The dividing line of all religion, all philosophy, and all worldviews is whether Jesus is God the Son or not. There is no in-between or nuance of position, there can only be the acknowledgment or rejection of Jesus as the only begotten Son of God (John 3:16).
Think of this as the Continental Divide, that line in the Rocky Mountains that determines whether water flows towards the Atlantic or Pacific oceans. When someone rejects Jesus as the Son of God it moves them in a certain direction. They may be a good person, even compassionate and caring, but they are missing their real purpose in life. They may see Jesus as a good person, an interesting teacher, or a prophet of some stripe. They may even quote scripture, go to church, and do good things. But the center of their world is not Jesus but something or someone else, most often themselves.
The person that accepts Jesus as the Son of God is also moving in a direction. They may struggle with sin or have issues that they are fighting to overcome but there is a path and purpose before them. Jesus is their center. He is their light, their guide, the wind in their sails. When life is going good or when everything is falling apart their eyes are on Him. He is their rock and foundation, their joy and hope. “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?” (1 John 5:5)
Earlier in the same letter, John wrote, “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also.” (1 John 2:23, NASB95) You see, this one decision affects everything. It is more than choosing our personal beliefs, religion, philosophy, or ethics. It is a life and death decision that affects our daily lives and eternity.
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