A The Baptist Deacon

First John Chapter 4:2-6

deaconfarley | August 14, 2008 13:16

1 John 4:2-6

If you haven’t read my first post on 1st John 4 study, please take a few minutes to read it because I am going to pick up where I left off. You can follow this link to catch up: http://deaconfarley.christianblogsites.com/blog/post/2008/08/11/first-john-chapter-4

Okay now that you are caught up here are verses 2 – 6: 2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  3And 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. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We 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.

Last time we talked about trying the spirits. We have an example to us to know if a spirit is of God. Look at verse 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:  The supreme test of the spirits, and the teachers whom they influence, is their teaching concerning the nature of Jesus Christ. If, in any way, they try to separate Jesus from "the Christ," from the deity ~ KJV Defenders Study Bible

Now look at verse 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. This is plain. If a spirit does not confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God. It goes on to say that it is the spirit of the antichrist, which is even now in the world. Did you realize that the antichrist was already in the world and not only in the world, but has been here?

The false teachers spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it, that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their corrupt taste? ~ Matthew Henry’s Commentary.

 

Now verse 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. What a promise this verse has. Christian people are of God, we have overcome. Why? Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. If you are saved, then you know that greater power personally. You know that you have something greater than the world has to offer.  You have something whose price is far above anything this world can offer.  Can you see what I am talking about? Christians have overcome!  I pray you can see this as clear as I can. Praise God! What a promise!

 

You know this world will beat you down, mock you, spit on you and laugh at you. I have a promise of a home in Glory Land. I have a promise of seeing the streets of gold so pure you can see through them. I have a promise of being with and living with God. There will be no dieing, no sadness, no plagues, sickness and especially no evil. We will live pain free with happiness and joy in an immortal body forever. BECAUSE GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU, THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD. I have a promise of all those great things plus a whole lot more I didn’t mention.

 

I’ll tell you something else. If you are lost, you want get to live in Heaven. You will hear “depart from me ye workers of iniquity”. You will get an immortal body too. Your immortal body will suffer in the Lake of Fire. A place made for the devil and his angels. A place you were never meant to go. How sad!

 

You might be thinking what those last two paragraphs had to do with our topic. I don’t know, but it did not cost you anything extra to get to read more of the truth.

 

The devil may be "the god of this world" (2 Corinthians 4:4) and have a multitude of demonic spirits under his control (Ephesians 6:11,12), but the Holy Spirit who indwells every believer is the omnipotent God. As long as we neither "grieve the Spirit" nor "quench the Spirit" (Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19), we can take great comfort in knowing that through the Spirit and His Word we can "overcome the wicked one" (1 John 2:14). ~ KJV Defenders Study Bible

 

Now verses 5 & 6: They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We 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.  I love what these verses mean. We know the spirit of truth. We are of God.

We will pick up next time with verse 7.

God Bless! Smile

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Re: First John Chapter 4:2-6

Frank | 08/14/2008, 22:39

I'm sorry, this is lengthy.________ vs. 1 - Beloved, believe not every spirit (John is talking about "spirits"… the spiritual anti-God, anti-Christ), but try the spirits (with the Word… the TRUE Word) whether they are of God; because many false prophets (having unholy spirits) are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus the Christ is come in the flesh (that is… God incarnate) is of God ...3 And every spirit that confesses not that Jesus is God Incarnate (the Christ) 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. The unholy spirits recognizes Jesus for Who He Is - Son of God Most High Luke 8:28 . This was "Legion" who had many devils. When confronted with Jesus, they must admit Who He Is! But these unholy spirits will do the very opposite through false teachers because they are against God… anti (opposed, hostile, against) God and His Christ... 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (spirits in false teachers who lie): because greater is He (Holy Spirit) that is in you, than he that is in the world... 5 They (spirits) are of the world (cast down with satan): therefore speak they of the world, and the world (unbelievers and carnal believers) hears them... 6 We (the Apostles, the true teachers) are of God: he that knows God (true believers) HEARS US (the Apostles who have the true Word); he that is not of God hears not us (the Apostles). HEREBY KNOW WE (true believers) THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, AND THE SPIRIT OF ERROR________ This very last sentence is where I am headed with all this. I didn't mean to re-write all your scripture references except I needed to expand a little on your most appropriate words, all for the sake of the last sentence. "We" refers to true believers, called of God, the elect… who are able to KNOW (discern, judge, determine, recognize) the Spirit of Truth and, by virtue of this Grace, "we" are able also to KNOW (discern, judge, determine, recognize) the spirit of error; because… we hear the Apostles WORDS. This is most important. This is a work of sanctification in our lives. This is Holiness at work in our lives. Don't let anyone tell you, "you shouldn't judge".______ you decide wheteher to post or not. I share this mostly with you.

addendum...

Frank | 08/14/2008, 23:52

You said it exactly right in your first post.... "Don’t take these things at face value. INVESTIGATE; make sure it is from God. We can DISCERN those who set forth doctrines ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLES, and those who contradict them".

Re: First John Chapter 4:2-6

deaconfarley | 08/15/2008, 06:10

deaconfarley Brother I thank you for your comments. You said " I share this mostly with you", but the truth needs to be posted. God Bless.
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