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TEST THE SPIRITS - Jan 01, 2000 -
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THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH
Passage:
1 John 4:1-6
Key verse: 2
NIV
On Denying the Incarnation
4 Dear friends,(A) do not believe every spirit,(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.(C) 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh(D) is from God,(E) 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.(G)
4 You, dear children,(H) are from God and have overcome them,(I) because the one who is in you(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.(K) 5 They are from the world(L) 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.(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth(N) and the spirit of falsehood.(O)
Footnotes
- 1 John 4:6 Or spirit
Cross references
- 1 John 4:1 : S 1Co 10:14
- 1 John 4:1 : Jer 29:8; 1Co 12:10; 2Th 2:2
- 1 John 4:1 : S Mt 7:15; 1Jn 2:18
- 1 John 4:2 : S Jn 1:14; 1Jn 2:23
- 1 John 4:2 : 1Co 12:3
- 1 John 4:3 : 1Jn 2:22; 2Jn 7
- 1 John 4:3 : 1Jn 2:18
- 1 John 4:4 : S 1Jn 2:1
- 1 John 4:4 : S Jn 16:33
- 1 John 4:4 : Ro 8:31
- 1 John 4:4 : 2Ki 6:16; S Jn 12:31
- 1 John 4:5 : Jn 15:19; 17:14, 16
- 1 John 4:6 : Jn 8:47
- 1 John 4:6 : S Jn 14:17
- 1 John 4:6 : S Mk 13:5
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Test the Spirits
4 Beloved, (A)do not believe every spirit, but (B)test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for (C)many (D)false prophets (E)have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (F)every spirit that confesses that (G)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit (H)that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and (I)now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for (J)he who is in you is greater than (K)he who is in the world. 5 (L)They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and (M)the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. (N)Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know (O)the Spirit of truth and (P)the spirit of error.
Read full chapterCross references
- 1 John 4:1 : Jer. 29:8
- 1 John 4:1 : 1 Thess. 5:21; [1 Cor. 12:10; 14:29; Rev. 2:2]
- 1 John 4:1 : See ch. 2:18
- 1 John 4:1 : 2 Pet. 2:1
- 1 John 4:1 : 2 John 7
- 1 John 4:2 : [1 Cor. 12:3]
- 1 John 4:2 : 2 John 7
- 1 John 4:3 : ch. 2:22; 2 John 7
- 1 John 4:3 : ch. 2:18; [2 Thess. 2:3-7]
- 1 John 4:4 : See Rom. 8:31
- 1 John 4:4 : [1 Cor. 2:12]; See John 12:31
- 1 John 4:5 : John 3:31; 8:23
- 1 John 4:5 : John 15:19
- 1 John 4:6 : [John 8:47; 10:16; 18:37; 1 Cor. 14:37]
- 1 John 4:6 : John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13
- 1 John 4:6 : [1 Cor. 2:12; 1 Tim. 4:1]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
Again, John speaks not based on authority, but refers to the church as dear friends. The church must use the discernment God gives them to detect whether a spirit is from God or not. We must not be easily swayed by supernatural events or people’s interpretations, but prayerfully seek God’s discernment.
The Spirit of Truth testifies that Jesus is Incarnate God, but a false spirit will deny that Jesus is both God and man. Some religious groups say Jesus was only a man. Some say he was only a spirit. Satan does not want people to believe in a Biblical view of Jesus who has the power to save us through his holy blood shed on the cross.
Lastly, we must be alert to the world’s value system that is in rebellion to Jesus. We must follow the Holy Spirit within us who is greater than the world and leads us to follow Christ.
Prayer: Father, thank you for Jesus who came as Incarnate God in the flesh. Please help us to have the Spirit of Truth and discernment to follow Him.
One Word: Have the Spirit of Truth to follow Jesus
