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Author
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Topic: “The Spirit of Truth And The Spirit of Error”
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Southpaw
Community Member
Member # 7676
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posted
Hello OneinChrist:
Greetings in the name of Jesus! ![[clap2]](graemlins/clap2.gif)
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2009
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oneinchrist
Advanced Member
Member # 6532
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posted
Hi Southpaw,
Greetings to you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
With love in Christ, Daniel
Posts: 1389 | From: Wind Lake, WI | Registered: May 2007
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Southpaw
Community Member
Member # 7676
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posted
also to add to that in how to test the spirits
It says
1 John 4:1-3a says this: "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the
spirits to see whether they are from God; for many false prophets have gone
out into the world. By this you will know the Spirit of God: every spirit
that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God: every
spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God."
Posts: 16 | Registered: Apr 2009
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Found in Him
Advanced Member
Member # 7596
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posted
“The Spirit of Truth And The Spirit of Error”
Warren E. Berkley
1 John 4:1-6
1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and 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. 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6We 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.
Throughout the first epistle of John it is clear that the apostle is concerned about Christians being deceived. He wrote with urgency to warn them about anti-Christ in chapter two. In that context the writer said, "no lie is of the truth," and he said, "who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ?" In chapter three, verse seven he said: "Let no one deceive you." John was not an alarmist or paranoid. But he entertained a realistic concern about Christians being deceived; he knew the spirit of error as opposed to the spirit of truth. If that reality escapes our notice, we are in trouble today.
"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."
If you look at this verse on the simplest level and that should always be our starting place this is a prohibition: "Do not believe!" An apostle of Christ is telling us not to do something. In the older translations: "believe not every spirit." In the New King James: "Do not believe." In a later, recently published translation: "Don't believe all people who say they have the Spirit."
Let me illustrate this. If you have ever watched religious television you know it is common for a preacher to tell his audience that he has the Holy Spirit, or that God personally appeared to him and told him to do or say certain things. Apart from the Scriptures and not subject to any verification you can be satisfied with the man or woman simply says "they have the Spirit." Consider what the apostle John says here: "Don't believe all people who say they have the Spirit." This is a prohibition from an apostle, and he says, "do not believe."
Many passages in the New Testament require belief; there is the command to believe. Look back into chapter three here in First John, at verse 23 - "And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ" In Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, evidence is given upon which to base our faith in Christ. Belief is encouraged; is urged; is commanded. But here, in 1 John 4:1, belief is
prohibited: "Believe not every spirit."
We cannot just accept anyone who claims they have the Spirit; we cannot just let our minds fall under the influence of any spirit. It may be the spirit of error. The only way to know is to read the Word of God.
Verse 4: "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." John is rigid and shows no compromise at all, in separating light from darkness; truth from error; God from the devil . . and the people who belong to God from the people who live in association with the devil! The false prophets are wrong and in their false teaching, they show their opposition to Christ (they are anti-Christ), and they show their association with the devil. But to faithful Christians John says: "You are of God" "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." As I accept God's Word, believe in Christ, live by the activity of faith God abides in me and that puts me in position to overcome, to defeat the evil one, "who is in the world." Using God's word to test everything is essential to this result.Verses 5 & 6 . . .
So, there is a difference and by testing the spirits; by comparing what is taught to what is revealed, we can know the difference between truth and error.
Now, one way to consider this is The message authenticates the speaker, not the speaker the message. Let me explain. It is a mistake to decide you like the man, therefore you'll accept everything he says. The better approach is take the message, compare that message with what is revealed; then accept the message - not because of the man, but because it is revealed.
One thing must influence everything we believe, teach and practice. The Word of God. The Word of God is inspired, authoritative and sufficient to govern all that we do before God (2 Tim. 3:16,17). Read your Bible. Hear, believe and obey the gospel. "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free," (Jno. 8:32).
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~To Him That is able to keep you from falling and to present you before His glorious presence without fault and with great joy...to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.~ Jude 24
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