Liar _und_ sinner.

The Spirit of Error!

Let's examine the presuppositions of this newsgroup
and the underling control force driving it.

(1 John 4:1-4 NASB)

Testing the Spirits

    1     ?a?Beloved, do not believe every ?b?spirit, but test the spirits to
    see whether they are from God, because ?c?many false prophets have
    gone out into the world.

    2     By this you know the Spirit of God: ?a?every spirit that
    ?b?confesses that ?c?Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God;

    3     and every spirit that ?a?does not confess Jesus is not from God;
    this is the spirit of the ?b?antichrist, of which you have heard that it is
    coming, and ?c?now it is already in the world.

    4     You are from God, ?a?little children, and ?b?have overcome
    them; because ?c?greater is He who is in you than ?d?he who is in the
    world.

    5     ?a?They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the
    world, and the world listens to them.

    6     ?a?We are from God; ?b?he who knows God listens to us; ?c?he
    who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know ?d?the
    spirit of truth and ?e?the spirit of error.
[1]

==

A Truth to Claim         (4-6)

A.      You Are From God
1.        You Listen to God
2.        Listen to Us
B.       They Are From Anti-Christ
1.        They Listen to the World
2.        Can't Listen to Us
C.       Thus You Can Discern
1.        Spirit of Truth
2.        Spirit of Error

==

1 John 4:1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of
God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Perfect, mature love requires discernment. Perfect love requires that we
test the spirits in order that we don't fall prey to those who would seek to
lure us away from the simplicity of the gospel. How do we test the spirits?
Read on.

1 John 4:2, 3

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus
Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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.
If a teaching, suggestion, or thought is of the spirit of God, it will affirm
both the deity and the humanity of Christ.
The question in the early church never concerned the deity of Christ. The
debate was over His humanity. Church councils would convene in the
second century and argue vehemently over this issue because gnostic
thought had penetrated the church. Two thousand years later, however, it
is the deity of Christ that is continually called into question. John says the
Spirit of God attests to both the humanity and deity of Christ. Such is the
test by which we recognize Him.

1 John 4:4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is
he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
The walls of the submarines that descend two miles into the Mariana
Trench of the Pacific Ocean are constructed of thick steel plates to
withstand the tremendous pressure placed upon them. But the pictures
taken from such heavily protected submarines reveal fish swimming two
miles below the surface of the water with scales no thicker than that of any
other fish. How can this be? The answer is simple: The pressure on the
inside of those fish is equal to the pressure of the water around them.
That's the beauty of Christianity. Some people erect massive walls to
insulate themselves from the attacks of the Enemy-only to find
themselves filled with the frustration of isolation. The key is not to put up
massive walls to protect you from the Enemy-but to realize the One
inside you is greater than whatever pressure threatens to attack you.
When we understand that He that is in us is greater than any temptation,
problem, trauma, or difficulty that could come against us, we can move
through life freely.
[2]

==

THE NEED TO DISCERN BETWEEN TRUTH AND ERROR (4:1-6)

4:1 Having mentioned the Holy Spirit, John is reminded that there are
other spirits abroad in the world today, and that the children of God need
to be warned against them. Thus he cautions the believer not to trust every
spirit. The word spirit here probably refers primarily to teachers but not
exclusively so. Just because a man speaks about the Bible, God, and
Jesus does not mean that he is a true child of God. We are to test the
spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone
out into the world. These are people who profess to accept Christianity,
but teach another gospel altogether.

4:2 John gives the actual tests by which these men are to be proven. The
great test of a teacher is, "What do you think of Christ?" Every spirit that
confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. It is not so
much the confession of the historical fact, namely that Jesus was born into
the world in a human body, but rather it is the confession of a living
Person, Jesus Christ come in the flesh. It is the confession that
acknowledges Jesus as the Christ Incarnate. And confessing Him means
bowing to Him as Lord of one's life. Now if you ever hear a person
presenting the Lord Jesus as the true Christ of God, you will know that he
is speaking by the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God calls on men to
acknowledge Jesus Christ as Lord and to commit their lives to Him. The
Holy Spirit always glorifies Jesus.

4:3 And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is not of God.? 5 This is how you can detect the false teachers.
They do not confess the Jesus who was described in the previous verse.
This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which has been prophesied and which is
now already in the world. There are many today who are willing to say
acceptable things about Jesus, but they will not confess Him as God
Incarnate. They will say that Christ is "divine," but not that He is God.

4:4 Humble believers are able to overcome these false teachers because
they have the Holy Spirit within them, and this enables them to detect
error and to refuse to listen to it.

[3]

==

(1 Corinthians 2:9-16 NASB)

9     but just as it is written,
"?a?Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him."[4]

10     ?1??a?For to us God revealed them ?b?through the Spirit; for the
Spirit searches all things, even the ?c?depths of God.

11     For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the
?a?spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one
knows except the Spirit of God.

12     Now we ?a?have received, not the spirit of ?b?the world, but the
Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us
by God,

13     which things we also speak, ?a?not in words taught by human
wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, ?1?combining spiritual thoughts
with spiritual words.

14     But ?1?a ?a?natural man ?b?does not accept the things of the Spirit
of God, for they are ?c?foolishness to him; and he cannot understand
them, because they are spiritually ?2?appraised.

15     But he who is ?a?spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is
appraised by no one.

16     For ?a?who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct
Him? But ?b?we have the mind of Christ.[5]

2:9 These words from Is. 64:4, often incorrectly thought to refer to the
wonders of heaven, refer rather to the wisdom God has prepared for
believers. God's truth is not discoverable by eye or ear (objective,
empirical evidence), nor is it discovered by the mind (subjective, rational
conclusions).

In addition to this being a reference to heaven, I believe Paul is saying
even this side of heaven, we as believers see things others don't and know
things others can't because the Spirit reveals to us the big picture
eternally.[6]

2:10-16 The wisdom that saves, which man's wisdom can't know, is
revealed to us by God. He makes it known by revelation, inspiration, and
illumination. Revelation (vv. 10, 11) and inspiration (vv. 12, 13) were
given to those who wrote the Bible; illumination (vv. 14-16) is given to all
believers who seek to know and understand that divinely written truth. In
each case, the Holy Spirit is the divine agent doing the work (cf. 2 Pet.
1:21).

2:10 God has revealed them. By the Holy Spirit, God disclosed His
saving truth (cf. Matt. 11:25; 13:10-13). The Spirit alone was qualified
because He knows all that God knows, Himself being God. to us. As with
the "we's" in vv. 6, 7 and vv. 12, 13, Paul is, first of all, speaking of
himself (as in John 14:26; 15:26, 27; see notes there), and, in a sense, of
believers who have been given the Word as recorded by the apostles and
their associates who wrote the NT.

Who knows what God is doing? Only the Spirit of God-the same Spirit
given to us (John 14:16). The Spirit of God reveals to His people that
which human eyes can't see, that which human ears don't hear.[7]

2:12 we have received. The "we" and "us" refer to the apostles and other
writers of the Word of God. The means was inspiration (see notes on 2
Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20, 21), by which God freely gave the gift of His
Word. It was this process of inspiration that turned the spiritual thoughts
into spiritual words (v. 13) to give life (cf. Matt. 4:4).

We see things others don't. We hear things others can't because the Holy
Spirit ministers to our spirits concerning spiritual truth. As a result, we
look at the world around us entirely differently. For example, the spiritual
man says, "No matter what the forecasters are predicting economically,
the Scriptures tell me God shall supply all my need, according to His
riches" (see Philippians 4:19). So, too, when the news anchors tell us the
Middle East is heating up and that conflict is about to erupt once more, I
already know what the political pundits can only guess at-that the armies
of the world will indeed converge upon the Middle East and that there will
be a battle ultimately.[8]

2:14 natural man. This refers to the unconverted, who lack supernatural
life and wisdom. Spiritually discerned. Through illumination of the Word,
the Holy Spirit provides His saints the capacity to discern divine truth (see
Ps. 119:18), which the spiritually dead are unable to comprehend (cf.
John 5:37-39; see notes on 1 John 2:20, 27). The doctrine of illumination
does not mean we know everything (cf. Deut. 29:29), that we do not
need teachers (cf. Eph. 4:11, 12), or that understanding does not require
hard work (cf. 2 Tim. 2:15).

The natural man goes to Food 4 Less and buys all-natural salad dressing
and naturally grown tomatoes. When a lady pushes her way in front of him
in the checkout line, it's only natural that he gets upset. After ringing up his
groceries, the checker accidentally gives him too much change. He keeps
it, naturally. Then he comes home and does what comes naturally: He
eats, drinks, and is somewhat merry-until the emptiness in his soul drives
him to look for something else. So he comes to a Bible study. He hears
the Word being taught, the Scriptures being discussed, but they are
foolishness to him because, as a natural man, he is spiritually blind.

The idea that man is a free moral agent is somewhat of a misconception.
Paul told Timothy that men are taken captive by the Enemy against their
wills, as they are blinded and bound by Satan (2 Timothy 2:26). That is
why when the natural man hears the Word, it's foolishness to him.

Much of our witnessing is ineffective because we fail to pray, "Lord,
please remove the blindfold Satan has put on this person's eyes.
Otherwise, he won't see the real issues. Please open his ears. Otherwise,
He won't hear Your voice."[9]

2:15 judged by no one. Obviously, unbelievers are able to recognize
Christians' faults and shortcomings; but they are not able to evaluate their
true nature as spiritual people who have been transformed into children of
God (cf. 1 John 3:2).

Although the spiritual man is able to put everything in perspective, the
worldling can't figure him out. The world can't understand why you go to
Bible study, why you have devotions, why you spend time in worship.
You're a puzzle, an enigma, a dilemma to the unbeliever.[10]

2:16 the mind of Christ. Quoted from Is. 40:13. The same word is
translated "understanding" in 14:14, 15, 19. Believers are allowed, by the
Word and the Spirit, to know the thoughts of their Lord. Cf. Luke
24:45.[11]

==

Six Liars

If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we
lie and do not practice the truth. -1 John 1:6

If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His truth is
not in us. -1 John 1:10

He that saith, I know Him, and keepeth not His commandments, is a liar,
and the truth is not in him. -1 John 2:4

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist,
that denieth the Father and the Son. -1 John 2:22

If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that
loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom
he hath not seen? -1 John 4:20

He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself; he that
believeth not God hath made God a liar; because he believeth not the
record that God gave of his Son. -1 John 5:10

John always includes a "key" to his writings, which will "unlock" their
meaning: Revelation 1:19 is its outline; John 20:31 is the specific purpose
of his Gospel; and, 1 John has 4 (times 7?) keys, all identified by the
phrase, "These things I write..."

"1 John" is more like a written sermon, a further development of the
themes in 2 John. We have left it to the last as the climax of the series.

==

Another Approach

1 John 4:1-6[12]

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but ?a?test the spirits, whether they
are of God; because ?b?many false prophets have gone out into the
world. ?2? By this you know the Spirit of God: ?c?Every spirit that
confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ?3? and every
spirit that does not confess ?1?that Jesus ?2?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.
?4? You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He
who is in you is greater than ?d?he who is in the world. ?5? ?e?They are
of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and ?f?the world
hears them. ?6? We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is
not of God does not hear us. ?g?By this we know the spirit of truth and
the spirit of error.

Verse Interpretation

4:1 Beloved, This term is used to exclusively represent the people of God.
do not believe every spirit. Looking back one verse to (1 John 3:24), the
mention of the Holy Spirit prompts John to inform his readers that those
other spirits exist, in the form of demonic spirits, who produce false
prophets and false teachers to propagate their false doctrine.

His readers would understand his point; Jewish people were familiar with
the idea of other spirits besides the Spirit of God. There were many
pagans in Asia Minor, as well as Jewish mystics claiming special
revelations; the need for discernment would be acute.[13]

? but ?a?test the spirits, Apply 1 Cor 14:29 ( 29? Let two or three
prophets speak, and ?t?let the others judge.[14] ). Also we are to be like
the Bereans and apply Acts 17:11 (?11? These were more ?4?fair-
minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all
readiness, and ?l?searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these
things were so.[15] ). Whatever anyone says who claims to be speaking
for the Lord must be tested by the Word of God.[16]

The word "test" is a term used for assaying metals to determine their
purity and value. Christians must test any teaching with a view to
approving or disapproving it rigorously comparing any teaching to the
Scripture. the spirits . many false prophets.

               By juxtaposing "spirits" with "false prophets" John reminds his
               readers that behind human teachers who propagate false
               doctrine and error are demons inspired by Satan. Human false
               prophets and teachers are the physical expressions of demonic,
               spiritual sources.

               (Matt. 7:15; Mark 13:22)
               [17]

It soon becomes clear that false teachers are causing trouble in the
community to which the author is writing (1 John 2:27; 4:1). These the
author labels as "antichrists" (1 John 2:18) and "false prophets". The
strength of these labels for the author's opponents indicates both the
depth of his feeling about them and also the seriousness of their departure
from the apostolic teaching about Jesus.

4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God. John gives a measuring stick to
determine whether the teacher or Pastor of the message is a demon spirit
or the Holy Spirit.

The tests are:

·            Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. This is the first test of a true
teacher: they  acknowledge and proclaim that Jesus is God incarnate in
human flesh.

o           Is the Virgin Birth important? It is essential!

·            Failure to confess Jesus reveals that one is not of God. By their
refusal to confess the truth about Jesus, these false prophets now
reveal their true colors.

·            John is fervent about the crucial importance of sound doctrine
expressed in God's Word as the only absolute and trustworthy
standard, as Gnostic thought had penetrated the church.

4:3 the spirit of the Antichrist. These false teachers who denied the true
nature of the Son are to be identified among the antichrists in 1 John
2:28,29.

·            Both the full humanity and full deity of Jesus must be equally
maintained by the teacher   or Pastor who is to be considered genuinely of
the Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies to the true nature of the Son,
while Satan and his forces distort and deny that true nature.

o           Third reference to the spirit of "antichrist" (1 John 2:18, 22).

               The same demonic deception that will work to produce the
               final world who rules as the false Christ is always actively
               seeking to distort Jesus Christ's true nature, perverting the
               gospel. The final  Antichrist will not be something new,
               but will be the ultimate embodiment of all the antichrist spirits
               that have perverted truth and propagated satanic lies since the
               beginning.
               [18]

·            Both the full humanity and full deity of Jesus must be equally
maintained by the teacher   who is to be considered genuinely of the
Spirit. The Holy Spirit testifies to the true nature of the
Son, while Satan and his forces distort and deny that true nature.

o           Third reference to the spirit of "antichrist" (1 John 2:18, 22).

4:4 He who is in you is greater. Believers need to be aware and alert to
false teaching, but not afraid, since those who have experienced the new
birth with its indwelling of the Holy Spirit have a built-in check against
false teaching. The Holy Spirit leads into sound doctrine for genuine
Christians evidencing that salvation has actually occurred.  (Rom. 8:16-17
states  ?16? ?w?The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we
are children of God, ?17? and if children, then ?x?heirs-heirs of God
and joint heirs with Christ, ?y?if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may
also be glorified together.[19]).

               True believers have nothing to fear, for even Satan's hosts with
               their perversions can't take them out of the Lord's hand.
               Protection against error or victory over it are guaranteed by
               sound doctrine and the indwelling Holy Spirit who
               illumines the mind.
               [20]

Satan has two strategies:

·            Deny his existence; or
·            Overemphasize his capabilities.

4:5 they speak as of the world . He who knows God hears us. John
gives another test of a true teacher:

·            They speak God's word, and follow sound doctrine.

There are two Spirits, and every act is determined by either the spirit of
truth or the spirit of error.

4:6 By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. The OT and
NT are the sole standards by which all teaching is to be tested. In
contrast, demonically inspired teachers either reject the teaching of God's
Word or add elements to it (as the apostle Paul writes in: 2 Cor. 4:2; and
John in Rev. 22:18,19).

This is similar parallelism to what Jesus had to say: (?25? Jesus answered
them, "?I told you, and you do not believe. ?u?The works that I do in My
Father's name, they ?v?bear witness of Me. ?26? But ?w?you do not
believe, because you are not of My sheep, ?5?as I said to you. ?27?
?x?My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.)[21]

Those who are like-minded and affirm the world's message are from the
world, and, likewise, those who affirm the message that Christ came in the
flesh are of God. Whoever "knows God listens to us," and he is attracted
to John's message because of his abiding commitment and relationship to
the true God.

==

ERROR

           The Hebrew words translated "error" suggest inadvertent sins and
           wandering. The NT concept is expressed in the Greek word
           plane, derived from a root that also means "to wander." The
           biblical image is of a person who has lost his way and is deluded
           or deceived about reality.
           James puts Scripture's view of truth and error in perspective in the
           last verses of his letter: "My brothers, if one of you should wander
           from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this:
           Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him
           from death and cover over a multitude of sins" (Jas 5:19-20).[22]

==
Satan has sought to distort and deny God's Word, and is behind all false
teachers and false doctrine. John gives two doctrinal tests to determine
truth from error and false teachers from true teachers.

Satan has become an obvious reality and is now worshiped openly. Much
of this is taking place on or near our college campuses. What a few years
ago was considered to be way out in left field today exists out in the open.
A report came from Florida that a young boy of only seventeen years of
age was murdered, and they found that it was done to appease Satan.

Don't be taken in by everyone who comes along and says that he is a
Christian, because many of them are not. Pray for God's wisdom and
discernment.

==

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

a 3 John 11
b Jer 29:8; 1 Cor 12:10; 1 Thess 5:20f; 2 Thess 2:2
c Jer 14:14; 2 Pet 2:1; 1 John 2:18
a 1 Cor 12:3
b 1 John 2:23
c John 1:14; 1 John 1:2
a 1 John 2:22; 2 John 7
b 1 John 2:18, 22
c 2 Thess 2:3-7; 1 John 2:18
a 1 John 2:1
b 1 John 2:13
c Rom 8:31; 1 John 3:20
d John 12:31
a John 15:19; 17:14, 16
a John 8:23; 1 John 4:4
b John 8:47; 10:3ff; 18:37
c 1 Cor 14:37
d John 14:17
e 1 Tim 4:1

[1]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (1 Jn 4:1).
LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[2]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (1628).
Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

? 5 (4:3) The NU text omits the second "that" and "Christ has come in the
flesh."

[3]MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible
Commentary : Old and New Testaments (1 Jn 4:1). Nashville: Thomas
Nelson.

?a? Is 64:4; 65:17

[4]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (1 Co 2:9).
LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

?1? One early ms reads But
?a? Matt 11:25; 13:11; 16:17; Gal 1:12; Eph 3:3, 5
?b? John 14:26
?c? Rom 11:33ff
?a? Prov 20:27
?a? Rom 8:15
?b? 1 Cor 1:27
?a? 1 Cor 1:17; 2:1, 4
?1? Or interpreting spiritual things forspiritual men
?1? Or an unspiritual
?a? 1 Cor 15:44, 46; James 3:15; Jude 19 mg
?b? John 14:17
?c? 1 Cor 1:18
?2? Or examined
?a? 1 Cor 3:1; 14:37; Gal 6:1
?a? Is 40:13; Rom 11:34
?b? John 15:15

[5]New American Standard Bible : 1995 update. 1995 (1 Co 2:10).
LaHabra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

[6]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page
1017). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

[7]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page
1017). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

[8]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page
1017). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

[9]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page
1017). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

[10]Courson, J. (2003). Jon Courson's Application Commentary (Page
1018). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson.

[11]MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible
(electronic ed.) (1 Co 2:12). Nashville: Word Pub.

[12]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (1 Jn 4:1). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.

a ?1 Cor. 14:29?
b ?Matt. 24:5?
c [?Rom. 10:8-10?]; ?1 Cor. 12:3?; ?1 John 5:1?
1 NU omits that
2 NU omits Christ has come in the flesh
d ?John 14:30?; ?16:11?
e ?John 3:31?
f ?John 15:19?; ?17:14?
g [?1 Cor. 2:12-16?]

[13]Keener, C. S., & InterVarsity Press. (1993). The IVP Bible
background commentary : New Testament (1 Jn 4:1). Downers Grove,
Ill.: InterVarsity Press.

a ?1 Cor. 14:29?
t ?1 Cor. 12:10?

[14]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (1 Co 14:29). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.

4 Lit. noble

l ?Is. 34:16?; ?Luke 16:29?; ?John 5:39?

[15]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Ac 17:11). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.

[16]Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1995). Be decisive. An Old testament
study. (Je 23:9). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.

[17]MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible
(electronic ed.) (1 Jn 4:1). Nashville: Word Pub.

[18]MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible
(electronic ed.) (1 Jn 4:3). Nashville: Word Pub.

w ?Eph. 1:13?
x ?Acts 26:18?
y ?Phil. 1:29?

[19]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Ro 8:16). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.

[20]MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible
(electronic ed.) (1 Jn 4:4). Nashville: Word Pub.

u ?John 5:36?; ?10:38?
v ?Matt. 11:4?; ?John 2:11?; ?20:30?
w [?John 8:47?]
5 NU omits as I said to you
x ?John 10:4?, ?14?

[21]The New King James Version. 1996, c1982 (Jn 10:25). Nashville:
Thomas Nelson.

[22] Richards, Lawrence O.  New International Encyclopedia of Bible
Words, (Zondervan Publishing House Grand Rapids, Michigan),
Copyright © 1985, 1991.