Wordly Hatred, Christian Love

We're in 1 John chapter 3, starting in verse 11, going all the way to chapter 4, verse 6.

1 John 3 · chapter mention

And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brothers righteous.

Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.

We know that we have passed out of death into life because we love the brothers.

Whoever does not love abides in death.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

By this we know, love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him,

how does God's love abide in him?

Little children, let us not love in word or talk, but in deed and in truth.

By this we shall know that we are of the truth, and we assure our heart before him.

For whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.

Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.

And whatever we ask, we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.

And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and love one another,

just as he has commanded us.

Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him.

And by this we know that he abides in us by the Spirit whom he has given us.

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.

For many false prophets have gone out into the world.

By this you know the Spirit of God.

Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.

And every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

This is the Spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them.

For he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

They are from the world, therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.

We are from God.

Whoever knows God listens to us.

Whoever is not from God does not listen to us.

By this we know the Spirit of truth and the Spirit of error.

This is the word of the Lord.

In last week's passage, John wrote about how we can distinguish the children of God from the children of the devil.

And the basis for distinguishing that was whether or not we practice righteousness.

And Matt helpfully explained to us last week that insofar as we are abiding in Christ,

remaining in him through faith and obedience, that we can't keep on, we cannot keep on sinning.

For that reason, a person's righteousness or wickedness is evidence of the person's genuine faith or lack thereof.

And so chapter 3 verse 10 concluded the passage by saying this,

Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

So he added at the end there the provision about loving one's Christian brother.

And that's inclusive of the Christian sister as well.

And that's because our love for one another is a defining characteristic of the Christian.

A defining characteristic is something that characterizes all the members of a single group

and is sufficiently distinctive that it can be used to determine a person's membership in that group.

So you might have a lot of characteristics that overlap with other Christians,

but if you don't have this characteristic, this defining characteristic,

you cannot rightly claim to be a Christian.

And in this passage that we just read, John elaborates on two defining characteristics of the Christian.

And that's this, that as followers of Christ who laid down his life for us,

we should be characterized by our faith in Jesus and our love for one another.

That's the two defining characteristics.

So first we're going to talk about our love for one another in verses 11 to 22, chapter 3.

And then we'll talk about faith in Jesus Christ from chapter 3, verse 23 to chapter 4, verse 6.

He first explains that our love for one another is an indispensable mark of the Christian.

He begins in verse 11.

For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.

He emphasizes that this is the command that we have heard from the beginning.

So from the beginning of the audience's Christian journey of following Christ,

from the beginning of Jesus' earthly ministry,

the disciples who followed him heard this command,

and the command was to love one another.

Jesus' message to us, his command to us, didn't evolve over time.

It didn't vary.

It didn't change.

It was consistent from the beginning, and that is we should love one another.

And this is a key theme in all of Apostles John's writings,

and this is the first of six references to Jesus' command to love one another in this letter alone.

And John explains this further by first giving us a negative example of hating one's brother in verses 12 to 15.

And then he gives us a positive example of loving one's brother in verses 16 to 22.

He says in verse 12,

John's alluding to Genesis chapter 4,

Genesis 4 · chapter mention

According to the narrative in Genesis,

the Lord did this because Abel, as a shepherd,

offered, it says,

the firstborn of his flock and of their fat portions.

So Abel brought to God the best, the first of his flock, the best of his flock.

But Cain, as a farmer, did not offer the firstfruits of the produce.

And later in the Old Testament,

this ideal of bringing the firstfruits as an offering to God is codified in the law.

And so to summarize it,

Abel brought his cream of the crop,

and Cain brought his crumbs to God.

Abel brought something that was truly second.

Cain brought what he could sell.

But Cain, whose own,

out of envy and anger,

murdered Abel, his brother,

whose deeds were righteous.

And then John continues in verse 13,

Do not be surprised, brothers,

that the world hates you.

In the same way that Cain hated his brother,

Abel,

were evil and his brother was righteous,

the sinful, unbelieving world will hate us.

Jesus said in John 7, verse 7,

John 7:7

The world hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil.

Jesus also said in John 15, verses 18 to 19,

John 15:18–19

If the world hates you,

know that it has hated me before it hated you.

If you were of the world,

the world would love you as its own.

But because you are not of the world,

but I chose you out of the world,

therefore the world hates you.

The world is in rebellion against God.

They recognize that Christians live by a code of a different kingdom.

And that fuels their hatred because the world hates aliens.

Those were not like them.

By living according to the word of God,

we testify to the world that their works,

which is contrary to the word of God,

are evil.

And the world hates that testimony.

By claiming the exclusivity of Jesus Christ

and saying that salvation is found in Him alone,

we testify to the world that their religions and philosophies

and worldviews,

which contradict the word of God,

are false and inadequate.

And the world hates that testimony.

So we should not be surprised when the world hates us.

I think often we can be surprised by the vitriol

or the persecution we receive from the world.

And I think too many Christians try to fit in and please the world

and in doing so,

water down the message of Jesus Christ

and trying to kind of bend you over backwards

and trying to make it seem like

we don't have anything unique and different to offer to the world.

As if we are just like them.

We fit in.

Nothing different about us.

That's not true.

The message we offer is necessarily different.

It necessarily contrasts us from the world.

And when that's the case,

it's not a surprise when the world hates us.

If we live faithfully and righteously,

the world will hate us

for the same reason Cain hated Abel.

In contrast,

here's what assures us of our eternal life.

Not the world's love for us,

but this,

verse 14,

we know that we have passed out of death into life

because we love the brothers.

Whoever does not love abides in death.

Christians are here described as

those who have passed out of death into life.

This is a reference to eternal life,

not coming into ultimate judgment.

And so we have assurance of salvation,

eternal life through our faith in the word of Christ,

the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And the basis for our confidence in this status

as those who possess eternal life

is our love for the brothers and sisters in Christ.

Whoever does not love, however,

it says they abide in death.

Since this is contrasted with eternal life,

it likely refers to eternal spiritual death.

And we know from the context of this letter

that there were those who had denied Jesus

and separated themselves from the church

that John is addressing here in this letter.

So he likely has those people in view

when he says this.

They, in contrast to you who love one another,

they may have no confidence

that they have eternal life.

In fact, they may rest assured

that they abide in death

because by seceding from the body of Christ,

they give evidence

that they do not love the brothers.

How can you, basically, John is saying,

how can you claim to love the brothers and sisters

whom you have forsaken?

That's evidence not of love but hatred.

And so John argues in verse 15,

everyone who hates his brother is a murderer.

And you know that no murderer

has eternal life abiding in him.

Generally, people like to think

that they are pretty good people.

And they say something when you ask them,

how good do you think you are?

Do you think you should get into heaven?

They say something along the lines of,

well, you know, I've done some bad things,

but I mean, I haven't killed anyone.

You know, I'm not a murderer, right?

I mean, that's kind of like the bottom, right?

That's like the pit.

It's just the worst thing

that people can imagine you can do.

And that's the same in John's time.

So he says,

you know that no murderer

has eternal life abiding in him.

We know this.

No murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

But the surprising thing here

is that John associates hatred with murder.

And he learned this lesson from Jesus.

Jesus taught in Matthew 5, 21 to 22,

you have heard that it was said to those of old,

you shall not murder

and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.

But I say to you

that everyone who is angry with his brother

will be liable to judgment.

In the same way,

a murderer is liable to judgment.

A person who is sinfully angry

and hates his brother

will be liable to judgment.

Jesus taught that murder

is the blossom that grows

on the bud of hatred,

on the bud of anger.

Cain envied and hated his brother Abel

and that produced murder.

Do you envy

your brother or sister in Christ?

Do you wish you had the favor

or blessing that they enjoy

or do you begrudge

their happiness?

Are you harboring anger

or resentment toward anyone

of your brother or sister in Christ?

If that's the case,

that's not something to take lightly

but something to deal with

urgently and immediately

because harboring hatred,

festering anger

is the root of murder.

Of course,

the fear of the consequences

and the societal pressures

might keep us

from the physical act

but we may commit

many murders in our hearts

and God sees it all.

And if hatred of one's brother

leads to killing him,

love of one's brother

leads to dying for him.

That's what John now turns to,

the positive example in verse 16.

By this we know love

that he laid down his life for us

and we are to lay down our lives

for the brothers.

We like to use a lot of kind of vague slogans

about that include the word,

the idea of love

but we rarely define love.

We rarely can precisely express

what it looks like

but John tells us

exactly what love looks like,

what the definite standard of love is

and he says this,

that Jesus laid down his life for us

and we are to lay down our lives

for the brothers.

Jesus, the eternal son of God,

took on a human nature

and became a son of man

so that he could share in our infirmities

so that he might bear our sins on the cross.

Jesus, the eternal word of life

took on our mortal nature

and experienced death in our place.

Many of us have heard this gospel message many times

and it's easy to just let it slip through our ears

but think about that

and let that sink in for a moment.

Maybe it would be helpful to think about it this way.

When we hear in the news that a baby,

a baby which is in life and innocence

is brutally and violently murdered

or when you hear in the news

that a nun,

which is a symbol of chastity,

is raped,

it repulses us, doesn't it?

It makes us sick to our stomach.

That kind of same reaction

should be present when we hear

that Jesus Christ died on the cross for us

because the word of life

was subjected to death.

The righteous one,

the one who always spoke truly

and always acted righteously,

was killed as a criminal

and as a sinner.

That should have never happened.

That should have never been.

Our Lord should have never

been subjected to such humiliation

but He endured it for our sake.

He endured it so that we might trust in Him

for salvation and live

and that's how we know what love is.

That God became a Son of Man.

The Son of God became a Son of Man

and died for us

and nobody forced Him to do this.

Jesus said this in John 10

John 10:7

verses 7 and 18,

I lay down my life

that I might take it up again.

No one takes it from me

but I lay it down of my own accord.

I have authority to lay it down

and I have authority to take it up again.

This charge I have received

from my Father.

Pilate did not force Jesus to die.

Caesar didn't force Jesus to die.

Even God the Father

did not force Jesus to die.

Jesus died

out of His willing obedience

to His Father.

He voluntarily laid down His life

that He might save us.

And it's in that sacrifice

that we know

what love is.

And since Jesus,

our elder brother

in the family of God,

laid down His life for us,

it follows that

we ought to

lay down our lives

for the brothers.

Unless we get lost

in these kind of

high, noble,

abstract ideals

but fail to grasp

the concrete

and tangible

ramifications of this command,

John continues

with the more specific

implication of this

in verses 17 to 18.

But if anyone

has the world's goods

and sees his brother

in need,

yet closes his heart

against him,

how does God's love

abide in him?

Little children,

let us not love

in word or talk

but in deed

and in truth.

A brother in need

calls for a love

in deed,

not just word.

How can you say

that God's love

resides in you

when you don't have

love for your brothers

and sisters

who are the object

of God's special affection?

People that God

purchased

with the precious blood

of His own Son.

How can you say

God's love abides in you

when you don't love

your brothers

and sisters?

And how can you claim

to love your brother

or sister

when despite seeing

their need,

you close your heart

against him or her?

We cannot claim

to be ready

to lay down our lives

for our brothers

and sisters

when we don't even

share the world's goods,

material goods,

physical goods

with one another.

James chapter 2

James 2:15–16

verses 15 to 16

offers a close parallel.

It says,

If a brother or sister

is poorly clothed

and lacking

in daily food

and one of you

says to them,

go in peace,

be warmed

and filled

without giving them

the things

needed for the body,

what good is that?

When we refuse

to feed a hungry

brother or sister,

when we refuse

to nurse

a sick brother

or sister,

when we refuse

to clothe

a poorly clothed

brother or sister,

and we don't do it,

our religion

is useless.

We demonstrate

by our actions

that our words

mean nothing to us.

We prove

that God's love

does not abide in us.

I was just reading

in the news yesterday

about Don Giussupi

Berardelli.

I don't know if you guys

saw this story.

He was a 72-year-old

Christian priest

in Lombardi, Italy

and one of the areas

hardest hit by COVID-19.

He caught COVID-19

and he was in the hospital

on a ventilator.

He actually owned

this ventilator.

It was his personal ventilator

that his church members

had purchased for him

because he already had

a respiratory illness

and needed one.

And so even though

hospitals didn't have enough,

he had one.

but he recognized

that there were others

in the room

and especially

there was a younger person

who desperately needed

a ventilator

and was about to die

and so he gave up

his own ventilator,

one that he owns,

so that this person

might live

and then he died

shortly thereafter.

There is no greater love

than this

than the friend

lays down his life

as Jesus did.

He was following

in the footsteps

of the Savior

that he served

for 70 or so years

of his life.

And right now

is a great opportunity

for us

as a church

to demonstrate

our love

for one another.

It's possible

that some of us

will get sick

with COVID-19

in the coming days

and weeks.

It's possible

that some of us

will get very sick.

Some of us

might even lose

loved ones.

In the last two weeks alone,

not only health-wise,

but 10 million people

in the U.S.

have filed

for unemployment.

Just a staggering number.

One of our own members

is also recently unemployed

due to COVID-19.

And we expect

that there will be

more needs

in the coming weeks

and months

in our church.

But if anyone

hath the world's goods

and sees his brother

in need,

yet closes his heart

against him,

how does God's love

abide in him?

This is not the time

for us to close

our hearts

to one another.

describing the early church,

it says in Acts

Acts 4:34–35

chapter 4

verses 34 to 35,

there was not

a needy person

among them.

For as many

as were owners

of lands

or houses

sold them

and brought

the proceeds

of what was sold

and laid it

at the apostles' feet

and it was

distributed

to each

as any

had need.

So long as

any of us

has a roof

over our head,

our brothers and sisters

in Christ

should not be homeless.

So long as

any of us

has food

on our tables,

our brothers and sisters

should not be

going hungry.

so long as

any of us

have money

to spend,

our brothers and sisters

should not

be begging.

Because this is

our family,

this is God's

family.

Thank you.

To this end,

we created a fund

this week

called the

COVID-19 Relief Fund.

In addition

to our

general church fund,

we're going

to use this fund

to provide

urgent

temporary aid

to church members

who have lost

income

due to the

COVID-19 pandemic.

And we're

asking you

to give to that

over and above

your normal

tithes and offerings.

And you can

do that on our

website.

Go to

bit.do

trinitygive

and choose

the COVID-19

Relief Fund.

We can

kind of

tell you

on the

chat

after how

to do

that.

And please

let us

know of

any needs

that arise.

Don't keep

it to yourself.

If you

feel badly

about

telling us

in person

about the

needs that

you have,

just fill out

that online

survey.

Tell us

what you're

going through

so that we

can walk

through this

time with

you.

This is

when the

body of

Christ must

bond

together

and care

for one

another.

Any

surplus

money that

we might

have from

that fund

will be

used to

aid other

gospel-centered

churches in

the area

that are

experiencing

critical

financial

hardship

if there

is any

surplus.

I was

speaking with

a pastor

friend of

mine in

New Jersey

and he

shared with

me that

his church

this past

week cut

five staff

members,

including

one of

the pastors

because their

regular tithes

and offerings

have taken

such a hit

from not

gathering

week to

week.

I think

our love

for one

another should

extend an

overflow out

of our

own local

church as

well when

we are

able.

In the

same way

in Acts

11 when

prophet Agabus

prophesied of

a great

famine that

was coming

over the

whole region,

it says

that the

disciples

determined

everyone

according to

his ability

to send

relief to

the brothers

living in

Judea.

on a

couple

different

occasions

recorded in

the New

Testament,

believers

from other

regions

gathered funds

to send

to the

churches

in Jerusalem

because it

seems that

they were

particularly

impoverished.

And when

we love

one another

in this

way,

when our

love is

demonstrated

in deed,

that gives

us assurance

before God,

this passage

teaches us.

John writes

in verses

19 to 22,

These verses

are difficult

to interpret.

It's yielded

many different

interpretations.

In order to

understand it

rightly,

we have to

pay close

attention to

its immediate

context.

First,

note the

repetition of

the word

heart in

this passage.

First,

in verse 17,

John told us

that God's

love does

not abide

in anyone

who has

the world's

goods and

sees his

brother in

need,

yet closes

his heart

against him.

That's the

first instance

of the word

heart there.

So we

shouldn't

close our

heart against

our brothers

and sisters

in Christ.

Then verse

19 tells us

how we can

reassure our

heart before

God.

How we

might have

confidence in

our heart

before God,

in his

presence,

that we are

of the truth,

that we belong

to him.

So this is

the thesis of

verses 19 to

22.

And then in

verses 20

and verse 21,

John gives us

two kind of

opposing scenarios

that are

parallel to

each other.

It's an

antithetical

parallel.

They oppose

each other,

but they

match each

other in

structure.

So this

gets a

little bit

lost in

translation,

but both

verse 20

and verse

21 begin

with if

in the

original

language.

It says,

if our

heart

condemns us,

God is

greater than

our heart,

and he

knows

everything.

Beloved,

if our

heart does

not condemn

us,

we have

confidence

before God.

So you

notice the

parallel

structure

there.

Remember

what John

told us

in verse 19.

He's trying

to teach

us how

we can

reassure

our heart

before God,

how we

can have

confidence

before God.

Verse 20

is a

negative

scenario,

a situation

in which

one cannot

reassure

one's heart

before God.

And verse

21 is a

positive

scenario,

a situation

where one

can reassure

one's heart

before God.

And so with

that overall

structure in

mind,

we can

better

understand

the meaning

of

verses.

Let's

look at

verse 20.

It says,

for whenever

our heart

condemns

us,

God is

greater than

our heart

and he

knows

everything.

So this

is a

negative

scenario

where our

heart

condemns

us.

We have

closed our

heart against

our brother

or sister.

And because

of that,

our heart,

our own

hearts

condemn us.

And as a

result,

we can't

convince our

own hearts

that we

have done

what is

right in

withholding

material support

from our

Christian

brothers and

sisters.

And when we

have done

that,

how can we

reassure our

heart before

God?

Since God's

greater than

even our

heart.

And he

knows

everything.

We might

try to

rationalize our

lack of love

for our

brothers and

sisters and

try to

convince

ourselves,

convince our

own hearts

by saying,

well, I

need this

food just

as much

as he

does.

I need

this money

just as

much as

she does.

Giving

stuff to

him is

not the

best thing.

It might

make him

dependent and

complacent.

You know,

she should

have worked

harder and

prepared better

for these

kinds of

emergencies.

We might

say all

kinds of

things trying

to persuade

our hearts,

to convince

our hearts,

reassure our

hearts in

light of having

closed our

hearts against

our brothers.

But our

hearts won't

let us off

the hook

that easily

and our

heart condemns

us.

And what

John is

saying is

when even

our own

sinful

heart

condemns

us,

there is

no chance

that we

can reassure

our heart

before God.

Because God

is greater

than our

heart and

he knows

everything.

We might

fool ourselves

but we can

never fool

God because

he sees

the hidden

motivations and

murmurs of

our heart

that we

ourselves are

not even

aware of.

16th century

pastor and

Protestant

reformer John

Calvin concurs

with our

interpretation.

He says

this,

For if

anyone is

conscious of

guilt and

is condemned

by his own

heart, much

less can he

escape the

judgment of

God.

It hence

follows that

faith is

subverted by

the disquiet of

an evil

conscience.

God is

greater than

our heart

with reference

to judgment

that is

because God

sees much

more keenly

than we

do and

searches more

minutely and

judges more

severely.

To the same

purpose is what

immediately follows

that God

knoweth or

sees all

things.

For how can

those things

be hid from

him which

we who in

comparison with

him are dull

and blind are

constrained to

see?

The meaning

is now clear

that since the

knowledge of God

penetrates deeper

than the

perceptions of

our conscience,

no one can

stand before

God except

the integrity

of his

conscience

sustains him.

In

contrast,

verses 21

to 22

say,

if our

heart does

not condemn

us,

if we have

opened up

our hearts

toward our

brothers and

sisters in

need,

we have

confidence

before God

and whatever

we ask,

we receive

from him.

because we

keep his

commandments

and do

what pleases

him.

If we

share the

world's

goods with

our brothers

and sisters

when we

see them

in need,

our heart

does not

condemn us

and as a

result,

because of

our integrity,

we have

confidence

before God

and when we

have confidence

before God,

our hearts

are reassured

before him

and we

can ask

for him

and we

receive from

him our

prayer,

answers to

our prayers

because it

says we

keep his

commandments

and do

what pleases

him.

A clear

conscience

before God

this means

produces

confidence

before God

in prayer.

Conversely,

there's ample

evidence in

scripture that

sin separates

us from God

so that it

says in

Isaiah 59

Isaiah 59:2

verse 2,

he does

not hear.

Psalm 66

18 says,

if I had

cherished

iniquity in

my heart,

the Lord

would not

have listened.

God

delights

to answer

those who

obey him

because

obedience

is the

evidence

of faith

and God

answers

prayers

of faith.

So when

we obey

God in

loving one

another,

it says

we have

confidence

before God

and whatever

we ask

we receive

from him

because we

keep his

commandments

and do

what pleases

him.

And then

in verses

23-24,

John reiterates

exactly what

this commandment

of God

is that we

are to

obey.

He says,

and this

is his

commandment

that we

believe in

the name

of his

son Jesus

Christ

and love

one another

just as

he has

commanded

us.

Whoever

keeps his

commandments

abides in

God and

God in

him.

And by

this we

know that

he abides

in us

by the

spirit whom

he has

given us.

In verses

22-24,

John uses

the plural

commandments,

but in

verse 23,

he uses

the singular

commandment,

and by

doing that,

John tells

us that

while these

two commandments

are distinguishable,

they are

inseparable.

Because our

fellowship with

our brothers and

sisters in

Christ depends

on and slows

from our

fellowship with

God through

Jesus Christ.

God

because receiving

the love

of Christ

who laid

down his

life for us

is the

foundation,

the basis

for our

love for

one another

and laying

down our

lives for

one another.

And so we

believe in

the name of

his son Jesus

Christ and

love one

another.

These are

the two

distinguishing

marks of

the Christian

that John

emphasizes over

and over

again.

And that's

where I get

the main

point that

as followers

of Christ

who laid

down his

life for

us,

we should

be

characterized

by our

faith in

Jesus and

our love

for one

another.

Faith and

love.

If we have

these two

things,

we know that

God abides

in us by

the Spirit

whom he

has given

us,

it says.

I should

note here

that to

believe in

the name

of his

son Jesus

Christ is

not merely

to assent

mentally to

the fact that

Jesus is

God's son

and the

Christ,

the promised

Messiah.

It doesn't

mean merely

to confess

his name

verbally.

It means

pledging

allegiance

to him.

It means

to align

yourself,

to come

under the

authority and

the power and

the purposes and

the priorities of

his name.

And so when we

believe in the

name of his

son Jesus Christ

in this way,

the Bible

promises that we

receive the

Holy Spirit

from God the

Father so that

God himself,

the triune

God,

through his

spirit abides

in us and

dwells in

us.

We abide in

God by

believing in

Jesus and

loving one

another and

God abides in

us through his

Holy Spirit.

Brothers and

sisters,

that's the

unspeakable

honor and

privilege of

being a

Christian.

Think about

it.

Though we

are weak

and frail,

God Almighty

dwells in

us.

Though we

are sinful,

the Holy

One dwells

in us.

The King

deigns to

dwell among

his subjects.

The Creator

makes his

home within

his creatures.

That's the

unfathomable

reality that

he's speaking

of.

I have been

crucified with

Christ, Paul

said in

Galatians 2.20.

It is no

longer I who

live but Christ

who lives in

me and the

life I now

live in the

flesh.

I live by

faith in the

Son of God

who loved me

and gave

himself for me.

That's what

it means to

live as a

Christian.

Abide in

God, to

let him

abide in

us, to

keep in

step with

the Spirit,

to live

every waking

moment with

the understanding,

with the

awareness that

the Lord God

himself indwells

us and

lives in

and through

us.

And then

having taught

us that when

we believe in

the name of

his Son

Jesus Christ,

God himself

abides in

us through

the Spirit,

John proceeds

to explain

what it's

like to

receive the

true Spirit

of God

in chapter

4, verses

1-6.

He says

in chapter

4, verse

1,

Beloved,

do not

believe every

spirit, but

test the

spirits to

see whether

they are

from God,

for many

false prophets

have gone

out into

the world.

Not

everyone who

claims to

have received

the Spirit

of God

actually has

the Spirit

of God.

They need

to be tested

because many

false prophets

have gone out

into the world.

There are

people in

the world

who claim

to speak

for God,

but in

fact,

do not.

This is a

needful warning

because false

prophets,

the Bible

describes them

as being

insidious,

subtle.

They are

stealthy and

deceptive.

Matthew

Matthew 7:15

chapter 7,

verse 15,

Jesus warns us

that false

prophets come to

us in sheep's

clothing, but

inwardly they are

ferocious,

ravenous wolves.

Similarly,

2 Peter 2,

2 Peter 2:1

verse 1 warns

us that false

prophets and

false teachers

will secretly

bring in

destructive

heresies,

even denying

the Master

who bought

them.

False teachers

don't come to

us announcing

themselves just

as wolves

don't enter

the sheepfold

announcing their

presence.

They are

rather secretive,

they are

stealthy,

they are

insidious,

they introduce

their false

teachings secretly,

imperceptibly

even,

gradually.

They dress

themselves up

as one of

God's own,

one of God's

sheep,

when in fact

they are there

only to pray

on the

sheep of

God.

And here's

the test

that we are

to use to

see whether

the spirits

that are

inspiring these

people to

speak are

from God

or not.

Verses 2 to

3,

If one truly

has the

spirit of

God,

that person

will confess

the incarnate

word,

Jesus Christ,

son of God

who took on

human flesh.

But anyone

who refuses

to confess

Jesus Christ

is animated

not by the

spirit of

God but by

the spirit

of the

Antichrist.

Please heed

this lesson

brothers and

sisters.

It doesn't

matter how

eloquent the

person is,

how learned

the person

is,

how respectable

the person

is,

it doesn't

matter how

many true

and good

things that

person has

taught and

done,

it doesn't

matter how

nice that

person seems,

if he denies

Jesus Christ,

he's a

false teacher,

a false

prophet.

Deuteronomy

Deuteronomy 13 · chapter mention

chapter 13

is a helpful

illustration of

this,

verses 1-4,

if a prophet

or a dreamer

of dreams

arises among

you and

gives you a

sign or a

wonder,

and the sign

or a wonder

that he tells

you comes to

pass,

and if he

says,

let us go

after other

gods which

you have not

known and

let us serve

them,

you shall not

listen to the

words of that

prophet or that

dreamer of

dreams.

For the

Lord your

God is

testing you

to know

whether you

love the

Lord your

God with

all your

heart and

with all

your soul.

You shall

walk after

the Lord your

God and

fear him and

keep his

commandments and

obey his

voice and

you shall

serve him and

hold fast to

him.

Jesus is

our Lord.

Jesus is

our King.

He is our

Savior.

He is our

Master.

He is our

God.

God and

you

shouldn't

let anyone

not your

parents,

not your

pastors,

not your

teachers,

not your

presidents,

you should

not let

anyone lead

you away

from him,

Jesus Christ.

Don't let

anyone tell

you that as

long as we

try to love

people and

try to live a

good life,

we don't need

to make a

total commitment

to Jesus.

Every spirit

that does not

confess Jesus

is not from

God.

It is instead

the spirit of

the Antichrist.

But John

doesn't stop

with the

warning.

He concludes

the section

with a

follow-up

encouragement,

once again

addressing

God's people

affectionately as

little children.

He says in

verse 4,

you are

from God

and have

overcome

them.

For he

who is in

you is

greater than

he who is

in the

world.

Your faith

in Jesus

Christ and

your love

for one

another,

they attest

to the

reality,

the spiritual

reality,

that God

abides in

you.

And so

remember then

that he

who is in

you is

greater than

he who is

in the

world.

This is

similar to

what Jesus

said in

John 16

John 16:33

verse 33,

in the

world you

will have

tribulation,

but take

heart,

I have

overcome

the world.

Because the

one who has

overcome the

world dwells

in us.

You,

we have

already overcome

those who

are in

the world.