Sullivan
church of christ
church of christ
Current Weekly Bulletin Articles
Current Audio Sermons
All About the Sullivan church of Christ Videos
Current Video Sermon
COMING SOON
Sullivan church of Christ - Sullivan, MO
Date: February 28, 2010
“JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH”
Ben Justice
The apostle John noted in 1 John 4:2-3, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” The context of these passages has to do with “trying the spirits” (v. 1). “Spirits” in this particular context is used as a figure of speech denoting teachers. The teacher that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God (v. 2); however, the teacher that does not confess this truth is not of God (v. 3). John’s readers could know who a false teacher was and who a true teacher of God was. A false teacher would not confess the truth regarding the incarnation of Jesus. To help us appreciate what John was saying is to understand the immediate application of his words. During the first century (particularly the latter half), the religion and philosophy of Gnosticism began. This false philosophy had a tremendous impact upon the early church. The NT writers often dealt with and exposed it for what it was. Guy N. Woods explained the false philosophy of Gnosticism like this:
Date: February 28, 2010
“JESUS CHRIST IS COME IN THE FLESH”
Ben Justice
The apostle John noted in 1 John 4:2-3, “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: (3) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” The context of these passages has to do with “trying the spirits” (v. 1). “Spirits” in this particular context is used as a figure of speech denoting teachers. The teacher that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God (v. 2); however, the teacher that does not confess this truth is not of God (v. 3). John’s readers could know who a false teacher was and who a true teacher of God was. A false teacher would not confess the truth regarding the incarnation of Jesus. To help us appreciate what John was saying is to understand the immediate application of his words. During the first century (particularly the latter half), the religion and philosophy of Gnosticism began. This false philosophy had a tremendous impact upon the early church. The NT writers often dealt with and exposed it for what it was. Guy N. Woods explained the false philosophy of Gnosticism like this: