1 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. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. 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. —I John 4:1-6

The spiritual life

I. We are in a battle for truth 4:1-3

• A. Our responsibility 4:1a

  1. Be on guard = test/check for authenticity

     1 “If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2 and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ 3 you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. 4 You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. —Deuteronomy 13:1-4
     Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. —Acts 17:11
     19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, … 22 Abstain from every form of evil. —I Thessalonians 5:19-20, 22
     

  2. Know the enemy 4:1b
     a. False prophets
     b. The spirit behind them

     “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. —Matthew 7:15
     13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. —II Corinthians 11:13-15
     1 I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, 4 and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. —II Timothy 4:1-4
     1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. —II Peter 2:1-2
     

• B. Our criteria 4:2-3

  1. Specific situation confronted
     a. Positively 4:2 – Christ came in the flesh
     b. Negatively 4:3 – Christ is not from God
  2. Historic Five Fundamentals of the Faith
     a. Inspiration and inerrancy of the scriptures
     b. Virgin birth and deity of Christ
     c. Substitutionary/vicarious atonement of Christ
     d. Bodily resurrection of Christ
     e. Literal second coming of Christ

II. We can be victorious in the battle for truth 4:4-6

• A. We are not to be victims or unthinking followers 4:4

  1. Backdrop – I John 2:18-27

     18 Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. 20 But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. 21 I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. 22 Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. 23 No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. 24 Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is the promise that he made to us–eternal life. 26 I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie–just as it has taught you, abide in him. —I John 2:18-27

     a. The Spirit’s guidance gives us discernment
     b. Lifestyles demonstrate the truth that guides

  2. Protection – He is in us!
• B. We are in sync with those who follow truth 4:5-6
  
  1. Contrasted negatively 4:5
  2. Contrasted positively 4:6

When we

Small Group Questions

1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind?

3. What have you found helpful in guarding against false teaching? After this message do you have any other additional thoughts?

4. Deuteronomy 13 teaches that experiences should not distract us from following God and His Word. How do we see experiences distracting us in our day, and how do we counter these experiences?

5. Holding to the standard/truth of God’s Word puts us in opposition to much of what is going on in modern society. Spend some time praying for one another to be strong in standing for the truth.