2. If Jesus Has Come In The Flesh
John 1:14

3. Timeline of New Testament
(when books were written)
1 John
2 John
Mark
Luke
Matthew
John
3 John
Acts
Revelation 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
100
Galatians
1 Thess.
1 Cor.
Ephesians
1 Tim.
1 Peter
James
2 Thess.
2 Cor.
Philippians
2 Tim.
2 Peter
Romans
Colossians
Titus
Jude
Philemon
Hebrews

4. Major Controversy Of 1st Century
Gnosticism. From GNOSIS, meaning knowledge. The though and practice of various cults of late pre-Christian and early Christian centuries distinguished by the conviction that 1matter is evil and that salvation only comes through 2special knowledge
1Therefore, Jesus could not have come in the flesh
2Only certain ones could understand this (secret)

5. Hence, Jesus did not come in the flesh and Gnosticism grew in strength toward the end of the 1st century
Their explanation: Jesus was a divine spirit that only appeared to men in human form and was not in a physical body; hence, not flesh and blood
John (perhaps the last living apostle) addressed the issue in His writings (Jn. 1:14; 1 Jn. 1:1, 4:2-3; 2 Jn. 7)
As a side note: John connects the spirit of the anti-Christ(s) to this doctrine and not to some future evil super power (1 Jn. 2:18, 22; 4:2-3; 2 Jn. 7)

6. If Jesus Has Come In The Flesh…
...He is the way to eternal life
He declares it a narrow way (Matt. 7:14)
He is the ONLY way (Jn. 14:6)
...His word must be followed
His word is the standard for judgment (Jn. 12:48)
...We cannot follow our own way
A call to deny self (Matt. 16:24)

7. If Jesus Has Come In The Flesh…
...Sin can be avoided
He shared our nature (Heb. 2:14-17)
"flesh and blood"
"made like unto His brethren"
"a merciful and faithful high priest"
He was tempted, yet without sin (Heb. 4:15)

8. If Jesus Has Come In The Flesh…
...Many dear to us may be lost
No distinction over sin (Matt. 7:23)
Sin identified (1 Jn. 3:4)
Unambiguous language (Rom. 6:23)
...We will one day face Him in judgment.
Judge of all (Jn. 5:22)
He is coming 2nd time to judge (Heb. 9:27)