Lately, I have been reading about the heresies of the late first century. These are the same heresies the apostles wrote about and the ones that their disciples continued to fight after they died. The Gnostic heresy was not a well-defined movement, but a series of beliefs that varied from person to person, but shared the common thread that Jesus did not come in the flesh.
There are a lot involved in these doctrinal heresies, and nuances are seen from one false teacher to another false teacher, but a common thread is that because there is a separation between the flesh and the spirit, what we do, or are capable of doing, in one will not affect the other. Some of these false teachers could boldly preach Christ while sleeping with the women of the congregation and justify it.
There are lessons we can learn today from the popular thinking that because the flesh is corrupt and absolutely sinful, we can continue in sin that grace may abound. But while I believe this would be a fruitful pursuit in a study, it is not the focus of what I want to discuss today. I want to hit head-on the false teaching that Jesus did not, indeed, come in the flesh.
Listen to what the apostles say as they defend the truth against these Gnostic false teachers sweeping through the church while even the apostles were still living:
“By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.” (1 John 4:2-3 ESV).
Make no mistake, John is taking full aim at the Gnostic heresy invading the Lord’s church. In his next letter, John says,
“For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.” (2 John 1:7 ESV).
In fact, when he starts his Gospel, John writes of Jesus, the eternal Word,
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 ESV).
This Gnostic heresy was a devastating cancer in the early church. Perhaps this is why the Lord extended John’s time upon the earth, leaving an apostle alive and free from martyrdom so he could be the authoritative voice denouncing these teachers.
Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews (I am leaning toward Timothy, but that is for another day), says this,
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15 ESV).
Isn’t this amazing! The writer tells us that Jesus is uniquely qualified to be our High Priest. Why? Because He has lived in our skin. He has experienced what we experience. When we are tempted, He understands what we are going through. When we fall to weakness, He gets it. He doesn’t excuse it, but He understands it.
The implication is that He is more likely to extend His grace to us rather than His judgment. How can I say this? Because Timothy, (humor me), mentions Jesus’ role as High Priest. What is it that high priests do? They intercede between man and God when sin separates the two. They offer sacrifices to atone for sins. They remove the barrier that separates God from man.
In His role as High Priest, Jesus does not bring judgment, but reconciliation. The Hebrew writer says that our High Priest can do His job uniquely well because He can truly sympathize with our weaknesses. He lived it because He, indeed, did come in the flesh. Unlike the Gnostic teachers who denied this, the Bible makes it clear that Jesus tabernacled among us for 33 years, experiencing all the joy, pain, temptation, and sorrow that comes from living a mortal life in the flesh.
Our High Priest will come in judgment one day, but for His people, it is not judgment, but reconciliation He offers. And He does this by remembering what He experienced as a man when He executes His priestly duties on our behalf. What a wonderful, glorious gift to have a God who understands from experience the weaknesses we have. And rather than bring judgment, He sympathizes with us.
But this same John also records the words of Jesus concerning judgment when he wrote,
“For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,” (John 5:22 ESV).
Let me ask you, if you had to stand before a judge, would you want to stand before one who walked in your shoes before dispensing judgment or one who never experienced the things you had to go through? Most of us would want one who would take those elements into consideration before passing judgment. We call them “extenuating circumstances.” Extenuating circumstances do not justify us, but they allow the judge to consider these things before passing judgment so that there might be an avenue of mercy available to us.
And the Father has handed all judgment to the Son. The Father will not judge any of us on that day. Do we understand the wonderful gift of grace that is? Do we understand the floodgates of mercy open to us to have a judge who can sympathize with our weaknesses because He did come in the flesh?
I pray that we all drop to our knees and thank the Father for giving all judgment over to Jesus. I pray that we all drop to our knees because Jesus ordained a new priesthood and took upon Himself the role of our High Priest to continually be our mediator between God and us as He does so with a sympathetic heart.
It is my hope that we learn to treasure the gift the Father has given us by turning judgment over to the God who lived in our skin.
I am in the book of Zephaniah in my daily Bible reading. In chapter 2, the prophet speaks judgement against Nineveh. Listen to the proud language that this evil city used for itself:
“This is the exultant city that lived securely, that said in her heart, “I am, and there is no one else.” What a desolation she has become, a lair for wild beasts! Everyone who passes by her hisses and shakes his fist.” (Zephaniah 2:15 ESV).
We know “I Am” is the name of God. Nineveh used this language to describe herself. I Am is a designation of preeminence. It says nothing compares to anyone else. It is a designation of sovereignty.
We see that, don’t we? But do we see that in our own lives? When we justify our actions, no matter how evil, when we place our rights over others, when we do not give consideration to God or man, then in our heart, we claim the designation “I Am.”
Do we rob God of His glory by the preeminent position we give ourselves? Do we see ourselves as the most high? We may not be as bold to say it, but does our heart claim it? The danger of living in a nation that glorifies the individual is that we begin to believe “I am, and there is no one else.”
I am in Malachi in my daily Bible reading. Things don’t change much, do they? The nature of men is the same today as it has always been. There have been people who sought the Lord and others who despise God.
“You have said, ‘It is vain to serve God. What is the profit of our keeping his charge or of walking as in mourning before the LORD of hosts?
And now we call the arrogant blessed. Evildoers not only prosper but they put God to the test and they escape.” (Malachi 3:14-15 ESV).
Isn’t that a similar refrain we hear today? While we are a nation full of people who seek the Lord, we are no longer a nation who follows God. Sometimes it’s easy to lose heart when we see the arrogant against God speak with such contempt to God.
But there is always a remnant of people who fear God. And I believe this remnant in our nation is not a small one by any measure. Just like in the days of Malachi, the last prophet for 400 years who would speak for God, he tells us that the Lords knows those who fear him though they live amid a nation who rejects God:
“Then those who feared the LORD spoke with one another. The LORD paid attention and heard them, and a book of remembrance was written before him of those who feared the LORD and esteemed his name.
“They shall be mine, says the LORD of hosts, in the day when I make up my treasured possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his son who serves him.” (Malachi 3:16-17 ESV).
Let’s not lose heart when we find ourselves in the midst of godless men and women who say, “It is vain to serve God.” We know it is not. We know God is sovereign. His Son, our God, is Lord of lord and King of kings. He has the last word in the affairs of men. He makes men rise and brings men down at His will, according to His good pleasure, in His time.
It is not to us to judge the Judge in His exercise of His sovereignty. It is to us to fear Him and follow His lead. We line up behind Him in faith when the faithless blasphemes Him. We continue to live for Him knowing that He still sees, and He still reigns.
Malachi was the prophet who bridges the gap from promise to fulfillment in Jesus. Let’s ensure we always align ourselves with King Jesus and give our allegiance fully to Him and not the god of this world.
I am in the Book of Matthew in my daily Bible reading. Every time I read the Sermon on the Mount, I am amazed at the words of Jesus. The message was not just about daily living, but it said much about who Jesus was.
“Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account.” (Matthew 5:11 ESV).
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17 ESV).
In chapter 5, Jesus says this six times…
“You have heard that it was said…
But I say unto you”
And Jesus ends the sermon,
”Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’
And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.” (Matthew 7:21-23 ESV).
In these phrases, Jesus sets Himself up as more than just a prophet, but as one with authority. How would you respond to hearing a preacher speak like this at a Gospel meeting?
But these Jews were actively looking for a Messiah. They had other people claiming to be the Messiah come earlier, only to die and have their movement fizzle out. But when Jesus came, having been identified by another great prophet, John the Baptizer, they were ready to see if this man was the one they were waiting for.
So when Jesus spoke words of authority in the Sermon on the Mount, they were ready to give Him the benefit of the doubt to see if this was the promised one they have been waiting for. That’s why John tells us,
“And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching,
for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.” (Matthew 7:28-29 ESV).
Looking from the other side of history, we read these words as from the Messiah, the conquering King of kings, our Lord and God. How precious these words should be to each of us today and how much authority they carry for each of us who call Him Lord.
I am in the book of Matthew in my daily Bible reading. This time through, I am seeing a plain theme that is recurring for me. Jesus claims to be more than a prophet by relating how His disciples will relate to Him. He sets himself up as one who has authority beyond what a mere man would have.
“Beware of men, for they will deliver you over to courts and flog you in their synagogues,
and you will be dragged before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them and the Gentiles.” (Matthew 10:17-18 ESV).
He tells the disciples they would be dragged before authorities for His sake, not just for God’s sake. Jesus is claiming to be the object of their devotion.
He continues,
“and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.” (Matthew 10:22 ESV).
Again, Jesus puts himself as the objection of their devotion. And listen to this:
“So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my Father who is in heaven,
but whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 10:32-33 ESV).
Later, when the Pharisees grew incensed that His disciples were eating grain on the Sabbath, He defended them and said this:
“I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. … For the Son of Man is lord of the Sabbath.” (Matthew 12:6, 8 ESV).
Matthew tells us on many occasions that Jesus set Himself up to be the object of devotion. He plainly took the place of God and spoke more than other prophets would have spoken about how He related to His disciples. This is one of the things that clearly incensed the religious leaders.
Jesus could only speak like this if He was who He claimed to be. He claimed to be the Son of God and the Son of Man who came on the clouds of Heaven. Indeed, someone greater than the Temple was here.
This is who we worship and call our God.
I am in the book of Matthew in my daily Bible reading. As Jesus gets closer to the fulfillment of His mission to die on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins, He tells the disciples that He must suffer and die at the hands of the elders and chief priests and then rise from the dead.
“And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.”
But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” (Matthew 16:22-23 ESV).
What a harsh response, right? Peter was standing up for Jesus. He just made the great confession that Jesus was the Son of the living God. Using human reasoning, he concluded that the Messiah sent by God could not die.
But Peter wasn’t listening to what Jesus was saying. Jesus had given Him everything he needed to see the events that were about to come. Peter was blind to what Jesus was trying to teach and dug in to what he knew to be true.
How many times do we do this? How many times do we dig in to the human reasoning we use to arrive at what we want to believe rather than listen to Jesus? Sometimes, we may not like what Jesus is teaching. Perhaps we do not like the consequences for ourselves when we look into His words.
When that happens, are we quick to rely on our own reasoning to avoid what we see in the Word? It is a human reaction as old as time itself.
But when we employ our human reasoning, we must not elevate it so high that we no longer hear the words of Jesus. If we do, we may hear Him say to us, “Get behind me Satan.” Let’s all be careful where we put our stakes in the ground with our beliefs and ensure they are resting on the proper foundation.