P. T. Barnum once said, “A sucker is born every minute.”  More and more unsuspecting people are being deceived [scammed] every day.  The Internet has only made things much worse.  Most of us have received E-mails promising millions of pounds if we send some money first. 

What is worse are spiritual scams – our nation and the world are filled with false religions and cults.     (I Timothy 4:1) “Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons.” NKJV These try to lure people in with false promises.  No wonder the apostle John gave this warning in I John 4:1-6.                                                                                                     

We cannot believe everything we hear or read.  We must be a discerning people because our souls are at stake.

Text: I John 4:1-6

Body:

  • There is a Need for Discernment                                              I John 4:1 “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.” NKJV
  • “Spirit” – the spirit of man – the inner being – mind, character, disposition.  John warns, “Do not believe every spiritual teaching you come across.”  It makes a difference what you believe! (Ephesians 4:14) “that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,” NKJV
  • We must “prove” the spirits – put them to the test and scrutinize them.  To discern is not just to tell the difference between right and wrong but to tell the difference between right and almost right.  Let us see I John 3:10.  “In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest:  Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.” NKJV
  • Reason – “many false prophets have gone out into the world.”  False teachers do not necessarily look evil or sinister.  They may “appear” very loving and spiritual. (Matthew 7:15) “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.” NKJV  They disguise themselves as devout servants. (II Corinthians 11:13-15) “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.  And no wonder!  For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.  Therefore it is no great thing  if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.” NKJV
  • So, how do we see whether they are false teachers or not?  What standard do we use?
  • The Basis for Discernment                                                                                
  • I John 4:2-3 “By this you know the Spirit of God:  Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.  And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” NKJV
  • This confession is more than simply saying, “I believe that Jesus came to the earth in the flesh.”  It means one is faithful to God’s commandments.  (I John 5:1-2) “Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” NKJV
  • To deny either Jesus’ deity or his humanity is to deny He is our Saviour.  (Hebrews 2:17) “Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.” NKJV
  • The “spirit of the Antichrist” denies the authority of Christ – denies His Word.  (Ephesians 1:21) “far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.” NKJV     This spirit is rampant in our world.
  • Hebrews 4:12 describes how the Scriptures are the scalpel God wants us to use to base our discernment, to see if someone has the spirit of the Antichrist, to tell the difference between right and wrong. (Hebrews 4:12) “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” NKJV   (Titus 1:9) “holding fast the faithful word as he has been taught, that he may be able, by sound doctrine, both to exhort and convict those who contradict.” NKJV
  • The Evidence of Discernment                                          I John 4:4-6 “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater that he who is in the world.  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.” NKJV
  • John rejoiced with the brethren who had overcome [prevailed] over the false teachers.  They had resisted the false teaching and not been led away or deceived by them.  Some of the Christians in Galatia had been led astray. (Galatians 1:6-9) “I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ.  But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.  As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.” NKJV
  • These brethren had overcome because the Word of God dwelled within them. (I John 2:14, 24) “I have written to you, fathers, Because you have known Him who is from the beginning.  I have written to you, young men, Because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, And you have overcome the wicked one. 24 Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning.  If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father.” NKJV  As a result, God was in their hearts.  (II John 9) “Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God.  He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son.” NKJV
  • The false teachers are of the world – spiritually dead and of the devil.  (I John 5:19) “We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one.” NKJV   John didn’t want the faithful followers of Christ to be alarmed at how popular these false teachers were.  They were telling the world what they wanted to hear.  Today, we should never judge a church or a ministry by its size.  Rather, judge it by its faithfulness to the truth.
  • To “know God” is to abide in His Word, to obey His commandments. (I John 2:4) “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” NKJV

 “Hearing” implies understanding and obedience.  Those who live righteously [according to God’s Word] are of God. They have the spirit of truth. Once again, the Bible is our only standard for discerning truth from error.

Conclusion:

Especially when it comes to our eternal destiny, we cannot believe everything we hear or read.  There are many false teachers out there leading people to hell itself. We must apply God’s Word to their teachings and discern right from wrong.

Bobby Stafford                                                                              September 15, 2019

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