“Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also” – 1 John 2:22-23
Acknowledge is one of those words that through the lines of time has been diluted in definition. Today, we would define the word acknowledge as recognition, or admittance. However, in the text above, I would submit acknowledge has a much stronger meaning. It could be compared closer to confession or ownership. It is the difference in a husband saying: “That’s my wife.” And saying: “Yea, I’m married.”
If you study the crucifixion accounts found in the Gospels you will find Peter’s denial of Christ. Personally, I believe this accurately illustrates the word acknowledge in scripture. Peter the disciple (this is that Peter before the Holy Spirit came) was following close behind Jesus after Jesus was arrested. When he stopped to warm himself by the fire some strangers noticed him and confronted him. “You were with him.” Talking about Jesus, but Peter denied he was with Him. Then they pressed the matter: “Yes, you were.” Pete denied again. Finally, they said, “Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth (betray) thee.” So, Peter (in one account) began to curse and swear; I believe he hoped his foul language would distance him from the Savior and further punctuate his denial of Christ. Peter denied Christ three times. He refused to acknowledge Him. He would not own Jesus. He would not confess Jesus, and he would not identify with Jesus. Why not? Because to acknowledge Christ in that moment would have been to potentially accept the same fate as Christ. Peter’s zeal could only carry him so far, and when the threat of death came close to his heart the presence of carnality pushed back. This would only last for about a month, because Peter would repent, and shortly the Holy Ghost would fill Peter’s heart and purge out that carnality to give him the power to preach Jesus. Death had lost its sting because sin lost its strength. He would acknowledge the Son and the Father openly to the people, because he was in total acceptance of Christ. Peter’s life witnessing to his words. When John uses the word acknowledge in First John chapter two, this word trends closer to identity with and ownership, then simply recognition. It costs everything to confess Jesus, to acknowledge Him as the Son of God and Lord of your life. Today we hunger for recognition, as well as acceptance, but we settle for a third party, superficial acknowledgement. All the likes, thumbs up, comments, and shares. It is all based around "recognize me", "acknowledge me", "accept me" in the most uncommitted way. Then we try to turn around and treat Jesus this way. I will post, like, and comment; but I am not going to confess. I am not going to own Him as my Savior. I am not going to allow Him to be Lord over my life. In other words: “I might pray a prayer, but don’t trouble me about love and devotion to Him.” You might acknowledge he is there, but do you confess that he is yours?
In the book of Isaiah chapter forty-three, verse one: “But now thus saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not: for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name; thou art mine.” Jesus owned us long before we would own him. He loved us when we were unworthy and paid the price so that we could be His. To deny Christ is refusing your chance at heaven, and forever alienating God’s love from your life. Acknowledging Christ is the only way to Christ, and ultimately too heaven. It takes more than a couple prayers, or a hand raise; you must go into identity with Jesus, meaning repent of your sins and seek the Holy Ghost through invitation. Open invitation, total commitment to Christ; acknowledging Him as Lord.
