The Importance of the THE
Simon Peter answered and said, “You are THE Christ, THE Son of the living God.” (Matthew 16:16 NKJV)
Not A Christ, but THE Christ
Paying attention to details is helpful when understanding the truth of Scripture. Peter was asked, “Whom do men say that I am?” The answer was that some thought that the Lord was one of the prophets of old that had been somehow resurrected and was now doing miracles. They could accept such a miracle but could not accept the truth that Peter confessed. “Thou art THE (the one and only) Christ (Messiah), THE (one and only) Son of the Living God.” I realize we become children of God by faith, but there is only one Son of God. Angels are referred to as sons of God, believers are children of God, but only the Lord Jesus Christ is THE SON OF GOD.
Not THE Antichrist, but a(n) Antichrist
The Apostle John says, “Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour (1 John 2:18 NKJV).” As I understand the NT Greek, there is a word for the definite article “the”. But often it is not there and is supplied by the translators because it can be implied though not actually in the original manuscript. This appears to be one of those cases. The KJV leaves the definite article out as do other translations.
In the context, John is worried about MANY antichrists, not just one. As a matter of fact there is no reference to THE antichrist in the New Testament where the original manuscripts clearly use the definite article. We know that there is one “man of sin” or “son of perdition” according to 2 Thessalonians 2:3. That is likely why so many commentators talk about THE Antichrist. But while there is only ONE Son of God, there are many antichrists. Obviously an antichrist, like Satan in the Garden of Eden, questions the truth of Scripture. How much of the truth of what has been providentially preserved for us as Scripture can be questioned and set aside before we become “antichrist?” It is tempting in our day to talk about the essential truths and the nonessential truths. I wonder which of the truths of Scripture are nonessential as far as the Lord is concerned? I haven’t figured that out yet. And because I haven’t figured that out, I am often called “legalistic.”
Pick Your Poison
Obviously, there are major religions that deny the truth that Jesus is the (one and only) Christ, the son of the living God. But among those religions that say that they believe in the truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, there are great differences of opinion with regard to the plan of salvation and with regard to Paul’s writings. It is possible to find someone who has a position of authority within the so-called church today that will promote Satan’s, “Yea hath God said?” approach to Christianity. I realize that there are difficulties when it comes to interpreting the Bible, but we should all have come to the conclusion that if God said it, then that should settle it. If we haven’t come to that conclusion, then we are all in some sense becoming anti (against or opposed to) Christ.
I am saved because I realized that God said that Christ died for me. I believed or trusted that and that settled it. As a result of my salvation experience I realize that I cannot pick and choose what parts of the Bible I want to believe. I believe we need to be careful that we are not being “spoiled” by philosophy (where we say, “it seems to me”) or vain deceit (where we say, “I don’t believe that God would say or do that).” See Galatians 2:8).
Which?
Who are you and I going to believe? Are we going to believe one of the many antichrists (some of which claim to be Christians) or THE CHRIST, THE SON OF THE LIVING GOD?”
Bruce Collins
Meditation for the week of February 26, 2023