Post by foxjj on Apr 25, 2024 15:46:08 GMT
1 John Chapter 4. (NIV)
John opens Chapter four of his first Epistle, by warning against false spirituality cleverly disguised as authentic, thereby deceiving many:
“1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John is referring to the spirits that influence people, be it the Holy Spirit, or an evil spirit. In second John 1:7 he also warns against false prophets and teachers who have turned their back on God: “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world.”
Verses two and three further instruct:
“2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
The incarnation of the Divine Jesus in human flesh, is the revealed truth from The Holy Spirit. All other beliefs concerning Jesus are from evil spirits and deemed antichrist because, they are teachings against the truth of who Jesus is, as revealed by The Father: “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”- Mark 1:11. Understanding the truth concerning Jesus is critical because, unless a person accepts the sacrifice of Jesus for their sins, there is no atonement for their sin. In John 14:6, Jesus declared: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John continues addressing believers, pointing out the spiritual differences between children of God, and children of the world:
“4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”
Because born again believers have The Holy Spirit in our lives, we know Gods Truth and have experience His Forgiveness and Love, consequently we show love to all:
“7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John now states the ultimate sign of our Heavenly Father’s love:
“9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
As sinful humanity we are incapable of reaching up to God. Therefore He reached down to us, as John 3:16-17 also teaches:
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John continues by addressing all who have experienced this love:
“11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
The following verse’s speak to the difference the Holy Spirit brings to a believers life when we have been born of God:
“13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
Through Jesus we have become righteous. His very life exemplified righteousness. Through this experience we have confidence in the knowledge of Jesus’s atonement in our lives, taking away all fear of judgment:
“17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
John brings this chapter to a close by encouraging you and I to live continually expressing the love that we have experienced:
“19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
Today, let us give thanks for Jesus and His Atonement.
John Joseph Fox.
John opens Chapter four of his first Epistle, by warning against false spirituality cleverly disguised as authentic, thereby deceiving many:
“1 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
John is referring to the spirits that influence people, be it the Holy Spirit, or an evil spirit. In second John 1:7 he also warns against false prophets and teachers who have turned their back on God: “I say this because many deceivers, who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, have gone out into the world.”
Verses two and three further instruct:
“2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.”
The incarnation of the Divine Jesus in human flesh, is the revealed truth from The Holy Spirit. All other beliefs concerning Jesus are from evil spirits and deemed antichrist because, they are teachings against the truth of who Jesus is, as revealed by The Father: “And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”- Mark 1:11. Understanding the truth concerning Jesus is critical because, unless a person accepts the sacrifice of Jesus for their sins, there is no atonement for their sin. In John 14:6, Jesus declared: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
John continues addressing believers, pointing out the spiritual differences between children of God, and children of the world:
“4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.”
Because born again believers have The Holy Spirit in our lives, we know Gods Truth and have experience His Forgiveness and Love, consequently we show love to all:
“7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
John now states the ultimate sign of our Heavenly Father’s love:
“9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”
As sinful humanity we are incapable of reaching up to God. Therefore He reached down to us, as John 3:16-17 also teaches:
“16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”
John continues by addressing all who have experienced this love:
“11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”
The following verse’s speak to the difference the Holy Spirit brings to a believers life when we have been born of God:
“13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.”
Through Jesus we have become righteous. His very life exemplified righteousness. Through this experience we have confidence in the knowledge of Jesus’s atonement in our lives, taking away all fear of judgment:
“17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
John brings this chapter to a close by encouraging you and I to live continually expressing the love that we have experienced:
“19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”
Today, let us give thanks for Jesus and His Atonement.
John Joseph Fox.