Testing the spirits and knowing God's love. A series on 1 John, part 7 (1 John 4)

 



Read 1 John 4


At first glance, chapter 4 may appear to be a repetition of things John had previously said. However, there is more to learn here. While John had warned against false prophets and teachers, he now tells us to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." (1 John 4:1). He gives the reader a way to discern and recognize false teaching; those who deny that Christ came in the flesh are anti-christs. John also tells the reader that the world will follow its own, but God is greater than the world. True prophets speak from God and co fess that Jesus Christ was a true man and, at the same time, true God. John was not the only one to warn against false prophets. Paul also warned against them in 1 Timothy 4:1-2a, where he wrote, "The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars..." So how do we discern the truth? John says, "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us (he's referring to the apostles); but whoever is not from God does not listen to us." (1 John 4:6). Peter also warned against these things when he wrote, "But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them." (2 Peter 2:1). If you continue reading chapter 4, John gives us another way to discern the truth. He tells us that God is love. Love is a sign of being born again in God and knowing Him. We show our love for God, in loving one another. Just as in chapter 2, we see that love is how we are set apart from the world and how the world can see God's presence in our lives. If you claim to love God, you must prove it by loving your brothers in Christ. We are also taught that God's perfect love drives out fear (verse 17-18). We do not have to be anxious about our standing before God because God's perfect love is given to us. John encourages believers to examine their lives for signs of a relationship with God. We are to test the spirits since not all teachers are true to the gospel. It is a warning to never just believe what someone says. Rather, to hold everything up to the gospel of Christ to see whether it is true. Take it with a grain of salt, so to speak, but here the salt is the gospel we must measure things by. 

God's given Spirit helps us to overcome the world and godlessness. By His power, believers will not listen to unbelievers or ungodly spirits. So test the truth of things you're told. Hold them up to the gospel of Christ. Search yourself for proof of God's love in your life, and look for love in your heart for your brothers and sisters in Christ. As John says, "Whoever loves God, must also love his brother." (1 John 4:21b).

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