Exclusive Truth Claims

Anyone who runs ahead of Jesus and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.

2 John 9

How important is Jesus? Without Him you cannot be with God. Without Him you cannot be in His Presence or experience His goodness. Jesus said that He was ‘the way, the truth and the life’ and that nobody could come to the Father ‘except by me’ (John 14:6). Here in 2 John it’s expressed in verse 9. If you don’t continue in the teaching of Christ, you do not ‘have God.’ If you do continue in the teaching, you have both the Father and the Son.

This truth drives people crazy, I know. Our culture does not embrace exclusive truth claims. The only ‘absolute truth’ is that all truth is relative (smile). Our culture has ‘run ahead’ and no longer continues in the teaching of Jesus. Most everyone wants Jesus because of how great, awesome and loving He is, but not everyone has Him truly because they do not embrace His teaching.

God’s grace is amazing… and there is nothing that God won’t forgive by His grace. His grace is found in Jesus Christ, His Son, and through the blood that He shed on the cross for the sins of people. All people can receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. This requires the realization of sin and the need to have sins forgiven which requires humility before our Holy God. Not everyone will do this. What’s more, those who vocally oppose this truth will often claim ‘love.’ It doesn’t seem loving to speak of judgment against sin. I, however, can’t think of anything more loving than the cross of Jesus Christ.

I need to continue to live out the truth of Jesus and His teaching in my life. There’s no one like Him who has done what He has done. It is human pride to say anything differently. How arrogant it is, not to say that Christ is the only way, but that this way from God isn’t sufficient enough… or loving enough.

I have the tendency to downshift when people defuse the truth claims of Jesus. I need to see these as open doors for the Gospel instead! Always in love and with great respect, as Peter wrote (1 Peter 3:15), but never backing away from the truth about Christ.

Lord Jesus, fill me with Your Spirit today so that I can be both bold and loving – exactly as You were during Your earthly ministry. Make me like You! Thank You for the grace that I’ve found at the cross. There is no one like You and I live for You today…