1 Jn. 4: 6
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of error.
How do believers discern false teaching? Any teaching must be tested by doctrinal accuracy and practical application. John commands believers to test every spirit not to be automatically believing every word that they hear. What is said must line up clearly with Scripture in word and in deed. Of course, the watershed issue is Jesus Christ. Does this teaching confess Jesus as the Son of God in the flesh? Does this teaching include His full humanity and His full deity? Many will say He was a good man, a great teacher, or another prophet. But not so! This is a spirit of antichrist, a spirit of man's own making that was in the world in Paul's day and is still in the world today.
Believers need not fear because Jesus Christ and the Spirit who are in them are greater than any spirit in the world. Jesus already overcame these spirits [Satan and his demonic horde] through His death and resurrection. They are playing a losing game, trying to capture as many weak minds as they can before their time is up. Since believers are from God, whoever knows God, listens to them, not just hears but listens. What they say will make sense! But those who do not listen [no doubt only hear], and do not agree are not. What believers say will not make sense to them. It will not feed their humanistic, materialistic, worldly view of life. Agreement to Scripture signals the Sprit of Truth or the spirit of error! There is no variation! There is no softening of the message to make it more palatable! By this...either believe in Christ for who He says He is or don't...no fence riding!
Father,
Give me Your grace and strength to speak for You. Take away my foolish fear and fill me with the spirit of power, love and a self-control.
In the Name of Jesus,
Amen
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