Living in the Light of God's Love
1 John Lesson Six-1 John 4:1-12 Testing the Spirits in Love 1. We must test the spirits 2. We must overcome false teachers 3. The ultimate source of love
Introduction How can you find a leak in a bicycle tire tube? Think of other things that are examined by testing. All tests use a standard of measurement. What standard do Christians have for distinguishing truth from error?
Why is it important for Christians to be thoroughly trained in the Word?
Why is it important to learn how to speak the truth in love?
Studying God's Word We must test the spirits Read 1 John 4:1-3 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see if they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3and every spirit who does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard is coming and is already in the world. 1. Read Jesus' words in Matthew 24:11,24. What does Jesus tells us will happen in our day?
2. From where do the false prophets go out? (4:1; see also Matthew 13:24-26 and 1 Timothy 1:5,6.) © 1997 Northwestern Publishing House. Reprinted by permission.
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3. Why is the recognition that Jesus came in the flesh the cornerstone of our faith? How do we use this teaching to test the spirits? (4:2)
4. The spirit of the Antichrist was already prevalent at the time elderly John served as a pastor in the city of Ephesus. It came in the form of Gnosticism. (4:3) How is the spirit of the Antichrist present today?
Passage List Matthew 24:11 11 Many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Matthew 24:24 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will perform great signs and wonders so as to deceive even the elect, if it were possible. Matthew 13:24–26 24 He presented another parable to them: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field. 25But while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat and went away. 26When the plants sprouted and produced heads of grain, the weeds also appeared. 1 Timothy 1:5–6 5 The goal of this command is love that comes from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from a sincere faith. 6By veering away from these things, some have turned aside into meaningless talk.
His Word in My Life False teachers don't introduce themselves with the greeting "Hello. I am a false teacher." Just the opposite-they're convinced they are right. Can you describe a conversation you've had with a false teacher?
We must overcome false teachers Read 1 John 4:4-6 4
You are from God, dear children, and you have overcome the false prophets, because the one in you is greater than the one in the world. 5They are from the world. That is why they speak from a worldly perspective and the world listens to them. 6We are from God. The one who knows God listens to us, but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we can distinguish between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. 1. What do you find most comforting about verse 4?
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2. How is your "world view" radically different from the world view of the people who are not Christians? (4:5)
3. How do we recognize who has the spirit of truth and who has the spirit of error? (4:6) Isn't it being rather presumptuous to claim that those who don't listen to us don't have the truth?
His Word in My Life The best way to learn how to detect counterfeit artwork is to be totally familiar with the true works of art. Read Jesus' closing words in Matthew 28:19,20. How can we help new disciples learn to detect truth from error?
The ultimate source of love Read 1 John 4:7-12 7
Dear friends, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8The one who does not love has not known God, because God is love. 9This is how God’s love for us was revealed: God has sent his only-begotten Son into the world so that we may live through him. 10This is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Dear friends, if God loved us so much, we also should love one another. 12
No one has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us and his love has been brought to its goal in us. 1. True love comes from God. How do Jesus' words in John 15:1-5 help us understand this verse better?
2. When we fail to show love, what does this reveal about our knowledge of God's love? (4:8)
3. What is the supreme expression of love? (4:9,10) List some clear gospel passages from the Old Testament or the New Testament that also express this truth?
4. God's love for us in Christ is more than an example for us to follow. Read verse 11 again and discuss how God's supreme love actually gives us the ability to love.
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5. We cannot see God directly. How do we see him though? (4:12)
Passage John 15:1–5 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2Every branch in me that does not bear fruit, he is going to cut off. And he prunes every branch that does bear fruit, so that it will bear more fruit. 3 “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4Remain in me, and I am going to remain in you. A branch cannot bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Likewise, you cannot bear fruit unless you remain in me. 5 “I am the Vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him is the one who bears much fruit, because without me you can do nothing.
His Word in My Life What are some examples or models of love that people today seek to imitate? Compare each to the model of Christ's love.
Summary Join together in your group to say or sing the following hymn verse: Yea, Lord, 'twas your rich bounty gave my body, soul, and all I have in this poor life of labor. Lord, grant that I in ev'ry place may glorify thy lavish grace and help and serve my neighbor. Let no false doctrine me beguile; let Satan not my soul defile. Give strength and patience unto me to bear my cross and follow thee. Lord Jesus Christ, my God and Lord, my God and Lord, in death thy comfort still afford. (CW 817:2) In this section you have seen the importance of testing the spirits to see whether they come to us from the Lord. We want to be loyal to the truth of God's Word yet loving in the way we speak the truth to others. Think of people you know who need to be guided into a clear understanding of the Word. Write their names below and ask the Lord to open a door to speak the truth to them in love.
Life with God Throughout the week: Read Ephesians 4 several times in your personal devotions. Read 1 John 4:13-21 in preparation for the next lesson.