#5 When They Come Knocking

Joh 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.

In the opening verses of this gospel, John is already dealing with an age-old heresy that pops up in the church, and that is, the deity of Christ. It seems people have always had a difficult time believing that Jesus can be fully man and fully God. Yet John boldly states in this first verse, “the Word WAS God.”

This verse is very troublesome for the doctrines of the Mormons and the Jehovah Witnesses. So they changed it. The Mormon Bible writes Jn1:1 this way: ”In the beginning was the gospel preached through the Son. And the gospel was the Word. And the Word was with the Son, and the Son was with God, and the Son was of God,"

Did you catch that? Not WAS God but was WITH God! Not WAS God but WAS OF God! Huge difference!

The Jehovah Witnesses Bible has Jn 1:1 stated this way:  In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god. A god? You gotta be kidding me.  

They will talk about many things trying to proselytize you, but chances are they won’t talk about their doctrine concerning the deity of Christ, nor should you let them. You should never let the conversation go that far! Let me explain.

2Jo 1:7 says, “For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.

 8 Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward.  9 Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.

Stern words, but vital! The Father and the Son are One! Jesus was/is fully God and fully man

Now, here’s what I mean when I say, “don’t let the conversation get that far.” Heed John’s advice in 1 Jn 10,11 when these charlatans come to your door!

  10 If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him;  11 for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds.

“Oh, but I would feel bad about that! It’s impolite! It seems unchristian.” It may seem that way, but it is biblical obedience. This is God’s way of dealing with those who deny that Jesus is the Christ the Son of the Living God!

When they knock on your door, answer it and have these verses from 1 John ready. Open your Bible and ask them to read it aloud, then tell them, (in a spirit of love) “I am aware of what you believe about Jesus, and the Word of God compels me to ask you to leave my doorstep now!”  Then quietly close the door and pray for the salvation of their souls.

The silently closed door will be a stronger witness than any arguments you may come up with to defend the deity of Christ, because the closed door is God’s ordained witness to these anti-Christs. Who knows if they would run into a few more closed doors, maybe they would rethink their position on who Jesus really is!