1 John 4
Bible Passage: 1 John 4
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 Jn 4:4)
How do we test the spirit? How do we test if the words spoken by someone are from God or from the devil?
Like the apostolic times, there are indeed a lot of different spirits in this world. These spirits do also dwell in churches. Which church has the Holy Spirit? Which churches have evil spirits? How does one discern which is true and which is false?
Elder John here tells us to test the spirit. He gave the example of that if the spirit is true, it will confess the truth in the Bible; the Truth that Jesus came in the flesh and indeed was crucified for our sins. Likewise, the Holy Spirit will reveal the Truth written in the Bible and conversely the evil spirit will say contrary to the Bible.
False prophets are those who are led by the evil spirit to preach false doctrines. Their main objective is to mislead people in their faith for personal gain (either wealth, pleasure or status) or they are vessels of the Devil to corrupt the hearts of men and to turn them away from the salvation grace of God.
“They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 Jn 4:5-6)
Elder John gives us a rule of thumb in identifying false prophets. Those who are true messengers/ prophets of God speak from the Bible. False prophets will speak as of the world. What is this world? One can explain that speaking of this world is to speak societal worldviews. Many Christian denominations are already speaking according to such societal worldviews and not surprising such churches are prospering as they are delivering messages that people itch to hear.
Examples of such societal worldviews today
- There is no God; Science ‘proves’ there is no God. Those who believe in God are considered by them as stupid and brainwashed.
- Religiosity (the act of being religious) is considered bad
- Homosexuality is acceptable and churches are accepting it
- No belief in eternal punishment and that man’s pursuit in life is to enjoy life and have as much material possessions as possible
- Every sin is forgivable. The notion that one can continually sin and will enter heaven.
As TJC members, how do we react to these worldviews? Are we also in agreement to them or even worst still participants of such worldviews?
Recently, there was the forum about the deviant teachings of someone. Thank God that the church is making a firm stand in the 10 basic beliefs. It is the right thing to do. If TJC were to correct the 10 basic beliefs, the True in TJC can be removed and we will be like any other church denominations out there. The Truth sets us free and it is the Truth that saves us for Jesus, the son of God is The Word.
Let us not be swayed like some as mentioned in the Bible. Let us be very alert especially in this end times. More of such deviant teachings and worldview will creep into the church and these will cause divisions. We have to hold fast to our faith and in order to do that, we have to spend effort to find out the Truth and have a firm conviction in the Truth preached by the Apostles and the Bible; which is the Truth preached by True Jesus Church.
As concluding verses, let us once again be reminded.
“I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.” (1 Cor 2:3-5)
“Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Cor 2:12-14)
May we pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give us understanding of His Words. May we have full conviction in the Truth and not be swayed by persuasive words of charismatic men.