Three Little Letters

Here is a link to last week’s series, Three Little Letters.

Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 

1 John 4:15

It is hard to believe that our study of John’s first letter is about to close as we prepare to move to the second letter in the series. I look forward to more that the Spirit has to teach us through this faithful disciple.

Can you see how the Spirit has inspired John with clear answers for helping us just to know how to have assurance of our faith?

But we still have chapters four and five to survey in this first little letter, so let’s get started.

Now, today’s study may be a little bit serious in tone. Please be patient.

So many prominent professing believers are guilty of making very public statements on behalf of Christians everywhere that are very wrong.

What they say, oftentimes, is opposed to God’s Word. They do not represent the beliefs of true Christ followers at all. Of course, they have every right to make their statements as long as they do so on their own behalf.

But they have no right to speak on behalf of people that they call brothers and sisters in the faith when, in fact, they may not truly be a part of the Christian family at all.

These people have betrayed the Church with dishonesty, if they are really born again. And if they are impostors, then that speaks for itself. They are on the side of our Savior’s adversary, so they are naturally against true believers.

The statements these people make, and their lifestyles, should cause us sorrow. Their viewpoints express derision for people that they call fellow brothers and sisters. The reason for their disdain is because true believers stand by the conviction that God’s Word is perfect and infallible and it is still relevant, even today.

These people mishandle the Word of God by living opposed to the teachings of Christ without apology and by encouraging others to do so.

They encourage others to embrace sin in spite of the high price that our Savior has paid to redeem us from its penalty.

And yet, many of these outspoken professing Christians continue to hold a place of prominence in many Christian circles. Some are even active in our churches. Why?

Is it that true believers don’t really understand the serious nature of having one foot in the world and one foot with Jesus? Do you realize that you can’t live that way as a believer?

Are we too afraid to rock the boat and offend pretenders in the faith instead of being concerned about the offense that this behavior causes God? Maybe we don’t know how to show them the exit in a godly way. That is why we need to know what the Bible says about apostasy in the Church.

We are certainly to pray for them. We are never to hate them. We should not slander, malign or hate them. But our honor and faith belong to the Lord.

Do you think that I have gotten off subject regarding the assurance of faith?

Well, John addressed this topic in chapter four. So, I believe we need to look deeply into our own hearts.

Why is it so important to know the basics of your faith? Is it possible for people who aren’t truly believers to fool true Christians? Is it possible for lost people to understand what we are teaching about God’s truth?

And all of these questions bring us back to the whole reason for our study of John’s three little letters. Assurance of our very salvation.

So, here is the best way to end this week’s devotion. I am going to let God’s Word and the Holy Spirit provide the answers. I have pasted the first six verses from this chapter below to get you started. Read the remaining fifteen verses when you can.

I John 4:1-6

(NOTE: Spirits in verse 1 means attitudes, beliefs or teachings not demons)

1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 

3 and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already. 

4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. 

5 They are of the world. Therefore, they speak of the world, and the world hears them. 

6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Share the Good News in your world

Isaiah 52:7

World English Bible (WEB)

by Public Domain. The name “World English Bible” is trademarked.