DISCERNMENT NEEDED/1 JOHN 4:1-6

Think for a moment about how discerning you are. Can you tell when a deal is just too good to be true? Can you tell when someone is lying to your face? My point is that it is a little easier to be fooled than we are willing to admit. Who likes to admit to his or her friends that they made a bone-headed decision, or that they were taken advantage of by another because of a lack of discernment? John, in our text, is calling on us to exercise biblical discernment in a world of religious and spiritual false teaching. John is highlighting for us the danger of being easily deceived by the sincere religious teachers that enthrall us with their words and promises. And, today, we are going to learn a bit of how to do that which is of great importance ... discerning the spirits of our day.

I) THE DANGER AND THE ANTIDOTE–V.1

A) John begins by highlighting the danger we face–believing every spirit. In light of this, John says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit." The term "spirit" means prophet or teacher. The danger is that false teachers will try to deceive you. But, what is the antidote? John says that the antidote is that we "test the spirits to see whether they are from God." To test here means to examine, prove, or scrutinize to prove the genuineness of the prophets/teachers. John’s point is that such examination is necessary, albeit mandatory. The basis of such judgment is not our opinions, likes or dislikes, but the truth of God’s Word. John wants his original audience, and us, to know that there are many false prophets in the world.

II) HOW TO TEST A PROPHET/TEACHER–Vv.2-3

A) One way we can test a prophet is through a thorough examination of his message. And, that is what John has in mind here in verses 2-3. John begins by saying, "This is how you can know that a prophet/teacher is possessed of God’s Spirit. So, what is the test? We know that a prophet/teacher is possessed of God’s Spirit because of his confession of Jesus Christ. In particular, the confession that He has come in the flesh. What’s the big deal about that? As one commentator said, " ... this is the ‘heart of the apostolic gospel,’ which requires a ‘right estimate of [Christ’s] identity (an eternal and an historical humanity) together with a personal acknowledgment of His Lordship.’"

B) But, in verse 3 we are told of those we must reject. The prophets/teachers who do not confess the humanity of Jesus/the incarnation are those possessed of the antichrist. Let’s briefly refresh ourselves on John’s teaching about antichrist in 1 John 2:18-19, 22-23. And, because of such errors regarding Christ’s person and works have cropped up for so many centuries, the church has written what have been called "Creeds" that clarify His person and works. So, what’s the big deal if one doesn’t acknowledge Jesus’ coming in the flesh as the Messiah? William Barclay said, that to deny this is to deny three things about Jesus: 1) It is to deny that Jesus is the center of history, the one for whom all previous history had been a preparation. 2) It is to deny that Jesus is the fulfillment of the promises of God. 3) It is to deny Jesus’ Kingship. Let me boil it down this way, if Jesus did not take on flesh and die in the flesh, then our sins have not be taken away from us, nor will they ever be. But, Praise God that He has! Do you believe this? If so, then praise God the Holy Spirit for revealing this to you! And, this Holy Spirit give us the victory over those who seek to deceive us.

III) OVERCOMING POWER–Vv.4-6

A) John says to us in verse 4 that we can have comfort in knowing that those who are "from God," meaning "born of God," "of the truth" are able to "overcome" the false prophets and teachers. How? By the power of the Holy Spirit that dwells within each believer. We need not fall prey to false teachers and their teaching, as we have the power of discernment by virtue of the fact we are possessed of the Holy Spirit. Being possessed of the Holy Spirit means that we can know the Scriptures, which provide us all we need to live Godly in Christ Jesus. We desperately need the Word and the Holy Spirit to give us daily victory and daily joy till we see Christ face-to-face.

B) John informs us in verse 5 that those who possess the spirit of antichrist are of this world system–the fallen, hostile to God realm destined for destruction. They speak "worldspeak," and have an audience who listens to them, and follows them. Their message is one of selfish ambition, and leads to pleasing self as the number one priority. And, those with itching ears listen because they hear what they want to hear, and what they hear is devoid of any message of sin and repentance. By contrast, in verse 6, John says that we are "from God"–belonging to the heavenly realm destined for eternal life in the presence of Christ. And, we speak "Godspeak," and we have an audience who desire to listen to the words of life/truth. And this leads to a confident assertion: "By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error." Do you have a growing taste for the truth, or a growing taste for the latest philosophical gibberish passed off on TV? May our delight be to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!