Confessing Christ

1 John 4:2
"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."

In a world filled with conflicting voices about who Jesus is, John provides a clear test for discerning truth from error. The fundamental Christian confession is that Jesus is the Christ who has come in the flesh. This is not a mere intellectual acknowledgment but a bold, unwavering declaration of faith in the incarnate Lord.

Even demons recognized Jesus' divine identity during His earthly ministry (Mark 1:24; 3:11; 5:7–8), but they did not acknowledge Him as Lord. True acknowledgment comes from the Holy Spirit, whose role is to glorify Christ and bear witness to Him (John 15:26; 16:13–15).

In John’s day, heretical teachings denied that Jesus was the eternal Son of God in human flesh. The same problem persists today. Many acknowledge Jesus as a good teacher, a prophet, or a moral leader, but they reject His divine nature. However, Jesus did not merely appear to be human—He became flesh and remains the God-Man forever. Any teaching that denies that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God in human flesh, is not from God. The true test of faith remains: Do we confess Him as the Christ who has come in the flesh—fully God and fully man?

If we hold fast to the truth that Jesus is the Christ who has come in the flesh, we align ourselves with the Holy Spirit, who always testifies to and glorifies the Son. The Spirit of God leads believers into truth, affirming the full deity and humanity of Christ. To confess Jesus as the incarnate Son is to walk in step with the Spirit, standing firmly in the faith that has been revealed by God and upheld throughout Scripture. True faith does not separate Jesus from His divine identity. Instead, it embraces Him as the eternal Son, the crucified and risen Savior, our Lord forever.

What are some wrong ideas people have about Jesus, and how can we know truth?

Why is it important to believe that Jesus is both God and man?



Heavenly Father, thank You for revealing the truth of Jesus Christ, who has come in the flesh for our salvation. Give me discernment to recognize the Spirit of truth and reject falsehood. May my heart and lips boldly confess Jesus as Lord, to Your glory. Amen.