Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is first part of the the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 John 4, verses one through six. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We recognize the goodness of information – accurate and truthful information. Even when it is not good news, we’d prefer to know rather than to not know. There is “goodness” in knowing truthful, reliable information.
- And so, it should not be difficult for us to discern Who is interested in providing us with good and dependable information, namely, God, and who the original and principle provider of lies, misinformation, and confusion is – the devil.
- Likewise, it is rather apparent that people like information – and perhaps also “disinformation.” Or at the least, human beings are somewhat challenged and easily confused when it comes to sorting out “messages.” We have the same problem that Adam and Eve had in the Garden – they were in possession of information from God, good and truthful information, and were then presented with lies and misinformation from the devil.
- In our text, the apostle John addresses this problem – with the warning that the “information wars” have intensified with the coming of Jesus and His completion of His mission of providing salvation and eternal life for all people. And of course, this problem has not gotten easier for us today.
- So the advice of the apostle John is important, and is “good” information for us to this day. And his principle point is that in view of all of the “SPIRITUAL CONFUSION” in the world today:
I. Christians Must Test All “Spirits,” All Who Would Teach Us, All Preachers And Teachers
Text: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
A. For There Are Many False Prophets
Text: “For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
B. Likewise, The “spirit” Of The Antichrist Is Here
Text: “This is the spirit of the antichrist which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.”
Statement: This is horribly bad news, but obviously it is a huge advantage to know this – that not every human being is to be believed. Just think what vulnerability you would have if you believed everyone! What danger you would be in and what losses you would incur!
Application: So, although it is horrible that “many false prophets have gone out into the world,” it is incredibly good news that we know, and are aware.
Now, the next question is where these false prophets might be heading, where they want to go, and who they want to “hoodwink.” And sadly, at least for us, it is the church! Just as Adam and Eve had the truth in the Garden, and so the devil was eager to inject his poisonous “misinformation” into the Garden, just so today, where Christ has sent His preachers to preach the truth, and where His people have the truth, this is precisely where the devil and the false prophets attempt to infiltrate.
Transition: So of all people, the true preachers do NOT want you to simply “accept” them – they want you to test them! In fact, they want you to be vigorous in testing them – but to do so with the right test. And according to our text this is not all that difficult, for:
II. The Test We Administer To All Preachers And Teachers Is Simple
A. Do They Have a True Confession Of Jesus Christ
1. As to His Deity?
Text: “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come . . . ” [indicating His pre-existence as the eternal Son of God]
2. As to His humanity?
Text: “Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh . . .” [has become flesh, is truly man]
3. As to His mission – that He is the Christ, the Anointed One of the Old Testament Scriptures, our Messiah and Savior?
Text: “that Jesus CHRIST has come in the flesh”
B. Do They Submit To Holy Scripture?
Text: “We [true apostles and prophets, authors of Holy Scripture] are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
C. And Do They Have Broad Appeal To The World?
Text: “They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.”
Statement: You see now that “SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT” is not that difficult or overwhelming. In fact, even the littlest Christians can and do know the difference – although little Christians can be bowled over by false prophets. What even the simplest Christian knows about Jesus – that He is God come in the flesh, to be our Savior, to die for our sins to bring us back to peace with God – is sufficient test to protect ourselves. Likewise, the simple observation – do they conform to Scripture, and submit to it, so that their teaching is unpopular to people of the world. This is fairly simple to apply!
Application: We become fairly astute at testing and discerning information that is empirical in nature – although it is rather astonishing just how much disagreement there is even in this method of “learning.” We can become even more astute, even perfect, at testing and discerning the “spirits” that are out there preaching and teaching in the world. We must take great care, however, to apply the right test, and to apply it rightly!
Transition: And the apostle John gives Christians even greater confidence! He tells us:
III. Fear Not, Believers, You Are From God – He Is In You And Greater Than All – You Overcome The Evil Ones, The False Prophets And Antichrists
Text: “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.”
Statement: This is not true of unbelievers. They do not have God in them and are highly vulnerable to false prophets and antichrists. Indeed, they may already have been captured and acculturated by them. Likewise, those who are unaware of the dangerous ploys of the liars, the devils in the world, are vulnerable to their tricks!
Application: What a huge blessing and advantage has been given to us by this text of Holy Scripture, written by John, inspired and compelled by the Holy Spirit of God! How blessed we are to know the danger we are in, and also to know how to navigate our way through the “SPIRITUAL CONFUSION” the devil creates, and to have the “SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT” to identify all false prophets and antichrists, thus retaining a true and pure faith in Jesus, the Christ, the Son of God, our dear Savior and Lord.
Conclusion: I would just have to say that this “information,” that has been supplied to us by God through His Word, the Holy Scripture, is not only “good” to have, it is the best information in the world!
How blessed we are by God, not only that He loves us and has saved us in the gift of His Son, but also that He saves and preserves us from the evil, lying forces that would destroy our faith, our spiritual life, and our eternal fellowship with God!
So, let us “test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” God wills it, true prophets want it, and our spiritual welfare depends on it! God has given us the test we need, and it is simple enough to administer! If we do so, then it is certain that we will overcome them always! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.