Herein we are to know the love and goodness, and also the severity of God, and how greatly the Almighty God hates sin;--his severity and justice, from the fact, that through the one sin of the first man, the whole human race became corrupted; and that this could be paid and atoned for by no other means than through the death and blood of God’s own, only begotten Son. God’s goodness and everlasting love are known from this, that he, the Blessed, so graciously looked upon and recognized, the weakness and nothingness of man; and, hence, as he often sent angels, as his faithful messengers, in human form to men, upon the earth, knowing that this sinful, mortal, earthly flesh and blood is not able to behold the immortal, heavenly glory of the angels; much less can man with his sinful and mortal eyes behold the immortal, eternal, holy splendor and glory of the eternal Creator of all things; therefore the eternal, invisible and immortal Son of God, through his unfathomable love, had himself to become a visible, mortal man, for a little while lower than the angels, and to appear in the form of a servant, like unto his brethren; so that the glory of the eternal and only begotten Son of God was felt and seen in human form, that he might be a true example for us to follow his footsteps. Herein we may especially know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge: that the holy heavenly, only begotten, blessed Son of God, Jesus Christ, became man, died and rose for us, when we were yet ungodly and his enemies.
And though Christ suffered for us in the flesh, and was crucified, and died; yet it was not possible that he should be held by death, or that his holy flesh should see corruption. But he had himself the keys of death and hell, and the power to open and to shut, to lay down his life, and to take it again; and he it is that liveth, and was dead, and, behold, he is alive forevermore.
Hence all true believers must believe that the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, both of his true divinity, and pure, immaculate humanity, is necessary to salvation. And to this, life and eternal salvation are promised by the Holy Ghost; and that Christ would build his church upon this foundation, and that the gates of hell should not prevail against her. On the other hand: that all unbelievers, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (that is, that the Son of God became man, and thus coming, appeared in the flesh), are not of God, but of the spirit of antichrist, who began already in the days of the Apostles, and is to exalt himself still more in the last times.
Of the necessity of this knowledge of Jesus Christ, read: “And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.” John 17:3; Hosea 13:4.
“If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also,” etc. John 14:7.
“Though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.” 2 Corinthians 5:16.
“And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Phil. 2:11; Rom. 14:11; Col. 2:2; Phil. 3:8.
“And Jesus said to Peter, after the latter had confessed and pronounced the man Jesus, to be Christ, the Son of the living God: Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” Matt. 16:17,18.