Welcome to the Hope Bible School verse-by-verse Bible study of 1 John. This is Jeff M Newman. Get a new lesson every other week on Mondays at 12:00 PM Pacific.
In Lesson 59 we are going to study the first part of 1 John 2:23.
Let’s read this part of the verse.
1 John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father…
Now, let’s go over the definition of the words.
Whoever (3956. pas) — means all, every, or anyone of every kind.
Denies (720. arneomai) — means to continually reject or disown.
The Son (3588. ho, hé, to) (5207. huios) – refers specifically to Jesus, the Son of God.
Does not have (2192. echó) – means does not possess or does not hold.
The Father (3588. ho, hé, to) (3962. patér) — refers to God the Father.
In other words, anyone who continually rejects or denies Jesus, the Son of God, does not possess a relationship with God the Father.
Jesus and the Father are inseparable.
To reject the Son is to reject the very revelation of the Father, for Jesus is the exact representation of God's nature (Hebrews 1:3).
You cannot truly know or have fellowship with the Father apart from the Son, because it is through Jesus that the Father has made Himself known.
This verse emphasizes the centrality of Christ in our faith — knowing God begins and continues through a relationship with Jesus.
In Luke 10:16, we read that anyone who rejects Jesus also rejects the One who sent Him. This shows us that a relationship with Jesus is essential in order to have a relationship with God the Father.
Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
In John 3:36, we read that whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on them. The truth about God is inseparable from the truth about Jesus.
John 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life. Whoever rejects the Son will not see life. Instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”
In John 8:19, Jesus is speaking directly to the Pharisees. These are religious leaders that are trying to trap Jesus. They claimed to follow God but rejected Jesus. Jesus pointed out that if they truly knew the Father, they would recognize Him as the Son of God. You cannot claim to know or follow God while rejecting Jesus.
John 8:19 “Where is Your Father?” they asked Him. “You do not know Me or My Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew Me, you would know My Father as well.”
In John 14:6, we read that Jesus is the exclusive path to the Father. There is no alternative route to the Father apart from Him.
John 14:6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.
In John 15:23, we read that whoever hates Jesus also hates the Father. This reveals that the Father and the Son are inseparably united in their nature and purpose.
John 15:23 Whoever hates Me hates My Father as well.
In 1 Timothy 2:5, we read that there is one God and one mediator between God and humanity—Christ Jesus. If someone rejects Jesus, they cannot be reconciled to God and will remain separated from Him. To have a relationship with God the Father, one must come through Jesus and accept Him.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
In 1 John 4:3, we read that the key to having a true relationship with God is to acknowledge Jesus. Anyone who does not confess Jesus is not from God but is influenced by the spirit of the antichrist. This means they are outside true Christian fellowship. It highlights the serious consequences of denying or refusing to confess Jesus.
1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
In 2 John 1:9, we read that anyone who goes ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God. This means that a person who departs from the foundational truths about Christ—His identity, His message, and His work—breaks fellowship with God. However, those who remain steadfast in Christ’s teaching have a living relationship with both God the Father and God the Son. Faithfulness to the truth of Christ is essential for genuine fellowship with God.
2 John 1:9 Anyone who runs ahead without remaining in the teaching of Christ does not have God. Whoever remains in His teaching has both the Father and the Son.
In conclusion, when a person rejects or denies Jesus, they do not possess a relationship with God the Father.
Here are the key takeaways:
Rejecting Jesus is the same as rejecting the One who sent Him. (Luke 10:16)
Those who reject the Son will not see life; God's wrath remains on them. ( John 3:36)
Anyone who does not know Jesus does not truly know the Father. (John 8:19)
Jesus is the only way to reach the Father—there is no other path. (John 14:6)
Hating Jesus means hating the Father as well. (John 15:23)
Jesus alone mediates between God and humanity. Rejecting Him means remaining separated from God. (1 Timothy 2:5)
Refusing to confess Jesus aligns a person with the spirit of the antichrist. (1 John 4:3)
Anyone who does not remain in Christ’s teaching has no relationship with God. (2 John 1:9)
A relationship with Jesus is the foundation of knowing God and receiving eternal life. Without Him, we are separated from the Father, but through Him, we have access to true peace, purpose, and salvation. Stay rooted in Christ, for He is the only way to the Father.
Let’s read the first part of 1 John 2:23 one more time.
1 John 2:23 Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father…
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Thank you and God bless you.
Jeff M Newman
(Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash. Berean Standard Bible.)
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