In the later days of the New Testament (Paul and John and Peter particularly, their Epistles) a false belief had risen that is called (today) gnosticism.

Part of this system of heresy was the thought that Jesus did not have a literal body. That He was merely spirit, nothing physically substantial about Him!

But friends, the heart of the Doctrine of the Virgin Birth is the fact that Mary gave birth to an infant, the little God-man! Jesus, Who grew up and died on the Cross to forgive our sins!

God had to become man (literally man) in order to accomplish this great Salvation for us, for whosoever believes in the Lord Jesus Christ. John 1:14 says God became “flesh,” that alone convinces me!

So … to combat this “ghost, apparition, spirit” idea about Jesus … the Apostle John opens his First Epistle with these words … “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life.” Whom John immediately identifies as Jesus in verse 4 of the same chapter! (Look at it … 1 John 1:1-4 … when you can.)

Our hands have handled … not a ghost!

Whom we have seen … not invisible, not ethereal!

And we have heard … not some mystical experience!

May I assure you today … Jesus IS God’s Son in a human body. Now granted, after His Resurrection, truly a glorified human body. One sitting at the right Hand of God presently interceding for us! But still a body!

And when we next see Him (some golden daybreak) He will be God in flesh … coming to get us for all eternity!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

1 John 4:2-3 … “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. 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.”

Wow!

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