “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2Tim 2:15) Paul was telling us to become so familiar with the truth we can spot a liar and a lie in a heartbeat.

The Apostle John also speaks much of this in his epistles. He exhorts us to “not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” (I John 4:1) The false teachers then and now preach and teach a different Jesus than the inspired Scriptures. Jesus is a goody-two-shoes which we need to emulate. Jesus is a sloppy agape purveyor of “it-makes-me-feel-good” love. Jesus is the manifestation of the ultimate social worker. Jesus is the spirit guide of the new age. Jesus is a ticket to be healthy, wealthy and wise. John tells us these “…are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (I John 4:5-6)

The Apostle John then gives us a further description as he explains “many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist…” and “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” (II John vs. 7,9)

Yes folks, there are some issues and subjects we can contend over in Christendom - but the doctrine of the nature and deity of Jesus Christ is not among them. “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which he testified of His Son. He who believes in the Son of God has the witness in himself; he who does not believe God, has made Him a liar, because he has not believed the testimony that God has given of His Son. And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (I John 5: 9-12)

That is as clear as a sunny cloudless sky. No debating there. He who has the Son has life - is that you? He who does not have the Son of God does not have life - or is that you? It’s one or the other.