Exploring 1st John Chapter 4

Welcome
Prayer
Music
Silence
15 1st John 4.1-6
July 3rd 2016
Meat

All right, let’s do a brief review of Chapter 4.

There are two principal subjects discussed in this chapter – guess what they are?

First, how to know that they had the Spirit of God and second, the ways and purposes and importance of agape LoveSelfless love marked by patience, mercy, and humility—central to living in spiritual liberty.. It’s really much the same as chapter three and as will see, chapter five. The redundancies are here for a reason and so we will read them and discuss them with as much heart as we have in the past – why? They are that important in terms of Christian principles.

Discernment of Spirits

So John starts off providing a method by which we can discern the truths of God verses the lies (in his case of anti-Christs and Gnostics). This method is described in verses 1-6 where he cautions them against trusting to every kind of spirit, and then he gives four things to consider when discerning truth from error. These include him saying:

(1.) they people the Spirit of God who confessed that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh, (1st John 4:2);

(2.) that all who denied this had not the Spirit of God and the denial of this was the real spirit of antichrist (1st John 4:3);

(3.) that those who had the Spirit of God did not have the spirit of this world, (1st John 4:4,5;) and that

(4.) they who had the Spirit of God would hear those who were his apostles, or who were sent by him, (1st John 4:6).

This is in the first six verses.

The Duty and Power of Christian Love

Then he enters, once again, into the duty, power, and influence of Christian love (1st John 4:7-21) – a favorite subject with John and so he not only discusses it and its attributes over and over he repeatedly uses it as the defining evidence of true Christianity. In this chapter the duty and value of love are enforced by the following considerations:

(1.) that Love has its origin in God, and every one who has true love is born of God (verses 7-8).

(2.) that God has shown his great love to us by having given his Son to die for us; and as he has so loved us, we ought also to love one another, (verses 9-11).

Love as Evidence of God's Presence

(3.) then again, if we love one another, it furnishes the best evidence that God dwells in us, (verses 12-15).

(4.) that God is love, and if we have true love we dwell in him, and he dwells in us, (verse 16).

(5.) that it is Love that will furnish us the greatest advantage in the day of judgment, by giving us confidence when we come before him, (verse 17).

(6.) that Love casts out all fear, and will make our minds calm in view of the events which are to come, that there is no fear in love (verse 18).

(7.) Again, the very fact that he has first manifested his love to us should lead us to the exercise of love, (19)

(8.) that again, a man cannot truly love God and hate his brother, (verse 20); and

(9.) the repeated solemn command of God that he who loves God should love his brother also.

So let’s read our text for today:

1st John 4:1 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.

Alright, back to verse 1.

And before we get into it we have to remember the context of John’s first epistle – it was written specifically to address a very specific threat to

The Context of Discernment

Believers at this very specific time. So when we read certain lines from him, while they certainly may have some application in our lives we cannot take what he says as the final word on matters. I’ll explain this more when we get to passages that illustrate what I am saying. So, as stated, John says:

1st John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. While it is certainly true we have false prophets run amok today, who are more false teachers than men or women claiming to actually be prophets, this advice was to them who were surrounded with chaotic divisions and threats to the faith. Remember, in chapter three John clearly and plainly tells them, “it’s the last hour.”

Warnings Against Deception

And we know that in describing the last hour Jesus said in Matthew 24:4-5:

“Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.”

Then in Matthew 24:11 He says:

“And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.”

And in verse 24 He adds:

“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."

In Colossians chapter 2 Paul lays out several warnings to believers at Colosse, saying:

In verse 4: “And this I say, lest any man should beguile you with enticing words.”

Then in verse 8: “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

And then in verse 18: “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind.”

And in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3-4, when the believers were being told it was the end, Paul said, “Not Yet” by saying:

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sinMissing the mark of faith and love—no punishment, just lost growth or peace. be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.”

Here, in John’s day, that day that Paul said was not yet had come. They were in the middle of a falling away. There were anti-Christs and the Anti-Christ and false teachers and teachings and prophets and prophecies were running amok.

The Principle of Testing Spirits

Of course the principles remain true and perfectly applicable to us in our day and age – we too are surrounded by similar themes and beliefs and falsity, but this historical context is important in our assessment of all that John says here. So he says:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit.”

“Don’t trust or have faith, don’t believe” and he says, “every pneuma.” From these words it appears that John associates all the professions, and teachings, and insights and instructions floating around them to originating from spiritual sources – of course from God and then from Man and or the devil. Don’t trust or accept everything presented to you. Built into this warning is the idea that people were not just spouting everything under the sun as truth but that what he was really warning them about was people who claimed to be speaking for God.

Do he says don’t believe them all then adds a wonderful piece of advice:

“But try the spirits whether they are of God.”

Now, the word for try here in Greek is DOK IM ADZO and it means to test (as it says in the King James) but it also means to “try,” “prove” and “examine.” It could be that John was appealing to those who had the spiritual gift of “discernment” which is mentioned in

1st Corinthians 12:8-10 where Paul says:

8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit;
10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Some say these gifts are gone today and others claim they are alive and well – I think depending on the person both statements are true.

In any case, John could have been appealing to the

Examination of Spirits

Discernment of spirits is emphasized when addressing the need to test all spirits. The suggestion here is that "examine" might be a more fitting translation than "test," rooted in the context of the passages. This hinges on verses suggesting it’s through what a person claims or says that the truth is discerned, highlighting examination over spiritual discernment, though both are intertwined when encountering concepts and ideas.

The Role of Prejudices

A challenge arises: what we claim as spiritual discernment might actually be our own prejudices. This is evident when people of different faiths discern "evil" or "corruptibility" in others who may be presenting biblical truths. Consequently, while spiritual discernment aids us, it should be grounded in an understanding and examination of facts. Reliable, trustworthy sources—not merely human minds—should back these facts.

In John's time, notable figures claiming Christianity were promoting falsehoods under God's name. As an apostle, John was the truthful source, a living witness to correct these claims. Notably, he countered the claim that Christ was not flesh and blood. Apostolic testimonies and words assist in our discernment. This combination of understanding the Word and spiritual discernment provides a dual witness, untouched by flesh and blood, rooted in the Spirit.

Understanding the Spirit

Ephesians 6:17 references the vital role of God's Word: “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is…the word of God.” Acknowledging human limitations in comprehending the Spirit's Word, it remains the principal method for examining all matters. Despite critiques or labels, the speaker expresses skepticism towards teachings beyond fundamental Gospel truths, reflecting a struggle to find them credible.

Paul advises testing everything, retaining only the good. Similarly, John emphasizes examining proclaimed doctrines. Such practices reveal flaws in conventional arguments, gradually dismantling them. In line with Jesus' teaching in John 4:23, worship involves spirit and truth, sought by the Father.

John advises caution:

“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

Identifying the Spirit of God

He elucidates this:

“2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: (in other words, this is how you can know the Spirit of God is speaking and he says) 'Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.' ”

In Greek, "Hereby know ye" translates as “By this.” This indicates that by this test, the Spirit of God’s truth can be known. John directly addresses the Gnostic controversy—Doesetae denying Jesus’ flesh. He asserts that any spirit affirming Jesus in the flesh aligns with God. However, he clarifies that such confession alone doesn’t fulfill other qualifications.

The Spirit of Truth and the Flesh

Christian or a saved individual. All he says is the spirit that admits that Jesus came in flesh is a spirit that is of God. There are far, far, far too many other factors in scripture that contribute to the Christianity of a soul. However, to clear a path between the falsehoods of the Gnostics and the truth about Jesus at that time John provides this simple test by which all his readers could examine the facts. I suggest that this is also a great starting point for us as believers when talking with people – do they believe that Jesus came in the flesh. If they do we know that the Spirit of God has moved them to make such a confession.

Specifically John is addressing the peculiar false doctrine of the Gnostics here – that Jesus did not actually come in flesh. So when we read this, that whosoever claims that Jesus came in the flesh that this is from the Spirit of God or is he really saying something more? I know a lot of people today will admit that there was a Jesus (that he was here in the flesh) but they also deny that He was anything more than a good man. This position would not do in John’s book either, and we might suppose that if He was battling a group who was saying that Jesus was just a Good man that he would counter that with the argument that “Whosoever says that Jesus was God incarnate is of God.” Get it? His specific point here is directed to the specific false doctrine being taught to those believers at that time and we have to be careful not to read it today as a singular proof text on how to determine who is a Christian or not.

The Spirit of Antichrist

Then John adds the reverse view and says: (verse 3)

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God . . .

This, of course, is pointed directly at the Gnostics and their particular view. I’m not so sure we have many people walking around today claiming the position of the gnostic docetae. But we learn from John here that believing that Jesus was actually a man in flesh and blood is essential to the Christian faith. Again, the Docetae said he was fooling people or tricking their senses – but he was not really a man of flesh and blood. This winds up denying his suffering etc. John adds to this repetition: “and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” Perhaps better put, in the context of scripture, would be, “this is one of the things which characterize antichrist.” Certainly John was not saying that a specific individual was the Anti-Christ but that he had in mind a class of persons who bore such a spirit.

“and this is that spirit of antichrist,” In other words anyone who oppose Christ's incarnation, and therefore his passion, deathSeparation from God—now overcome. Physical death remains, but it no longer separates us from life with God., and resurrection are bearing the Spirit of Anti-Christ. Only makes sense huh – deny basic elements of Christ you must be bearing sentiments of anti-Christ, right? (now listen to this line carefully) “ . . . whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

The Warning of the Antichrist

When were they told that the Anti-Christ should come? First we have to look to the words of Jesus. Where He does not use the term Anti-Christ (Anti-Christ is only used four times and all by John) He does say the following to His apostles (in Mark 13) which alludes to the Spirit of Anti-Christ in the land:

Mark 13:14 But when ye shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing where it ought not, (let him that readeth understand,) then let them that be in Judaea flee to the mountains: 15 And let him that is on the housetop not go down into the house, neither enter therein, to take any thing out of his house: 16 And let him that is in the field not turn back again for to take up his garment. 17 But woe to them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 18 And pray ye that your flight be not in the winter. 19 For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created unto this time, neither shall be. 20 And except that the Lord

Understanding Biblical Warnings Against False Teachings

had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.
21 And then if any man shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ; or, lo, he is there; believe him not:
22 For false Christs and false prophets shall rise, and shall shew signs and wonders, to seduce, if it were possible, even the elect.
23 But take ye heed: behold, I have foretold you all things.

Then we also know that in Paul’s day some saints were prematurely thinking that Jesus was about to (or even had) returned. This caused Paul to say (in 2nd Thessalonians 2:3):

1 Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
2 That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
4 Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?
6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.
7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:
9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,
10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.

The Antichrist in the Teachings of John

I would strongly suggest that John, who in chapter two said:

1st John 2:18 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.

That John, the last living apostle was calling it then and there – it is the last hour. You have heard that the Spirit of Anti-Christ (in many fallen souls) would come – well, it’s here. And then he reassures them with one of the most oft quoted verses in the New Testament, a passage of great comfort – and one that is ever so tender considering the situation these believers were in, and he says (verse 4):

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them (which I interpret as the false Christs and prophets who collectively constitute anti-Christ): because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.

You are children of God, His family, and you have embraced both Him, and His truth, and are filled with His Spirit. By these things you have overcome them, had victory over their arts, their deceptions, the temptations they have given you to draw you in to sin. God, who dwells in your hearts by Christ through the Spirit, has given you victory by His grace and strength and therefore we know that “greater is He that is in your then he (Satan) that is in the world.

The Presence of God in Believers

Here’s the deal, the application – what was true then is true now. He who dwells in our hearts today – now – is infinitely more mighty than Satan. Therefore, by faith, we know that we have had victory over him by and through the victory Jesus had over him nearly 2000 years ago.

John talks more about these who we have overcome by Christ and describes them in more detail, saying:

5 They are of the world: therefore they speak of the world, and the world heareth them.

I would suggest that in John’s day what he gives us are ways by which the Spirit of Anti-Christ could be known – Those who had it. They were “of the world,” they “spoke of the things of the world” and the world, in turn, related to them because “it heard (or responded to their) messages.” They were not of the family of God, they were of the family of the world.

The Distinction Between Worldly and Godly Conversations

The things of the world—talk about them, preach their virtues, focus on their existence and never the things of God. In other words, their love of the world flavors everything they say, and we might suggest that, in general, there was nothing in them—no higher aims than what could be had or accomplished or experienced than what is achievable in this life.

Years ago, I was told that small minds talk about people, good minds talk about events, and great minds talk about ideas (or concepts). We might take that bromide and assign it to two levels of existence—those who are in the world and those who are children of God. In the case of the worldly, the quote doesn’t need to be changed, but in the case of members of the Body, we might say those of little faith and little love speak of others, those of goodly faith and love speak of events, but those of the greatest faith and love speak of the things of God.

Jesus on Heart and Speech

It’s really not difficult to distinguish, even among professed Christians and Christian teachers, those who are heavenly in their conversation from those who are influenced by the spirit of the world. As Jesus said: "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh," and in almost every situation, a man's conversation will show what "spirit is within him"—given enough time. John adds, “And the world heareth them.”

Go into a crowd of worldly living people and start talking salvation, Jesus, the Bible, and you will not be heard. Talk about almost everything else and you’ll have an audience. But the reverse is true as well. While believers are in the world and do have to function in and around its ways, most people of faith do not linger in conversations about the world. They, as Chuck Smith used to say, keep a light touch on it.

The Spirit of Truth and Error

The final verse for today is an expansion of what he said in verse five:

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.

Based on the language, it seems that John here is referring to himself, as an apostle, and possibly to those who echoed the same doctrines that he and the other apostles taught. But he may be speaking of himself and all who are in his audience when he says, “We are of God,” and then adds, “he that knoweth God hears us, he that is not of God hears not us.” It’s a pretty remarkable statement—but one I think is dead on.

“Those of the truth will hear the truth. Those who are not will not.” What makes some of the truth and others not, only God can say—but those who are of it will always hear it. And then he ends with:

“Hereby” (in this way) “we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”

In other words, by this, we can distinguish those who embrace the truth from those who do not. No matter what pretensions they might set up for piety or being holy, it is clear that if they did not embrace the doctrines taught by the true apostles of God, they could not be regarded as Children of God. And of course, as with all things, the same rule of thumb is applicable today.

Those who reject the plain doctrines laid down in the word of God by the apostolic writers, whatever pretensions they may make to holiness, whatever zeal they may evince in the cause which they have espoused, have no well-founded claims to the name and ways of Christ. As a means to avoid nit-picking each other to death, I personally believe that anyone who rejects salvation by grace through faith on the Lord Jesus and refuses the command to love are…missing the mark…so to speak.

Let’s stop here.

Q and A