Try the spirits

1Jn 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1Jn 4:2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1Jn 4:3 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.

We've discussed this a little bit before- the word- 'antichrist'.

The modern word for anti- is against, but the word used to mean- in place of.

The word antichrist means 'in place of Christ'.

The spirit of antichrist- the spirit of that which tries to take the place of our true Savior.

When we think of our Savior coming in the flesh- people generally don't have too much objection to this fact. However people start to differ and become uncomfortable when they begin to discuss the flesh of our Savior.

Some believe that our Savior came in flesh but such flesh that it was essentially impossible for Him to sin. They believe His nature was different from ours. And in believing that- it's all but impossible for them to believe this--

Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

For our Savior to be tempted in ALL points like WE are would mean that He had to have the same propensity, the same flesh as we have or else He could NEVER be tempted like WE are in our sinful flesh.

This is the flesh issue that will divide so many.

The flesh our Savior came in.

Some just think about skin, and yes, Jesus came in skin like we have. To those who are just thinking of flesh as skin there is no issue- and of course those who don't believe our Savior really existed are 'against' Christ. Do you see where semantics can play a HUGE part in things? There is TRUTH in words and there are lies. People fill the words with lies and misdirection and then expect truth to be found, but how can people find it when it's shrouded in darkness?

We cannot believe EVERY spirit.
We have to TRY the spirits.
Some will be of God, others of Satan.
Those spirits, those prophets that are of God must confess that Jesus is come in the flesh.

The flesh of our humanity.

More on this tomorrow by the grace of God!