The book of First John

A Verse by Verse Study
Text 1st John 4:1 - 3

 

A. V. 1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

     1.  V. 1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit,”

          a. John is no doubt talking about false teachers or preachers here. Just because a man says he is called of God doesn’t mean he is truthful.

          b. Jeremiah 23:32 “Behold, I am against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.”

          c. Jeremiah 29:9 “For they prophesy falsely unto you in my name: I have not sent them, saith the LORD.”

          d. Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

          e. Many today claim to be of God and sent by God; however their entire ministry is a lie just as their teachings.

          f. So here John is telling the young Christians to beware of what they hear and believe, or else they may be lead astray.

     2. V. 1b “but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

          a. The word “try” means to test them, see if they be of the Holy Spirit or the spirit of destruction.

          b. There is a Proverb that says Proverbs 14:15 “The simple believeth every word: but the prudent man looketh well to his going.” The simple minded are the weak in scripture and are easily lead astray by the religionist.  

          c. You test a man by his doctrine. This is why the religionist will tell their followers doctrine means nothing. They seek to prove nothing, 1 Thessalonians 5:21 “Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” 

          d. Since we are spiritual and our worship is spiritual, then we get a spiritual feeling from a spiritually filled man. V.6a “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us;”

          e. The world has been filled with false teachers since the death of Jesus. We sometimes think it is a modern day thing however the scripture is filled with warnings like this one.

 

B. V. 2 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

      1. “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:” that is since you know to test them I’m going to tell you the proof positive test, see what they say about Jesus and Him being the Saviour.

          a. See what they tell you about Him being God.

          b. See what they tell you about Him becoming flesh from life eternal. 2 John 1:7 “For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.”

          c. See what they tell you about His death, burial, and resurrection according to the scriptures. 1 Corinthians 15:1-4 “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; (2.) By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. (3.) For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; (4.) And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:”

     2. If he tells you salvation is Jesus plus anything he is simply a religionist and not a Spirit filled man.   

     3. “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:”

           a. That is to not recognize Him as a mere man but as God. People who fail to do this belittle Jesus as just a man and not God.

          b. They say He does not save sinners.

          c. They say He cannot change mans will; change mans hearts, that He cries, pleads, and begs like a man does.

          d. Any way the religionist belittle our Lord makes them a non-spiritual man. 1 Corinthians 12:3 “Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.”

          e. “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:” Those that declare these truths are Spirit filled men because no man can or will teach them unless the Holy Spirit send them.  

C. V. 3 “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

     1. “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God:”

          a. That is them that does not recognize and declare Jesus as He truly is, they are not of God. All of them.

          b. A man who does not recognize Jesus for who He truly is and recognize the doctrine that He taught as truth then that man cannot be recognized as a man of God and neither can he be recognized as a Christian.

     2. “and this is that spirit of antichrist,”

          a. If he is not of God then he must be sent by the Anti-Christ.

          b. Matthew 24:24 “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”

         c. Luke 21:8 “And he said, Take heed that ye be not deceived: for many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and the time draweth near: go ye not therefore after them.”

     3. “whereof ye have heard that it should come;”

          a. They should know this if they have heard John, 1 John 2:18 “Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time.”

          b. We should know because we as ministers of God have diligently spoken about it. The problem is some do not pay attention and are sucked right in by their heresy.

          c. This is the reason the Lord warned us of a great falling away. 2 Timothy 4:3-4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; (4.) And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

     4. “and even now already is it in the world.” John says they are here already. This is nothing new. Satan works against the Lord and he never gives up. We must be consistently warned.