How does 1 John 4:2 help us discern true teachings about Jesus? Opening the Passage: 1 John 4:2 “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.” What the Verse Says—Plain and Simple • “Every spirit” = every message, teaching, or influence we encounter • “Confesses” = openly agrees, proclaims, and aligns with • “Jesus Christ” = the promised Messiah, fully God and fully man • “Has come in the flesh” = took on real human nature, entered history, died, rose, ascended • “Is from God” = authored, empowered, and endorsed by the Holy Spirit Why the Incarnation Is the Litmus Test • Scripture treats Jesus’ true humanity and deity as non-negotiable (John 1:14; Colossians 2:9). • Denying either aspect assaults the gospel itself (1 John 2:22-23). • A teacher who gets Jesus wrong will mislead on everything else—salvation, Scripture, ethics, hope. Common Modern Denials 1. “Jesus was only a great moral teacher.” 2. “Christ was a divine idea, not a physical person.” 3. “The resurrection is symbolic, not bodily.” 4. “Jesus became divine later, but wasn’t eternally God.” Any teaching that drifts into these statements fails the 1 John 4:2 test. Supporting Voices from the Rest of Scripture • John 1:14 — “The Word became flesh and tabernacled among us.” • Philippians 2:6-8 — He “emptied Himself” by taking the form of a servant. • 1 Timothy 3:16 — “God was manifested in the flesh.” • 2 John 7 — “Many deceivers… do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.” These passages echo the same safeguard: hold fast to the incarnate, crucified, risen Lord. Practical Discernment Checklist • Does the teaching affirm Jesus’ eternal deity? • Does it affirm His real, historical humanity—birth, life, death, resurrection? • Does it proclaim His ongoing bodily return (Acts 1:11)? • Does it line up with the written, inerrant Word or rely on “new revelations” that rewrite it? If the answer to any of these is “no,” walk away (Galatians 1:8-9). How to Apply This Test in Everyday Conversations • When you hear a sermon, podcast, or song, listen for clear acknowledgment of the incarnate Christ. • If a conversation downplays the cross or bodily resurrection, lovingly but firmly point to Scriptures above. • Use simple statements: “Scripture says Jesus came in real flesh and rose in a real body. Do you agree?” • Remember: tone can be gracious while truth remains uncompromised (Ephesians 4:15). Why This Matters for Your Assurance • Believing in the true Christ anchors your salvation; a counterfeit Jesus cannot save (John 8:24). • The indwelling Spirit confirms truth through the Word, giving peace instead of confusion (1 John 4:13). • A clear Christology guards the church from drift and preserves the purity of the gospel for the next generation (Jude 3). Key Takeaways • 1 John 4:2 offers a simple, Spirit-given filter: any voice that confesses the incarnate Jesus is trustworthy; any voice that does not should be rejected. • The test is timeless, cutting through ancient heresies and modern rebrands alike. • Hold Scripture as the final authority, measure every teaching by the incarnate, crucified, risen, and returning Lord Jesus, and you will stay anchored in the truth. |
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