1 Corinthians 12:2–3: You know that you were Gentiles, carried away to these dumb idols, however you were led. Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Paul therefore laid down a simple test related to the person of Christ. The false teachers obviously claimed that their visions, revelations, and messages were from God, but they apparently denied the humanity of Christ, as expressed by the words Jesus be cursed. This may have been a factor in the Corinthians’ aversion to Paul’s “message of the Cross.” It may be surprising today to realize that the earliest Christological heresy denied Jesus’ humanity, not His deity. John had to deal with the same problem years later. Only believers, speaking by the Holy Spirit, acknowledge that Jesus is Lord. Nonbelievers—including false teachers—deny His sovereign lordship. Thus anyone who tries to controvert Jesus’ authority and His Word will suffer the consequences. 1
Application
- Read 1 John 4:1-3. Are you a gullible Christian that believes everything you hear?
- Why is it important to test everything by the Word of God?
Thought to Share
To not test the spirits, is to be deceived by the spirits. – TWEET IT
Prayer
Lord, help me to confess Your name to the world every day.
1. Walvoord, John F., & Zuck, R. B., Dallas Theological Seminary. (1985). The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.