1 John 4:2-3

"This is how we 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, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world."  1 John 4:2-3

You cannot even begin to understand this statement apart from the historical context of that day.  John is refuting Gnostic teaching which says the spirit or non-material is good and the flesh is bad.  They denied that Jesus came in the flesh because the flesh is evil.  John is simply stating that those influenced by spirits outside of the Holy Spirit will not acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh.  It is significant to atonement that Jesus come in the flesh.  He was made like us in "every way, in order that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He might make atonement for the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17)  Jesus had to come in the flesh, and to deny this undermines the gospel message which is what the enemy is going for... right!  We need to be very careful about any false doctrine that undermines the gospel message.  Essentially, what is happening is that John is saying to the people, "Is this spirit aligning himself with the truth or manipulating the truth?"  The Spirit of God will not contradict the Word of God, and this needs to be our filter to test the spirit.  

God, as I go through life, I am constantly trying to discern what you are doing.  I seem to be guarded when it comes to others saying, "the spirit of God told me this..."  I know that You work and move through the Spirit, but I know there is a lot of deception out there as well.  Please give me a spirit of discernment to know what is of You and what is not.  Draw me to the truth and give me a yielded heart to where You are working.  Thank You, God...my Deliverer!

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