Jesus Christ, all man/all God

Jesus Christ, all man/all God, blessed be His holy name! The Godhead manifested in human flesh.

Jesus suffered, died and rose again in fulfillment of the Scriptures. He conquered sin and death once and for all.

Jesus, the Son of God and the only man to live sinlessly, became an acceptable sacrifice to pay our sin debt in full (1 Peter 2:22-24;  2 Corinthians 5:21). The only thing we do to receive this gift is choose faith in Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). First5 

There are several indications that John was addressing heresies in this epistle. Note the use of expressions like “which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled” (1:1); “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God” (4:2); and “He who came by water and blood” (5:6). All of these phrases use explicit and vivid language to describe the Incarnation, the truth that Jesus is both completely God and completely human. The NKJV Study Bible

1:1 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, concerning the Word of life-

That which could refer to (1) the revelation about Christ, (2) the teachings of Christ, (3) the eternal life manifested by Christ, or (4) Christ Himself. The reference is to Jesus, the Word who brings life. This life is a gift from God, a gift that cannot be earned or taken from us. The NKJ Study Bible

As in John’s Gospel, John begins this letter with the Word—the embodiment of God’s revelation in the person of Jesus. John immediately states his thesis: Not only was Jesus from the beginning (eternal), He also was able to be heard, seen, and touched (He was human). This belief separates the community John addresses from those who withdrew from them. John is referring either to himself only, or to himself and other eyewitnesses to Jesus’ ministry. This refers to Jesus, who is eternal life to those who believe in Him. Faithlife Study Bible

4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God

One test of whether a person is led by the Holy Spirit is whether that person’s beliefs agree with the truth of God’s Word. Jesus Christ has come in the flesh: This test seems to be aimed at Docetists. They taught that Christ did not have a physical body. The test may also be aimed at the followers of Cerinthus who claimed that Jesus and “the Christ” were two separate beings, one physical and the other spiritual. In this letter, John is careful to use the name and title of Jesus Christ together to clearly express the complete union of the two titles in one person. The NKJ Study Bible

A true spirit from God will confess Jesus’ true humanity. Faithlife Study Bible

5:6 This is He who came by water and blood—Jesus Christ; not only by water, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit who bears witness, because the Spirit is truth. 7 For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one. 8 And there are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one.

Water and blood have been interpreted in at least four ways: (1) as Jesus’ baptism and death, (2) as His incarnation, (3) as the water and blood that flowed from His side on the Cross, and (4) as the baptism of the believer and the Lord’s Supper. Most scholars favor the first interpretation. John is correcting the false teacher Cerinthus, who claimed that the Spirit came on Jesus at His baptism but left Him before His death. The NKJ Study Bible

The reference to water possibly is meant to allude to Jesus’ baptism, or perhaps to the anointing of God’s Spirit. The mention of blood might allude to Jesus’ death. Faithlife Study Bible

1 Corinthians 1:9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.