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.
Beloved, stop believing every spirit. That is a command. Notice it didn't say teacher. It says spirit. Behind every teaching is a spirit. Now a false teacher isn't somebody that makes a mistake. Maybe they skip over a line, forget to read a line in the scriptures, or make a human blunder or something. That's not a false teacher.
We're talking about the whole presentation of where the person's coming from, the whole principle of whether we're violating the very heart of what God's word says, and introducing some new age teaching from the bible that's vogue in our day.
Also, a minister's sermons and teachings, they are not from God. Only God's word in truth, contained in the message, is the word of God. So, the minister or pastor is just up there. And it's not whether they make mistakes or not, it's whether the Spirit of God is moving through them to present and give the truth of what the text is saying, the true concepts of God.
Stop believing every spirit, but test the spirits (plural), whether they are of God: why? because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, and this is kind of interesting. The word means to understand the spiritual things of God. God has given us understanding of the spiritual things of God.
The purpose: In order that we might know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life.
Two great statements of fact, Jesus Christ is the true God, and He is the eternal life! Now eternal life is quality of life, and extension of life. If I have eternal life right now, it means I'm going to live forever. There's no end. Does He give me that? No, He is that! He lives in me, and He is eternal. So as long as God lives, I'm going to live. The quality that God is, I'm going to experience throughout eternity. Jesus Christ is eternal life!
This is all I have for 1 John. I will be going through 2 John next, Lord willing!
I don't recall anyone requesting that I go over those books after 1 John. I realize that there might be some who are new here that may have missed some of the previous books I have gone over.
I began with Matthew and have gone through the books in order. I am going through 2 & 3 John next and will finish up with Jude and Revelation. I've already posted on Romans, Hebrews, and John's gospel but if you missed any of those studies, I can repost sections you may have missed as I have saved them all.
Also, I would love to dig a little deeper into these chapters in Acts, but I won't be able to do so until I finish this current study. This study is about all I can handle right now. There are 17 areas you make reference to in these chapters so this will take some time.
I hope you continue to follow along all the way through the end of Revelation. I'm going to save your post as a reminder but just in case I forget, can you please remind me about these chapters in Acts after I finish up with Revelation?
I am understanding the task you have undertaken - to go through, with diligence and faith, the sacred books in John's final visions on the Isle of Patmos. For the Word is not lost, but flourishes in every attentive heart. I understand the limitations of time and strength. The disciple's journey, as we know from Matthew chapter 5, is not measured by speed, but by hunger and thirst for justice. The important thing is that the Word continues to be a light. Save our remembrance of Acts for after Revelation. We'll be here, reading with you, so that together we can rejoice in the account of the birth of the Church. There is comfort, I believe, in sharing such intentions; although I am in the first chapters of Matthew - where the light begins to dawn with the genealogy of the Messiah - even though I am at the beginning, in Matthew, I feel that the promise of 'Immanuel, God with us' runs through all the books. From Matthew to Revelation, it is the same God who walks with us - in the manger and among the lampstands."
May God grant him perseverance in the solemn glories yet to come, and grant me insight as I linger at the beginning. will guide us both-whether at chapter one or at chapter fifty-two in the work of understanding and of grace.
1 John 4:4 says, you have already overcome them little children, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. So, I have overcome. It's a Perfect Tense. It's already a done deal!
1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
That's a factual statement. He hears us. God will answer every prayer that is asked for His will to be done, guaranteed!
1 John 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; literally, does not continue in sin, but he that is born of God keeps himself, and again the word keep in the Greek text is guard, and that wicked one, or evil one does not touch him.
There are manuscript differences. Instead of keepeth himself, the oldest manuscripts say, the one who is born of God, God keeps him, guards him, and the evil one does not touch him. The word touch is the word HAPTO, which means to fasten onto someone, to grip onto and hold onto them. Satan can touch my life, but he can't have me. He can't fasten himself to me and take me away.
1 John 5:19 - And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And not just wickedness, because in the Greek text it's the evil one.
1 John 4:8 - He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
He that loves not does not know God; Here's the reason: for God is love. In Verse 16, it says it again. It's the only definition in the bible for AGAPE love. God is love. The verb for of AGAPE, AGAPAO, is found everywhere in literature. It's even used in the bible to talk about a love for the world.
But the noun AGAPE is only found two other places outside of the bible in all of the Greek literature. And the noun is strictly associated with God Himself. He is love. So, if you were to ask me, what does it mean to love my neighbor? Well, it's not an action. It's God!
1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
We are indebted. That's what the word ought means. We all know what credit card debt is. This is the same kind. God loved me so much that He sent His Son to die for me. I am indebted to my brothers and sisters in Christ to function and walk in the love of God.
1 John 4:21 - And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loves God, and notice the factual statement: he that loves God, loves his brother also. It doesn't say should. It says loves his brother also. That's a factual statement. And again, the love is AGAPE.
1 John 5:4 - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world: That's a factual statement! And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. It's the indication of a one-time belief in Christ at that time of salvation. The moment that I put my faith in Christ; I became an overcomer. I am overcoming, and I have overcome the world. We see this in Chapter 4.
I agree, God is faithful. I'm not sure which specific passage you are referring to but thank you! Also, can you please share a little more information on your last two statements, especially the very last statement as I am not quite understanding what mean by this.
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.
He says you are of God, little children, and have overcome them (Perfect Tense). You have already overcome the spirit of antichrist, the spirit of Satan that's in the world. Why? Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
You see, everything comes back to Christ. The only way that Satan can take me away from Christ is for him to defeat Christ, and he can't do that. My spirit is filled with the presence of Christ, and my Spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit of God forever!
When my spirit leaves my body, it's called death.
When I experience death, His Spirit and my spirit leave. His Spirit is intermingled with my spirit. He is there now, and I will be one with Him throughout eternity. That's the promise to the believer. It's a gift. But we have to repent. We have to acknowledge our need and pray for His mercy on us to save us.
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.
Beloved, stop believing every spirit. That is a command. Notice it didn't say teacher. It says spirit. Behind every teaching is a spirit. Now a false teacher isn't somebody that makes a mistake. Maybe they skip over a line, forget to read a line in the scriptures, or make a human blunder or something. That's not a false teacher.
We're talking about the whole presentation of where the person's coming from, the whole principle of whether we're violating the very heart of what God's word says, and introducing some new age teaching from the bible that's vogue in our day.
Also, a minister's sermons and teachings, they are not from God. Only God's word in truth, contained in the message, is the word of God. So, the minister or pastor is just up there. And it's not whether they make mistakes or not, it's whether the Spirit of God is moving through them to present and give the truth of what the text is saying, the true concepts of God.
Stop believing every spirit, but test the spirits (plural), whether they are of God: why? because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
1 John 5:20 - And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.
And we know that the Son of God is come, and has given us an understanding, and this is kind of interesting. The word means to understand the spiritual things of God. God has given us understanding of the spiritual things of God.
The purpose: In order that we might know Him that is true, and we are in Him that is true, even in His Son Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the true God, and eternal life.
Two great statements of fact, Jesus Christ is the true God, and He is the eternal life! Now eternal life is quality of life, and extension of life. If I have eternal life right now, it means I'm going to live forever. There's no end. Does He give me that? No, He is that! He lives in me, and He is eternal. So as long as God lives, I'm going to live. The quality that God is, I'm going to experience throughout eternity. Jesus Christ is eternal life!
This is all I have for 1 John. I will be going through 2 John next, Lord willing!
If I'm not mistaken, someone mentioned you should continue with Romans, Hebrews, and John's Gospel after 1 John, right?
I became interested in your outline of the book of Acts, Link (Link. If you have time to go deeper into these chapters again, such as:
The Gospel in Jerusalem
Chapter 2 - Pentecost: The Holy Spirit comes; Peter's sermon; 3,000 converted.
The Gospel in Judea and Samaria
Chapter 8 - Philip in Samaria; Simon the Sorcerer; Ethiopian eunuch baptized.
Chapter 11 - Peter reports to Jerusalem; Antioch becomes a mission center.
Chapter 12 - James martyred; Peter rescued from prison; Herod dies.
The Gospel to the Ends of the Earth
First Missionary Journey (Ch. 13-14):
Paul and Barnabas sent from Antioch (Syria), travel through Cyprus and Asia Minor.
Thank again and God bless.
I don't recall anyone requesting that I go over those books after 1 John. I realize that there might be some who are new here that may have missed some of the previous books I have gone over.
I began with Matthew and have gone through the books in order. I am going through 2 & 3 John next and will finish up with Jude and Revelation. I've already posted on Romans, Hebrews, and John's gospel but if you missed any of those studies, I can repost sections you may have missed as I have saved them all.
Also, I would love to dig a little deeper into these chapters in Acts, but I won't be able to do so until I finish this current study. This study is about all I can handle right now. There are 17 areas you make reference to in these chapters so this will take some time.
I hope you continue to follow along all the way through the end of Revelation. I'm going to save your post as a reminder but just in case I forget, can you please remind me about these chapters in Acts after I finish up with Revelation?
Thank you, and God bless you also!
I am understanding the task you have undertaken - to go through, with diligence and faith, the sacred books in John's final visions on the Isle of Patmos. For the Word is not lost, but flourishes in every attentive heart. I understand the limitations of time and strength. The disciple's journey, as we know from Matthew chapter 5, is not measured by speed, but by hunger and thirst for justice. The important thing is that the Word continues to be a light. Save our remembrance of Acts for after Revelation. We'll be here, reading with you, so that together we can rejoice in the account of the birth of the Church. There is comfort, I believe, in sharing such intentions; although I am in the first chapters of Matthew - where the light begins to dawn with the genealogy of the Messiah - even though I am at the beginning, in Matthew, I feel that the promise of 'Immanuel, God with us' runs through all the books. From Matthew to Revelation, it is the same God who walks with us - in the manger and among the lampstands."
May God grant him perseverance in the solemn glories yet to come, and grant me insight as I linger at the beginning. will guide us both-whether at chapter one or at chapter fifty-two in the work of understanding and of grace.
1 John 4:4 says, you have already overcome them little children, because greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. So, I have overcome. It's a Perfect Tense. It's already a done deal!
1 John 5:14 - And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us:
That's a factual statement. He hears us. God will answer every prayer that is asked for His will to be done, guaranteed!
1 John 5:18 - We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
We know that whosoever is born of God sins not; literally, does not continue in sin, but he that is born of God keeps himself, and again the word keep in the Greek text is guard, and that wicked one, or evil one does not touch him.
There are manuscript differences. Instead of keepeth himself, the oldest manuscripts say, the one who is born of God, God keeps him, guards him, and the evil one does not touch him. The word touch is the word HAPTO, which means to fasten onto someone, to grip onto and hold onto them. Satan can touch my life, but he can't have me. He can't fasten himself to me and take me away.
1 John 5:19 - And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness. And not just wickedness, because in the Greek text it's the evil one.
1 John 4:8 - He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
He that loves not does not know God; Here's the reason: for God is love. In Verse 16, it says it again. It's the only definition in the bible for AGAPE love. God is love. The verb for of AGAPE, AGAPAO, is found everywhere in literature. It's even used in the bible to talk about a love for the world.
But the noun AGAPE is only found two other places outside of the bible in all of the Greek literature. And the noun is strictly associated with God Himself. He is love. So, if you were to ask me, what does it mean to love my neighbor? Well, it's not an action. It's God!
1 John 4:11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
We are indebted. That's what the word ought means. We all know what credit card debt is. This is the same kind. God loved me so much that He sent His Son to die for me. I am indebted to my brothers and sisters in Christ to function and walk in the love of God.
1 John 4:21 - And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
And this commandment have we from Him, That he who loves God, and notice the factual statement: he that loves God, loves his brother also. It doesn't say should. It says loves his brother also. That's a factual statement. And again, the love is AGAPE.
1 John 5:4 - For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
For whosoever is born of God overcomes the world: That's a factual statement! And this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. It's the indication of a one-time belief in Christ at that time of salvation. The moment that I put my faith in Christ; I became an overcomer. I am overcoming, and I have overcome the world. We see this in Chapter 4.
Thank you very much! This passage of scripture reminds me of God's faithfulness.
He knows it's justified to kill to survive
He then, in dollars, makes more dead than alive
Blessings!
I agree, God is faithful. I'm not sure which specific passage you are referring to but thank you! Also, can you please share a little more information on your last two statements, especially the very last statement as I am not quite understanding what mean by this.
Again, thank you, and blessings to you also!
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.
He says you are of God, little children, and have overcome them (Perfect Tense). You have already overcome the spirit of antichrist, the spirit of Satan that's in the world. Why? Because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
You see, everything comes back to Christ. The only way that Satan can take me away from Christ is for him to defeat Christ, and he can't do that. My spirit is filled with the presence of Christ, and my Spirit is sealed by the Holy Spirit of God forever!
When my spirit leaves my body, it's called death.
When I experience death, His Spirit and my spirit leave. His Spirit is intermingled with my spirit. He is there now, and I will be one with Him throughout eternity. That's the promise to the believer. It's a gift. But we have to repent. We have to acknowledge our need and pray for His mercy on us to save us.
This comment thread is locked. Please enter a new comment below to start a new comment thread.
Note: Comment threads older than 2 months are automatically locked.
Do you have a Bible comment or question?
Posting comments is currently unavailable due to high demand on the server.
Please check back in an hour or more. Thank you for your patience!
Report Comment
Which best represents the problem with the comment?