1 John – Week 6 – Day 5

READ 

1 John 4:1-2 

Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world. 2 This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God. 

A believer should not believe everything spiritual that is heard. In the first century some taught that Jesus was only a spirit and could not have come in a body. False teachers can sound so impressive even when what they teach does not agree with the Bible. In John’s day one had to rely on the oral tradition of what Jesus and the apostles taught. Now the Bible is available to verify any teaching to distinguish truth from error.  

REFLECT 

What do you do to check out speakers who are trying to win your heart? Do you just believe everything they say or do you check their teaching against the Bible? In particular, what do they teach about sin and the depravity of mankind? Do they emphasize the only way of becoming right with God is by trusting in Jesus as Savior?  

RESPOND 

Teach your disciple how to counsel others looking for a local church for fellowship. Urge them to learn what the group teaches about the deity of Christ, His virgin birth and substitutionary atonement for mankind. The Bible is clear about these foundational truths. If you are not; seek out a more knowledgeable believer to help.