Daily Bread – July 9, 2022 (The Seventh Day – Genesis 2:1-3) 1 John 4:2 – By this we know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is from God. Christ Jesus Has Come In The Flesh The doctrinal test distinguishing between those who are true and those who are not is this confession: God, Christ Jesus, has come in the flesh. Similarly, Paul said no one can say Jesus Christ is Lord (referring to the fact He is God) except by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:3). The confession of Jesus Christ being our Lord is participating with the Holy Spirit in the new birth experience, for with the mouth confession is made unto salvation (Romans 10:9-10). This is more than a historic fact, but a confession of His current status. Christ Jesus not only came into the flesh, historically, on the day God was incarnated into a human and earthly body, but He has also come to dwell in us so we can say, “greater is He that is in [us] than He that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). By the Holy Spirit, we confess Christ is in us (Colossians 1:27). This confession is not a mere superficial acknowledgment or mental affirmation, but a witness of the Spirit that we have been born of God through Him. The Greek word used here is ‘eleluthota’ (ἐληλυθότα), which is the perfect active participle of ‘erchomai,’ (ἔρχομαι) and may be translated in several ways; but by far the best and most agreed upon way is “come” with respect to “come in the flesh”; which once again, refers to His current status. The act of incarnation, although of supreme importance, is not the only point of this passage. Jesus Christ is alive, living in us, and dwelling among us – for He died, was buried, rose again, ascended to the Father, and has come to make His abode with us (John 14:23, Galatians 2:20). Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 7/9/2022
