May 1, 2021 -- I John 4:2-6 -- Test for Faithfulness

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 4:2-6 English Standard Version

The beloved disciple of Jesus gave the test by which a Christian knows whether or not he is dealing with another Christian. That is, the test of believing Jesus is fully the Son of God therefore divine and fully the Son of Man, therefore a human being. By this test a man knows a fellow believer. Together believers face the challenges of the world, the spirit of the antichrist, the spirit of error. To that end we constantly study the Bible and delight in the fact God reveals Himself and strengthens us in our precious faith.

C. H. Spurgeon once wrote: “Bible study is the metal that makes a Christian. This is the strong meat on which holy men are nourished. This is that which makes the bone and sinew of men who keep God’s way in defiance of every adversary.”

Have you been nourished today? Are you preparing for church tomorrow? If you can attend a service, get to a place where true believers meet and feast on the word. If you can not meet in person, find a church that knows and preaches the Spirit of Truth so that as you watch church you are nourished and will able to understand He Who is in you is greater than the spirit of error which is in this world.

Spirit of God, create in me a hunger for all that is holy and true. Spirit of God direct me to Jesus Christ, in Whom my soul shall find all truth. Truth which can nourish my soul and strengthen me for every defiance of the adversary. Father in heaven, thank You for Jesus Christ, Who has overcome this world and by Whom all who believe are victors to the great honour and blessing of Your praise. Triune God, as those who are Your ambassadors in this world, help us to declare Your praise and proclaim Jesus to a weary and broken world tyrannized by the enemy. Thank You, King Jesus, that the sure defeat of this enemy is near. Jesus, I long for the day when every knee shall bow and every tongue confess Your Name to the glory of the Father. Amen.

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