2017.03.12_Jesus Came in the Flesh

The Spirits from God

God is the creator. God created not only the visible material world but also the invisible spirit world. God not only created all things but also holds them all together. Therefore the existence of all things and their operation are themselves evidence that God lives.

God is almighty. Even though God cannot be seen through the eyes of men, He can show himself to men, and even though He cannot die, He can taste death. As for this, there is something we must take care with if we are to understand it correctly. That is, God the Father cannot be seen, nor can He die either. But He has revealed Himself though His Son,and through the son, tasted death. The Son of God came into the world to reveal God the Father and to taste death. (Hebrews 2:9)

Jesus Christ is the Word of God who came to the world in the flesh. Therefore, Jesus Christ himself is the Word. Our souls become clean only by the Word. (John 15:3) Even a man who is outwardly blameless or has a good appearance and personality, without the Word, he or she can never be clean. Those who want to bear the fruits that God desires must keep their souls clean. In order to do this, he or she must accept God’s Word.

The problem is that it is not that easy to discern the words of God among the many voices in the world. 1John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world”. If a person seems to be living a godly life, including praying earnestly and faithfully attending all church meetings, other people are likely to consider him spiritual. However, with that alone it is difficult to tell whether that person truly belongs to the spirit of Christ or not.

1 John 4:2 says, ”This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.” It says that anyone who acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh belongs to God, and those who do not, belong to the spirit of antichrist, the spirit that opposes Christ.

1 John 4:1 says, “Test the spirits to see whether they are from God” Just like a paternity test administered through genetic testing, we need to know to whom where our souls belong. Jesus said, “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘Away from me you evildoers, I never knew you!’”(Matthew 7:22-23) Surprisingly, this is Jesus’ warning for those who profess Jesus Christ as their Lord and even perform miracles. If they are able to perform powers in the Lord’s name, their faith would have to be greater than average. But the Lord distinguishes among them those who receive the spirit of the Antichrist.

Jesus also said, “The Spirit gives life, and the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.” (John 6:63) Some people receive the sermon as the words of a man. In that kind of attitude, even if they listen to many words and sermons, they can never receive God’s words. The reason why people in the world are not saved is that they consider the words of God the words of a man. God’s word is spirit. That is why God’s word can give life to our souls. Are you really receiving God’s words? Even though you have cast out demons and performed many miracles, are you considering God’s word as the words of a mere man?

Those who belong to God confess that Jesus came in the flesh

It is written, “This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist.”(1John 4:2-3) God atoned for the sins of mankind through His Son who came to earth in the flesh. That means He paid the debt for the sin of all of mankind.

To atone for the sins of mankind, Jesus shed His blood and died on the cross even though he was innocent. The saying, ‘Jesus Christ came in the flesh’ means ‘He came to the world to shed His blood’. The Bible says, “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.” (Hebrews 9:22) The Israelites had slaughtered lambs and shed their blood from Mount Sinai to Jerusalem, a period of about 1500 years, in order to be forgiven of their sins. That was a foreshadow of Jesus Christ who would be crucified and whose blood would be shed on the cross for the forgiveness of the sins of mankind.

On the mercy seat where the high priest sprinkles the blood of the lamb, two cherubs facing each other cover the mercy seat with their wings. This means God covers all the sins of man after atonement has been made. We were once sinners who sinned before God, but by the blood of Jesus we have been forgiven. Of course we continue to sin. But Jesus does not have to be crucified again.

Those who have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus and united with Him can still sin, but they can be forgiven by repenting of their sins. There is a phrase in the Lord’s prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts as we have forgiven our debtors” (Matthew 6:10~11). This gives us confidence that we can and will be forgiven when we pray. Concerning this, 1 John 2:1 says, “If anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.” To sum it up, not only have we received, by grace, The atonement of our sins through the blood of Christ, but we also receive daily forgiveness of our sins.

Those who Confess that Jesus Came in the Flesh Never Condemn Others

The foundation of a Christian’s faith is believing that Jesus came in the flesh. In other words, we believe that we have been forgiven because Jesus took away our sins when we were still sinners. Some people when they pray say, “I am sinner.” Perhaps they mean that they are weak. However, strictly speaking, anyone who has been saved by the blood of Jesus is no longer a sinner. We must not see ourselves as sinners under any circumstances. God is not the father of sinners, nor does He listen to sinners. But, if any Christian still considers himself a sinner and is under that condemnation, that means he is being deceived by the spirit of antichrist.

Colossians 2:18 says, “Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you from the prize.” The angels gave the Law. The Law was for the time until Jesus Christ would come to the world, whose duty it was to condemn. Regardless of what your intention is, if you confess, “I am sinner”, then it is the same as bowing before the angel who delivered the Law. The Bible warns that you would lose your prize even if you are saved.

1 John 4:4 says, “You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” Those who belong to God already have overcome the spirit of antichrist, and therefore are not condemned. But if anyone of you pretends to be humble, confessing that you are sinner, then you are still under the Law, deceived by the spirit of antichrist. We must check ourselves and pay attention to whether our confessions are influenced by the spirit of antichrist.

On the other hand, some people are quick to criticize others. Once a man has been joined to Jesus by grace through faith in Christ, he is no longer a sinner. A brother who lives by grace in Jesus and has received forgiveness for their sin, if he condemns a fellow believer, he is denying that the blood of Jesus has justified him. In denying the blood of Christ he is denying that Jesus came in the flesh. Therefore a Christian’s attempt to condemn a fellow believer is evidence that they are being tempted by the spirit of Antichrist.

One day, the scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman before Jesus who had been caught in adultery. Then, they said to Jesus, “Moses commanded us to stone this woman according to the Law, but what do you say?” If Jesus had said to them that they should not kill the woman, he would be the one who broke the Law. On the other hand, if He allowed them to stone her, He would be commanding them to murder her. Jesus told them “Let him who is without sin among you throw the first stone.” Then those who heard it, being convicted by their own conscience ent out one by one. Listening to the comment, people there one by one left. When there was no one left but the woman and Jesus, he said, “Is there no one who condemns you? Neither do I condemn you. Go now and leave your life of sin.” In Christ Jesus, no one is condemned (John 8:1~11).

God made those who were bought by His blood His church. Let us love the church. Do not reveal one another’s sins but rather let us fulfill the Lord’s will. 1Peter 4:8 says, “Love covers over a multitude of sins.” We need the heart of parents who always care for their children. There is no parents who cut off the disabled parts of their children. It is maternal love that covers her children’s faults. You must not condemn the church if you confess that you love your church. We must acknowledge and love what Jesus did in the flesh. We must make our souls belong to God.