God sent His only begotten Son into this world to teach us about Him and to sacrifice Himself for our sins. Christ’s teaching about God and about Himself isn’t just close enough to the truth but is the truth. He pledged His name, His glory, and His life upon the truth He taught. And since He suffered and died for us to get it right, therefore we must get it right. Close enough isn’t good enough.
The Father and His Son know each other and agree with each other completely: “All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and he to whomsoever the Son will reveal him” (Mat 11:27); “All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knoweth who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him” (Luk 10:22); “I am one that bear witness of myself, and the Father that sent me beareth witness of me” (Jhn 8:18); “As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father” (Jhn 10:15); “I and my Father are one” (Jhn 10:30).
Only the Son of God has seen His Father God, “No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him” (Jhn 1:18), “Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father” (Jhn 6:46). The Son’s teaching about His Father and about Himself is the truth and anyone teaching differently either doesn’t know what they’re talking about, or they’re purposely teaching differently. Highly educated ministers are smart enough and knowledgeable enough to get this most essential right. If they’re teaching it wrong, however, then the only reasonable conclusion is that it’s willful and intentional—they shouldn’t be heard.
Jesus Christ said, “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent” (Jhn 17:3). And John taught, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (1Jo 5:20). Eternal life is knowing the only true God and His Son Jesus Christ—getting it wrong means perishing. Close enough isn’t good enough.
God became the Father by virtue of having begotten His Son. And He sent His only begotten Son into this evil and sinful world having appointed His sufferings, sending Him into those sufferings, then witnessing every moment of His sufferings. Can any parent imagine such? God loves us that much, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son” (Jhn 3:16), “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world” (1Jo 4:9). Since the Father gave the most for us, do we think that giving back less will suffice? Do we think that close enough will be good enough?
Furthermore, it’s also about our unworthiness to be loved, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:7-8), “For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself” (Heb 12:3). The immense chasm between His great love and the objects of His love further attests that close enough won’t be good enough.
Considering all the Father and the Son sacrificed and suffered so we could know them in truth, will they accept what’s close enough as good enough? Jesus said, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit [breath] and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him” (Jhn 4:23). Since the Father seeks those that will worship Him in truth, He sent His Son to teach us the truth. And since His Son accomplished what He was sent to do, will the Father accept worship of Him that’s any less than the truth? His Son Jesus Christ ensured that we would get it right, therefore close enough isn’t good enough.
Today especially, with the wide availability of Bibles and study tools, we have more than enough help to get the right view of God and no excuses for getting it wrong. Throughout history many people got it right about God with far less resources and advantages than we have. Why would it be acceptable for us to get it wrong with more when they got it right with less? This evil world system with all of its problems, distractions, and entices, lulls us to lethargy—we just don’t have the time or the desire to search the Scriptures and seek God prayerfully with all our hearts. Since any view of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ that’s not entirely right is wrong, will we stake our eternal destiny on close enough being good enough?
Understanding Scripture 