Daily Devotions
1 John
"By this you know the Spirit of God..."
Text: 1 John 4:2
A BASIC TEST APPLIED
The Apostle John wanted his readers to become more discerning believers. It is not enough to speak of faith in the Lord Jesus. One could still be prey to false teachers. There was also the danger of over-reaction. One could end up being overly suspicious of everything and everyone.
“By this you know the Spirit of God:
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”
1 John 4:2
1. “By this you know the Spirit of God”
a) The Spirit of God is involved.
b) His role with reference to the Lord Jesus Christ is key.
c) Knowledge is possible.
i) The Scriptures must be carefully studied.
ii) Especially with reference to what the Lord Jesus taught (John 14-16).
2. Subtle nuances of error
a) There are some who deny the existence of the Spirit of God.
b) There are others who speak only of Him but not with reference to the Lord Jesus at all.
c) There are still others who speak of the Spirit of God as an inferior Being.
All of the above are to be rejected as false teachings!
3. “Every spirit”
a) This is a reference to the individual.
b) The word “spirit” was used to hint that the problem must be examined at a deeper level.
4. Confession of faith is important
a) Does the individual confess faith in Jesus at all?
b) Does he believe that Jesus is the Christ (The Messiah)?
c) Does he believe that Christ has indeed come in the flesh?
5. If the answer is in the affirmative to all three basic questions
a) The basic test is passed.
b) However, this is not the only test to be administered.
6. Today
There are many who in the name of scholarship challenge what the Apostle John declares. So many “scholars” deny that the historical Jesus was ever “the Christ of faith!”