I John 4:1-3 THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
I John Chapter Four
INTRO: "It makes no difference what you believe as long as
your are sincere. It is the same God you know." John warned about light and
darkness (1:1-2:6) love and hatred (2:7-17); Now he warns about truth and error
(2:18-29; 4:1-6).
"True doctrine is the foundation of life with God.
DEM
TRUTH: I John 1:6,8; 2:4,21,27; 3:18-19; 4:6; 5:6
II John 1-4
III John 1;3,4,8,12
One of the purposes of I John was to expose and condemn false teaching regarding
the real humanity of Christ. This spirit that denies that Christ was both God
and man is called antichrist. AC is only used by the apostle John!
I John 2:18-23; 2 John 7
This word Antichrist is used to describe three things:
1. spirit in the world that opposes & denies Christ
2. false teachers that embody that spirit
3. a person who will head up the final rebellion
SPIRIT OF TRUTH SPIRIT OF ERROR
Through the Spirit of God The energy of Satan
Through true preachers False prophets
Through the Gospel Substitute message of AC
A TRUE MESSAGE MUST BE A COMPLETE MESSAGE!
Acts 18:24-28 The spirit of Antichrist has been in the world since Gen 3 and it
is behind every false doctrine and religious substitute. "anti"! fighting
against substituting for.
4:1 Beloved believe not every spirit
- pisteuete - Pres Act Imp - to be persuaded, place
confidence in, to validate personally. Deut. 13:1-5; 2 John 1:7-9
The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man
looketh well to his going. Prov 14:15
Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's
clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their
fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good
tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
Matt 7:15-17
But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be
false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even
denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth
shall be evil spoken of. 2 Peter 2:1-2
But try the spirits-
dokimazete -Pres Act Imp - to test, examine, prove,
scrutinize (to see whether a thing is genuine or not), as metals to recognize as
genuine after examination, to approve, deem worthy, to put to the test for the
purpose of proving look into a man's confession
Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast
that which is good. 1 Thess 5:20-21
Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that
holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven
golden candlesticks; I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how
thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they
are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast
patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted. Rev 2:1-3
Whether they are of God -
ek tou qeou - consistent in passage. WHY?
Because many false prophets" -
yeudoprofhtai - pretend to have the spirit of God -
"pseudo-prophet", to be moved by Him, to bring God's true Word to men.
Are gone out into the world-
exelhluqasin eiV ton kosmon
Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have
heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby
we know that it is the last time. 1 John 2:18
For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.
Matt 24:5
Then if any man shall say unto you, Lo, here is Christ, or there; believe it
not. For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew
great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive
the very elect. Matt 24:23-24
For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among
you, not sparing the flock. Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking
perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, and
remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night
and day with tears. Acts 20:29-31
Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart
from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;
Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; 1
Tim 4:1-2
But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse,
deceiving, and being deceived. But continue thou in the things which thou hast
learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; 2 Tim
3:13-14
Do we realize the tremendous value we have in the Holy Spirit God has given us?
He does all kinds of things for us believers:
Regenerates and renews us
Baptizes us into the body of Christ
Indwells
Seals
Gives assurance
Strengthens
Fills
Liberates
Directs and guides into service
Equips for service
Illumines
Empowers
Produces the fruit of the Spirit in our lives
Searches the deep things of God reveals them
Speaks to us
Makes intercession for us according to His will
Enables us to worship and praise God
Teaches us all things
Brings all things to our remembrance Jesus said
Leads
Calls and commissions Gods servants
Loser: The Unholy Spirit. 4:1, many false prophets are
gone out into the world. When an athlete is competing in certain
meets, they are checked to see whether they have inhaled or injected elements
that might illegally enhance their ability to perform.
Not every spirit, not every prophet is of God! There are some that are operating
illegally. And God has not only given us permission, but He has commanded us
to test the spirits and the prophets to see if they are of God. If they are not,
we are to have nothing to do with them!
I John 4:4-6 GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU
4:4 Ye are of God -
este - Pres Act - intensive pronoun - Lit."As for
you! I John 4:6,16; 5:19
"little children" -
tekna - beget ones, fact of birth, always in the
plural form
And have overcome them" -
neuikhkate - Perf Act Ind - settled state! Confirmed
in attitude! "Eyes open"! to false teachers, not taken by heresies! Past
completed victory with continuing conquering attitude. conquer, to carry off the
victory, come off victorious, of Christ: victorious over all His foes, of
Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of
their foes, and temptations and persecutions. I John 2:13; 5:4
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall
tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are
accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more
than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that
neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things
present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature,
shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our
Lord. Romans 8:35-39
The overcomers are victorious because
They have the Holy Spirit.
They say the same things about Christ that God says.
The one in them is greater than the one in those of the world.
They know God
They are able to discern between the spirit of truth and error.
The losers are overcome because
They didnt have the Holy spirit within them.
They didnt say the right things about Christ.
The one in them is not the greater.
They are not of God.
They dont know God.
They are not able to discern between truth and error.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the
power of his might.11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to
stand against the wiles of the devil.12 For we wrestle not against flesh and
blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the
darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore
take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the
evil day, and having done all, to stand. Eph 6:10-13
"because greater is he that is in you"
- meizwn - greater by any comparison, larger,
stronger no matter what!
And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never
perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.29 My Father, which gave
them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my
Father's hand.30 I and my Father are one. John 10:28-30
And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may
abide with you for ever;17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot
receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he
dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.18 I will not leave you comfortless: I
will come to you. John 14:16-18
I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the
world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved
me. John 17:23
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of
sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.11 But if the Spirit of him
that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from
the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in
you. Romans 8:10-11
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of
God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. 1 Cor
2:12
Than he that is in the world
4:5 "they are of the world -
philosophy, desire, ambition, goals, life centered in worldly things/they have
their source in a system of evil-often not even knowing that they are being
used!
"therefore speak they of the world and
the world heareth them" - concerning the world! it is natural for worldly
people to speak of worldly things, same jargon! ½ truths, humanism, etc
4:6 we are of God -
"He that knoweth God heareth us"!
John knew that he had the truth and that the world did not! when he taught it
was expected that the people would hear and obey as they verified truth in the
Scripture! If they listen and obey the truth it is a clear demonstration that
they know the Lord.
"knoweth" -
ginwskwn - present progressive action - a growing saint, clearly
perceiving and seeking the Lord continually!
"He that is not of God heareth not us"
- rebellious spirit is demonstrated by refusing to listen/ Lit. "a wandering for
forsaking the right path! John 3:19-21
Forsaking the right doctrine: James 5:20
Forsaking the right morals: 2 Pet 2:18; 3:17; Rom 1:27
Hereby know we the spirit of truth
-
Everything about our God is truth. He is the truth, the whole truth, and
nothing but the truth.
He proclaims nothing but the truth. Jesus is the way, the truth and the
life. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth and authored the Holy Bible
which is Gods message of truth from beginning to end.
And
the spirit of error. -
4:7 Beloved -
agaphtoi
let us love one another -
agapwmen
is born -
gegennhtai - Pf Pass Ind
knows -
ginwskei
HOW IS OUR LOVE BROUGHT TO MATURITY
Invest your life in others
Sacrifice your life for others
Better to love than be loved
Love is often unrecognized or appreciated until later
Love gives to needs, not wants
Dont let anything or anyone interfere with that love
Make reconciliation quickly
Express your love
4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God
-
For God is love. -
4:9 In this was manifested -
efanerwqh - Aor Pass Ind
so that we might live -
ina zhswmen
4:10 not that we loved God
ouc oti hmeiV hgaphkamen - Aor Act Ind
4:11 we ought also -
afeilomen
4:12 Has seen -
teqeatai
is perfected -
teteleiwmenh - Pf Pass Ptc
4:13 we abide -
menomen - Pres Act Ind
he has given -
dedwken
4:14 We have beheld -
teqeameqa - Pf Act Ind
4:16 we have come to know -
efnwkamen - Pf Ind
Cf. 4:13; 5:1-2
And believed -
pepisteukamen -
Cf. 4:9-10; John 3:5,16,36
Dwelleth in God - soul and depth of heart and mind, living constantly in love
- menw
4:17 perfected -
teteleiwtai - Pf Pass Ind - Cf. 4:20-21
Made perfect by continual practice and total concentration on a loving God.
*If we know and believe and dwell in God, our love becomes mature, proper, full
grown, seasoned, complete fully developed and refined.
You then, are dependable, loyal, sacrificial, reliable and prudent.