E-Mail Bible Class
The Letters of John
BC Weekly Digest Monday, July 27 1998 In this issue: 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:2,3 1 John 4:2 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 (OPV) 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. === 4:1 "Do not believe every spirit" The word 'spirit' is used with many different meanings and shades of meaning in the Bible. We have of course the Holy Spirit of God (Gen 1:2). There is the spirit within man (1 Cor 2:11). The word sometimes refers to an attitude: "a spirit of stupor" (Rom 11:8); "fervent in spirit" (Rom 12:11); "a spirit of gentleness" (1 Cor 4:21). There is "the spirit of the world" (1 Cor 2:12), "the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience" (Eph 2:2). There are also evil and unclean spirits (Acts 19:15,16; Rev 18:2). The above is not exhaustive. It is important that we understand what is meant each time the word 'spirit' is used. Here John refers to the fact that each teacher, preacher or prophet is motivated by some spirit. A Christian understands that life has a spiritual dimension. And when he observes someone, he is also conscious of the spirit behind his words and actions. After understanding that Christ died for all men, Paul's whole view of people changed: "Wherefore we henceforth know no man after the flesh" (2 Cor 5:16). Paul saw the spiritual depth, value and dimension of each person he met. So in a sense, when someone is speaking to us, some 'spirit' is speaking to us, and we need to be able to distinguish the 'good guys' from the 'bad guys'. In verses 2 and 3, which we will discuss more fully later, we learn that there is a spirit 'of' or 'from' God and there is a spirit of the antichrist. In verse 6 we learn that there is "the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." Thus, we may not just believe anyone who comes along, because many are motivated by the wrong spirit. 4:1 "But test the spirits, whether they are of God" One of the major purposes of John's first letter is to enable us to do this. Here are some of the tests we can use: a. Do they keep God's commandments (2:3,4; 3:24; 5:2,3), do they keep God's word (2:5), the word Christians have had from the beginning (2:7,24)? b. Do they walk as Jesus walked (2:6)? c. Do they love their brethren, or do they hate their brethren (2:9-11; 3:10-15; 4:7,8,20,21)? d. Do they have the love of the Father in them, or do they love the world (2:15)? e. Do they remain with us, or have they gone out from us (2:19)? f. Do they confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, or do they deny Him (2:22,23; 4:2,3,15)? g. Do they practice righteousness, or sin and lawlessness (2:29; 3:4,6-10)? h. Are they of the spirit of truth or the spirit of error (3:19; 4:6)? i. Do they believe in the name of God's Son (3:23; 5:1,4,5,10,13)? j. Do they have the Spirit of God (3:24; 4:13)? 4:1 "Because many false prophets have gone out into the world" Jesus warned us about false prophets: "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves" (Mat 7:15 ASV); "And many false prophets shall arise, and shall lead many astray" (Mat 24:11 ASV); "For there shall arise false christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect" (Mat 24:24 ASV //Mark 13:22). Peter also warns: "But there arose false prophets also among the people, as among you also there shall be false teachers, who shall privily bring in destructive heresies, denying even the Master that bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their lascivious doings; by reason of whom the way of the truth shall be evil spoken of" (2 Peter 2:1 ASV). In Revelation these many false prophets are represented as "the false prophet" who comes forth from the mouth of the dragon and from the mouth of the beast (Rev 16:13; 19:20; 20:10). 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. Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 (OPV) 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. === The Holy Spirit warns us, through the mouth of the apostle John, that, as hearers, we are not to believe everyone that we hear. Our television channels are rife with those who are supposedly teaching the gospel, based upon their own agenda. There are those who teach or preach primarily for money regardless of the message. Others teach their own ill-thought-out doctrines. Many teach for other reasons. In Philippians 1:15-17, Paul states. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel"(KJV). Here we see that, even in Paul's time, there were false teachers. But, to sum it up, Paul says in the very next verse: "18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." While we need to be mindful that there are false teachers, having been led astray by such is no excuse for believing error. In Acts 17:11, Luke notes that the hearers of Berea were more noble than those of Thessalonica, because they went back to the scriptures to determine if those things they were being taught by this inspired apostle were true. In Philippians 2:12, we read: "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." Hence, we see that each one of us is responsible for serving God correctly. The term "false teacher" is sometimes applied too liberally to even those Christians who differ with us on some point of conscience. They may be misled, but to label them as "false teachers" will certainly shut the door to profitable discussion. The idea of "false teachers" as used here in this passage refers to those who for devious reasons are pushing a scurrilous agenda, not for the right reason of simply saving souls, but for the wrong reason. In Romans 16:17-18, the apostle Paul notes that we should mark those who cause division among us, not because of division, but because they are not serving God and, as a result, are serving their own belly (lusts). This clarifies our need to mark those who are false teachers as well as the nature of those whom we are to label with that name. Just because a Christian has a personal belief with which we disagree, does not necessarily mean that we have a right to label him as a false teacher. Paul also noted in 2 Corinthians 11: 12-15, "But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them which desire occasion; that wherein they glory, they may be found even as we. For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works"(KJV). Howard Justice ------------------------------ 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 The question has been asked: Can we consider ourselves as the "beloved" John refers too? If not, are they just a special group of Christians that lived at that time and day, or can we use the same expression today? === In order to understand the term that John uses in 1 John 4:1, it is necessary to define it properly. Thayer's Greek Lexicon, a long held standard dictionary of Greek terms, defines "beloved" as esteemed, dear, favorite or worthy of love. All we need do is to remind ourselves of John's previous writing in John 3:16 where Jesus reveals God's plan for redeeming mankind. In that verse, He states that "..God so loved the world,.." which indicates that it was because of God's love that He would send His only begotten Son to save the world through the operation of faith. The degree to which His love was extended to man is signified in that the phrase "only begotten" points out that this was the only son of His type or kind that God possessed. In other words, this was God's only Son. To understand this is to know assuredly that God's love has been poured out on all flesh through His wonderful grace and that we, like those of the first century, have the same hope, the same Savior and the same God. Because of God's unchangeable nature, as described in James 1:16, Christians of today can rest assured that they also are the "beloved of God" if they do His will (1 John 1:5-7). Howard Justice ------------------------------ 1 John 4:1 1 John 4:1 Relative to 1 John 4:1 the question has been asked: How can we "test a spirit" when we cannot see a spirit? Or is this referring to each individual having a spirit, either a good one or a bad one? If we "test" (try) the spirits, how is this done? ==== The question shows considerable insight. It is true that spirits are invisible and each individual has either a good or bad spirit. However, when John said to "test the spirits" he had reference to false prophets. In the same verse, he gave the reason for testing. He said, "Because many false prophets have gone out into the world." Because the emphasis in the verse is on spiritual utterance, Charles B. Williams under- stood "spirits" figuratively. Instead of "every spirit" (earlier in verse 1) he rendered it "every so-called spiritual utterance." False prophets may have been miraculously gifted by power from Satan (see Matthew 24:11, 24; 2 Thessa- lonians 2:2). They preached "doctrines of demons" (1 Timothy 4:1). In the first century, many Christians received miraculous gifts by laying on hands of apostles. One of these gifts was discerning of spirits. By exercising this gift, false prophets (spirits) could be identified (1 Corinthians 12:10). Those who preached another gospel and did not repent of it were lost (Galatians 1:8, 9). In the present century, Christians do not possess miraculous powers. In the absence of these gifts, false prophets are tested by comparing what they teach with the revealed word of God. Charles Hess. ------------------------------ 1 John 4:1 In connection with 1 John 4:1, the question has been asked: How do elders determine those who enter into the flock dressed in sheep's clothing, when they are wolves? And when elders have goats in their flock, do these have evil spirits also? The question apparently alludes to Acts 20:18-35, where Paul is talking with the elders of the church at Ephesus and warns them about false teachers who will come among them. A careful study of this passage answers the question under consideration. In verse 27, Paul said, "For I shrank not from declaring unto you the whole counsel of God. " (ASV) In verse 31, we learn that he had spent three years admonishing them. In verse 32, he commends them to God, and to the "word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and give you the inheritance among all them that are sanctified." (ASV) And, in verse 35, Paul said, "In all things I gave you an example." (ASV) To sum up, Paul had spent three years declaring unto them the whole counsel of God, "the word of his grace," and now, in conjunction with his warning about false teachers, urges them to hold to the counsel he had given them and remember the example he had set for them. Anyone who came teaching something not contained in the "whole counsel" Paul had given them would have to be a false teacher and was to be dealt with accordingly. Elders are still to follow the plan outlined here for the elders in Ephesus. This same Paul told Timothy, "Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work." (2 Timothy 3:16-17, ASV) Peter, in 2 Peter 1:3-4, tells us that God has granted unto us everything that pertains to life and godliness through the knowledge of Jesus our Lord. Dealing with a specific error, the apostle John lays down the principle we must follow in dealing with all error: "If anyone cometh unto you, and bringeth not this teaching, receive him not into your house, and give him no greeting:" (2 John 10-11 ASV) This study points up graphically why elders must have a thorough knowledge of the scriptures. As to the second part of the question, I would call your attention to Roy Davison's excellent discussion of the use of the word "spirit' in the scriptures. It is not my purpose here to discuss this matter in detail. Suffice it to say that there is a difference between those possessed by evil spirits in Jesus' day and the "evil-spirited men" of our day. Paul warned the Corinthian brethren about men who "are false apostles, deceitful workers, fashioning themselves into apostles of Christ." He went on to say, that since Satan fashions himself into an angel of light, "It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also fashion themselves as ministers of righteousness." (2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ASV) This what is happening in the world today. The only way to recognize such "false teachers in sheep's clothing" is to compare their lives and their teaching to the word of God, which is "living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart." (Hebrews 4:12, ASV) James Willett ------------------------------ 1 John 4:2,3 1 John 4:3,4 (OPV) 2 By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ, come in the flesh, is of God. 3 But every spirit that does not confess Jesus, is not of God, and this is the [spirit] of the antichrist, which you heard was coming, and now is in the world already. === 4:2 "By this you know the Spirit of God" After warning us in verse 1 not to believe every spirit, John tells us how to test whether the spirit of a teacher is in agreement with the Spirit of God. 4:2 "Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ, come in the flesh, is of God" As a consequence of further study an improvement of the translation has been made as above. The former "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh" makes it sound like Christ's coming in the flesh is the ONLY thing that must be confessed for a spirit to be of God. The second 'that' is not in the Greek text, however, and the idea of the original is that every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ is of God, including of course His coming in the flesh, which is emphasized because it was being denied by the particular false teachers under discussion. In 2 John 7 we read: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist" (OPV). This confession that tests spirits involves more than a verbal acknowledgment: "And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God" (Mark 1:23,24 ASV // Luke 4:33,34). When Jesus says: "Every one therefore who shall confess me before men, him will I also confess before my Father who is in heaven" (Mat 10:32 ASV // Luke 12:8), He refers to one whose life is a confession of Christ. As Paul charged Timothy: "Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal, whereunto thou wast called, and didst confess the good confession in the sight of many witnesses. I charge thee in the sight of God, who giveth life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed the good confession; that thou keep the commandment, without spot, without reproach, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Tim 6:12-14 ASV) This confession must be substantiated by adherence to the doctrine of Christ: "Anyone going beyond -- and not remaining in -- the teaching of Christ, does not have God. He who remains in the teaching, has both the Father and the Son" (2 John 9). 4:3 "But every spirit that does not confess Jesus, is not of God" Remember that John is referring to false teachers who CLAIMED to be Christians. Their 'confession' was false, however. It was counterfeit. As Jesus asked: "And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:46 ASV). The confession that tests the spirits involves more than lip-service to God: "And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh [unto me], and with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught [them]; therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid" (Isaiah 29:13,14 ASV). Jesus said: "Ye hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, This people honoreth me with their lips; But their heart is far from me. But in vain do they worship me, Teaching [as their] doctrines the precepts of men: (Mat 15:7-9 ASV). 4:3 "This is the [spirit] of the antichrist, which you heard was coming, and now is in the world already" John already announced that the predicted antichrist had come: "Little children, it is the final hour. And as you heard that antichrist was coming, even now many antichrists have arisen, by which we know that it is the final hour" (1 John 2:18 OPV). The antichrist denies Christ: "Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one denying the Father and the Son" (1 John 3:22). This does not necessarily mean that they renounce Christ with their mouths. They can also renounce Him by their false doctrine and immoral lives. Notice that the antichrist spirit was already in the world when John wrote. Many antichrists try to remove attention from themselves by saying that 'the' antichrist has not yet come. But John said: "For many deceivers have gone out into the world, they who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the antichrist" (2 John 7). Thus 'the' deceiver and 'the' antichrist are the MANY deceivers who have gone out into the world. "By this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ, come in the flesh, is of God" (1 John 4:2 OPV). Roy Davison ------------------------------ 1 John 4:2 1 John 4:2 John's readers were being influenced by teachings that did not come from teachers inspired by the Holy Spirit. For them John submits instructions on how to recognize these false teachers. It was essential for believers to test the source of teachings they were receiving. Numerous erroneous beliefs were being propagated that deprived Jesus Christ of his appointed status as the only Savior and Mediator. Early gnostic-like teachers were saying that Jesus did not really experience human birth or death - they claimed he was not fully human. They denied his incarnation and his death experience on the cross. Later the Arians will assert that Christ was a mere created being inferior to the Father. Some will also try to reduce Him to the "Infant Jesus" status in order to exault others as Mediator. Scripture teaches we must acknowledge Him as the divine Word who became flesh and lived among us (John 1:14), as God coming in Him to reconcile man to Himself (2 Corinthians 5:19), as "God with us" (Matthew 1:23), as the Son of God (1 John 4:15), and as Lord and Christ (Acts 2:36). The apostle Paul emphasized that He is to be confessed as Lord (Romans 10:9). Paul will underline His divinity and His humanity(Philippians 2:5-11). And in Colossians 2:9 we read:"For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily". To confess belief in a Christ of diminished stature, deprived of His eternal divinity or of His complete humanity, robs us of a Savior and of salvation! He did come in the flesh, born of a woman, and we should not hesitate to confess Him as did Thomas as "My Lord and My God" (John 20:28). Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God. J.Lee Roberts