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In view of the length of my previous sermon, I deferred a question of great importance, namely the correct meaning of what John … says in his epistle: "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God" (1 John 4:2). We see many heresies confessing that Christ came in the flesh, yet we cannot say they are all of God.

The Manichee, of course, denies that Christ came in the flesh. There is no need to linger over this and persuade you at length that such a fallacy is not from God. The Arian, however, professes that Christ came in the flesh, as does the Eunomian, the Sabellian and the Photinian. Why do we seek witnesses to prove them wrong? Who can count the number of these pestilences? For the moment, however, let us deal with the more notorious of these. There are many who do not know the heresies I have mentioned, and they are better off for their ignorance. As we well know, the Donatist says that Christ came in the flesh, and yet far be it that this fallacy is from God. To speak to the more recent heresies, the Pelagians profess that Christ came in the flesh; nevertheless, this fallacy is far removed from God.

Let us then, my beloved ones, reflect carefully. For since we all accept the truth of the words: "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God," we therefore must refute those who do not profess that Christ came in the flesh. For if we were to allow this confession to stand, we should have to admit that those who profess it are of God. How am I to restrain or deter you from these errors, how am Ito defend you against them with the shield of truth? May the Lord assist me— for your expectation is already a prayer for me—that those may be refuted who do not profess that Christ came in the flesh.

The Arian hears of and preaches the birth by the Virgin Mary. Does he therefore profess that Christ came in the flesh? Not at all! How am Ito prove this? If God will spur on your minds, it will be very easy. What is the question I am posing? I am inquiring whether the Arian professes that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. How can one who denies Christ himself profess that He came in the flesh? Who is Christ, after all? Let us ask the blessed Peter.

When the Gospel was being read just now, you heard how Jesus Christ himself asked, "Who do men say the Son of Man is?" (Matthew 16:13). The disciples gave Him various answers: "Some say, John the Baptist; and others, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets" (v.14). Those who were professing this word or would profess it now, know Jesus Christ as no more than a man. If, however, they know Jesus Christ as no more than a man, they do not know Him at all. If He is only a man and nothing more, then He is not Jesus Christ. But then He asked of the disciples, "But who do you say that lam?" (v. 15). Peter answered for all of them, for there was agreement among all of them. "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God" (V. 16).

There you have a true confession and a full confession. You must now reconcile what Christ said of himself with what Peter said of Christ. And what did Christ say of himself? "Who do men say the Son of Man is?" And what did Peter say of Christ? "Thou are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Reconcile these two and you will have the Incarnation of Christ…

What then is the Son of God? Just as we were asking what Christ is and heard that He is the Son of God, let us now ask what the Son of God is. Behold, here is the Son of God: "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God; and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. In the beginning was the Word" (John 1:1,2)."In the beginning," as Genesis 1:1 says, "God created the heavens and the earth. You, however, maintain that "In the beginning God created the Word." You say the Word was created and you make the Word a part of Creation. But while you say, "In the beginning God created the Word," the Evangelist says, "In the beginning was the Word." Therefore, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," for He was the Word. "All things were made through Him" (John 1:3). You say the Word was created. If you say it was created, then you deny the Son.

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