Good morning,
This week we continue our series, Who is God? My goal is to pick a chapter of the Bible that speaks to the character of God. This week we look at 1 John 4.
Who is God?
1 John 4
God is Spirit of Truth and Love
Try the Spirits (1-6)
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
First John 4 begins with the command to test spiritual claims, since not all teachers are true to the faith. Christians are never instructed to believe “just because.” In fact, we are often warned to carefully consider before we trust any particular message (Acts 17:11; Colossians 2:8–10). John was concerned that false prophets and false teachings would deceive his readers. First John 4:2 gives the test for spirits which actually come from God. These are those that acknowledge Jesus Christ’s real incarnation.
John adds that believers overcome the powers in this world because of God’s Spirit within them (1 John 4:4). “The world” refers to godless humanity. A worldly attitude listens to unbelievers and ungodly spirits, and ignores God. (https://www.bibleref.com/1-John/4/1-John-chapter-4.html)
Tom Stearns, WASI Chaplain, 907 715-4001 chaplain@alaskaseniors.com
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