March 10, 2019
Morning Service

In the second half of chapter 3, John returned to the subject of sin in our lives and explained that whoever abides in Christ does not choose a lifestyle or practice sin.  That does not mean we don’t sin at all, it simply means we are committed to following and imitating our Lord and Savior to the best of our abilities.  Our thoughts and desires are locked into obeying the Holy Spirit that lives within us.  The life we live will reflect our decision as we will “not love in work or in tongue, but in deed and truth.”  John truly challenged with us something I have thought about all week in verse 16:

 1Jn 3:16  By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

            This is the other John 3:16, but it is just as powerful as the one we all know by heart.  He came to give His all for us and asks us now to do the same for our brothers.  John now begins chapter 4 with a warning to be on guard along our journey and to be careful who we listen to.

1Jn 4:1  Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world           

John again returns to one of his main points for writing this letter, to keep the church from being deceived by false prophets.  There are many ways to test these prophets to see if they are speaking the truth.  Here are 4 questions that you can ask to help you to identify who is a false teacher or not.  We will begin with one he has already mentioned in chapter 2 already.

 

1Jn 2:19  They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.                  

1.      How do those you are testing view the church?  The need to be faithful to the assembly themselves as well as placing themselves under the authority of the church leadership; teaching that the church is a vitally important part of our journey with Christ.  Anything other teaching would be a cause for alarm. 

Heb. 10:25  not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.

2.      Are they committed to Christ and living a lifestyle that reflects that fact?  What fruits are they producing in their life?  Is love and unity a big parts of the message they are bringing and does their life reflect that?  By observing people’s lifestyles and the fruit they are producing we can know where their heart (motive) is.  Jesus told us this:

Mat 7:20  Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

3.       Is what they are teaching lining up with what the Bible teaches?  Our Bible is a filter that everything must be ran through.  If what they are teaching does not align with what the scriptures say, then it is not truth.  If the message is truly from God, it will be consistent with Christ’s teachings and not conflict with them or try to explain away how they are just no longer “relevant at this time.”  The gospel message does not change; it remains the same.  Paul said this to the Galatian church:

Gal 1:8  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.

4.      John then tells us that the most important fact though boils down to this question; “Who do they say Jesus is?”

 1Jn 4:2-3  By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,  (3)  and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

 To be judged to be from God those tested must confess that Jesus Christ is both fully man and fully God.  If they deny either of those truths, then you know they are not of God.  Speaking of Jesus to the Sanhedrin, Peter said this:

Act 4:12  Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

Jesus said this as well:

Joh 14:6  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.

 Jesus is the only way to truth and life as well as the only path unto salvation. That plus the facts of Jesus’ humanity and His deity are all essential points of our faith that cannot be compromised in any way.  John was using these facts to expose some of the false teachers that he was addressing at this time.  They were falsely teaching that Jesus was actually only God and not human and His body cast no shadows nor did He leave footprints when He walked.

 Our world is filled with voices claiming to speak for God.  Use these tools to try and test the spirits to determine if they are true or false.  As followers of Jesus we all need to read and study our Bibles to build our faith so it will be very difficult for us to be deceived.  The ace up our sleeve is the Holy Spirit that is given to us as a guide to the truth.  Remember John described the Holy Spirit like this in chapter 2:

  1Jn 2:27  But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.

            We need to learn to trust and understand the Holy Spirit’s guidance knowing He will guide us into the truth.  Here in chapter 4 John reinforces this fact.

1Jn 4:4-6  You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.  (5)  They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.  (6)  We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

John reassures us not to be overwhelmed with the deception and evil that surrounds us because we do not have to simply rely on our own strength.  Alone we would be in trouble but the Holy Spirit, which lives within us is “greater than he who is in the world.”  These false teachers’ message will be very popular with those of the world because they are saying what they want to hear.  Jesus said wide is the gate that leads to destruction and many who go in it.  Jesus followers will see these false teachings for what they are and steer clear of them because we are walking through the narrow gate.   God’s truth will draw in those whose heart belongs to God and protect us from those who are trying to deceive us.  Don’t walk blindly along your journey of life but allow the Holy Spirit to guide you into the truth that will set you free.

 

Heavenly Father allow the truth to guide our every step and decision along our life journey.