The Spirit Confesses Jesus as Lord
Month 5: What About Other Religions? · Walking in the Spirit
Today's Scripture
Read together: 1 John 4:2-3
2 By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
Memory Verse
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”— 1 John 4:1 (BSB)
📖 Bible-in-a-Year (optional)
Today's reading: Judges 9-12
Reading the whole Bible in a year — do this when you have extra time. (Around Day 146 of 365 — more judges rise and fall as Israel keeps needing rescue.)The Heart of It
Yesterday's verse told us to test the spirits. Today John hands us the actual test. And it's wonderfully clear. "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God" (). Here's the big question to ask about any spirit, any teacher, any religion. What do they do with Jesus? The Holy Spirit always points to Jesus. He lifts up Jesus. He tells the truth about Jesus. Jesus is fully God who became a real human. He died and rose to save us. Any spirit that shrinks Jesus is not the Holy Spirit. Any spirit that denies Him is not the Holy Spirit. Any spirit that makes Him "just a good teacher" is not the Holy Spirit.
This is part of what it means to walk in the Spirit. The Spirit living in us isn't only our power for being brave and kind. He is also our inner sense for what is true. Sometimes you hear a teaching and something in you says, "That doesn't sound like the Jesus of the Bible." That's the Spirit helping you stay close to the real Jesus. Other religions might mention Jesus with respect. Some even call Him a prophet. But they stop short of confessing Him as God in the flesh, Lord and Savior. The Spirit-filled heart can love those people warmly and still hold gently to the whole truth. We don't have to choose between being kind and being clear. The Spirit makes us both.
Around the Table
The Holy Spirit always says wonderful things about Jesus. He says Jesus is God who came to save us! If a voice doesn't love Jesus, it isn't God's voice.
Let's do it: Cheer together three times: "Jesus is Lord!" The Spirit loves that shout.
Want to test a teaching? Ask what it does with Jesus. The Spirit always lifts Jesus up as God who came in the flesh.
Let's talk: What are some true things the Bible says about Jesus that a fake would leave out?
"Come in the flesh" matters. Jesus is fully God and fully man. Many beliefs honor Him as a prophet or a teacher. But they won't confess Him as Lord. The Spirit draws the line right there.
Let's go deeper: Why is it not enough to say Jesus was "a good man"? What does it cost a religion to admit He is God?
💬 Conversation Starter
Say you had to introduce Jesus to someone who'd never heard of Him. What's the most important thing you'd say about who He is?
🛡️ Defending the Faith
The line between truth and error always runs through Jesus. The question isn't just was He real. The question is who is He? Sometimes someone calls Jesus merely a great teacher. You can gently point something out. A great teacher who claimed to be God was either telling the truth, or He wasn't a great teacher at all ().
For Dad · Go Deeper
Classic Pentecostal teaching ties the Spirit tightly to the exaltation of Christ. The Spirit's signature work is to glorify Jesus (), never Himself. That's a vital guardrail. Any "spiritual" experience, prophecy, or movement that draws attention away from the biblical Jesus has failed John's test, no matter how powerful it feels. Robert Menzies notes that authentic Spirit-empowerment always serves witness to Christ. So lead your home to crave the Spirit and to test by the Spirit's own standard. Teach your kids that walking in the Spirit and loving sound doctrine are not rivals. The same Spirit who fills us with power also keeps us tethered to the truth about the Son.
Draws on: Robert Menzies, Pentecost: This Story Is Our Story.
Let's Pray Together
"Holy Spirit, thank You for always pointing us to Jesus. He is true God who came in the flesh to save us. Fill us with Your power. Keep us close to the real Jesus. And help us be kind and clear at the same time. In Jesus' name, amen."
The test for any spirit is simple. Does it confess and honor the real Jesus, Lord and God in the flesh?