Confessing Jesus, the God-man
What was one of the issues John faced in his time; and what does he say is another mark of a true prophet? 1 John 4:1, 2.
One of the problems in John’s day was the question over the human nature of Christ. Was He really flesh and blood, or did He, as some taught, only appear to have a body? To understand and confess that Jesus was truly human became so important to John that he declared it to be a test of a true prophet.
This test is broader than simply to believe that Jesus became a human being. It includes everything the Bible teaches about Jesus. He took on humanity for a purpose. He became man in order to live a sinless life, and then die for sinful humanity. But more than that, He became man so that after His resurrection and ascension He could minister for us in the heavenly sanctuary. Our High Priest is one Who is able to understand us and can sympathize with our weaknesses, because He was tempted in every way human beings are tempted (Heb. 4:14, 15).
Every true prophet will point people to Jesus, the God-man, who is the Savior and example of all humanity. Ellen G. White’s life was devoted to doing just that. She wrote, “Jesus Christ is everything to us,—the first, the last, the best in everything. Jesus Christ, His Spirit, His character, colors everything; it is the warp and woof, the very texture of our entire being. . . . Christ is a living Saviour. Continuing to look unto Jesus, we reflect His image to all around us.”—Messages to Young People, p. 161.
Why is it so important that true prophets exalt Jesus Christ? Acts 4:12.
The ecumenical spirit and postmodern thinking have permeated almost all Christian churches today, in the process eroding the uniqueness of Christianity and especially the importance of Jesus Christ as Savior of the world. In contrast, Ellen White wrote: “The only hope for fallen man is to look to Jesus and receive Him as the only Saviour.”—Testimonies to Ministers, p. 367. “Only Bible truth and Bible religion will stand the test of the judgment.”—Fundamentals of Christian Education, p. 127. “Let us lift up Jesus, the Saviour of men. Talk of his love, tell of his power.”—Signs of the Times, March 18, 1889. See also Friday’s lesson.
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