Go! And Confess the True Christ - 1 John 2:22
“And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.”
Introduction: Knowing the Real Jesus Matters
Church, I want to begin with a question that echoes through eternity:
Who do you say Jesus is?
Not just with your lips, but with your heart, your life, and your soul.
Because Scripture warns us—not everyone who speaks the name of Jesus knows the real Jesus. Some deny Him, others distort Him, and some even deceive themselves.
And that is the burning issue at the heart of 1 John 2:22.
Today, we continue our “Go! And…” series with this vital message:
“Go! And Confess the True Christ”
Because eternal life is not found in a concept, a creed, or a culture—it is found in Christ alone.
1. The Crisis of Denial (1 John 2:22)
“And who is a liar? Anyone who says that Jesus is not the Christ. Anyone who denies the Father and the Son is an antichrist.”
John writes this letter toward the end of the first century.
False teachers—particularly Gnostics—had crept into the church. They denied the incarnation, claiming Jesus wasn't truly human, or wasn't the Christ in the flesh.
The Greek word for “Christ” here is ???st?? (Christos), meaning “Anointed One,” the Messiah.
To deny that Jesus is the Christ is to deny the very heart of the Gospel.
John doesn’t mince words—those who do this are liars, and even more—they are antichrists. That word, ??t????st?? (antichristos), means one who is against Christ or in place of Christ.
To deny Jesus is the Christ is to deny the Father also. You can’t have one without the other.
John 14:6 (NLT): “Jesus told him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’”
There’s no other path to God. No alternate route. Deny Christ, and you are spiritually lost.
Tim Keller: “If Jesus rose from the dead, then you have to accept all that He said. If He didn’t rise from the dead, then why worry about any of what He said?”
Keller reminds us that Christ is not optional; He is central. The resurrection proves His identity. If He is the Christ, our response must be full surrender.
Our modern world offers many versions of Jesus—social reformer, wise teacher, spiritual guru—but not all are true.
We must confess Jesus as the Christ—the only Saviour, the risen Lord, the Son of God.
2. The Foundation of Truth (1 John 2:20-21)
Let’s look just two verses earlier for clarity:
“But you are not like that, for the Holy One has given you his Spirit, and all of you know the truth. So I am writing to you not because you don’t know the truth but because you know the difference between truth and lies.” (1 John 2:20–21, NLT)
God has given believers the Holy Spirit, the ???sµa (chrisma) or anointing, to discern truth from lies.
We live in an age of deception—fake news, false teaching, cultural confusion. But the Spirit leads us to Christ-centred truth.
John 16:13 (NLT): “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth.”
This isn’t about subjective feelings; it’s about Spirit-led conviction rooted in Scripture.
R.T. Kendall: “The Word and the Spirit must come together. If you have the Word without the Spirit, you dry up. If you have the Spirit without the Word, you blow up. But if you have both, you grow up.”
This is spot on. We need biblical truth empowered by the Spirit’s illumination. That’s how we know the real Jesus.
Stay rooted in the Word. Walk in the Spirit. Don’t let TikTok theology or pop-culture prophets confuse you. The truth has a name—Jesus Christ—and the Holy Spirit testifies of Him.
3. The Cost of Denying Christ (2 John 1:7, 9)
“I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist... Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God.” (2 John 1:7, 9 NLT)
John repeats the warning in his second epistle. Again, Gnostic heresy was denying the physical incarnation of Christ.
To reject the true Christ—fully God and fully man—is to cut yourself off from a relationship with God.
The word for “deny” here is ?????µa? (arneomai), meaning “to reject, disown, or repudiate.” It implies willful opposition.
This isn’t ignorance—it’s rebellion. And it is eternally dangerous.
John Piper: “Eternal life hangs on knowing and believing the right Jesus.”
Piper cuts to the core—salvation is not about sincerity, it’s about truth. We must believe in the Jesus revealed in Scripture—not the Jesus we create in our imagination.
Ask yourself: Do I believe in the real Jesus? Not just Jesus the miracle worker, or Jesus the comforter—but Jesus the Christ, the anointed Saviour, the crucified and risen King.
The Counterfeit Banknote
Bank tellers aren’t trained by studying counterfeits.
They’re trained by handling the real thing—again and again—so they immediately spot the fake.
Church, when you spend time with the real Jesus in His Word, in prayer, in worship, you’ll be able to spot spiritual counterfeits.
Don’t settle for imitations when the real Christ invites you to know Him personally.
4. The Confession of Faith (Romans 10:9–10)
“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NLT)
Paul declares that confession and belief are essential to salvation.
The word “Lord” is ?????? (kurios)—Master, Sovereign.
To confess Jesus as Lord is to submit every area of your life to His rule.
Charles Stanley: “Obedience is the key that unlocks God's blessing. But it begins with surrender to the Lordship of Christ.”
Stanley reminds us that confession is not lip service—it’s a life surrendered in obedience and trust.
It’s not enough to admire Jesus—we must acknowledge Him as Lord, believe in His resurrection, and confess Him before others.
The Rescue Helicopter
Imagine you’re stranded at sea.
A rescue helicopter hovers overhead. The rope is dropped—but you have to grab hold.
You can’t save yourself by swimming. You can’t claim there are “many ways” out of the storm. There’s only one rescue.
That’s what Jesus did. He descended into the storm of sin and death—to rescue us. But you must repent and trust Him.
The Gospel Presentation: Christ Crucified and Risen
Let me proclaim this clearly:
Jesus Christ, the Son of God, lived a sinless life.
He died on the cross to bear the penalty of your sin.
He was buried—and on the third day, He rose again, defeating sin, death, and hell.
Your good works cannot save you. Religion cannot save you.
Only Jesus saves.
And He is not one option among many—He is the only hope of salvation.
Call to Action: Respond in Faith and Obedience
Brothers and sisters, the time to be silent is over.
In a world of denial, go and confess the true Christ.
Be bold in your faith. Share Jesus with your family, friends, and community.
Study the Word. Walk in the Spirit.
Declare with your life: Jesus is Lord!
Invitation to Salvation
If you have never trusted Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, today is your moment.
Turn from your sin. Believe that Jesus died and rose again for you.
Confess Him as Lord and receive eternal life.
Pray from your heart:
“Lord Jesus, I believe You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. I confess my sins and ask for Your forgiveness. I trust in Your death and resurrection for my salvation. I surrender my life to You. Be my Lord and Saviour. In Your Name, Amen.”
Benediction: Go with Confidence
May you go out in the power of the Spirit,
Anchored in the truth of Christ,
Bold in your confession,
And filled with the joy of knowing the real Jesus.
Go! And Confess the True Christ.
