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.

1 John 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. 1 John 4:4

I resume my study of 1,2,3 John using the Christ-Centered Exposition commentary series volume for these books.  Today, my focus is a commentary-assisted review of 1 John 4:1-6.

Per the commentary for this text:

Main idea: "Genuine Christians will avoid false teachers and will recognize that true teachers possess the Spirit of God and preach Jesus Christ as the risen Lord."

Excerpts from the introduction:

• "Calling out and identifying false teachers is neither fun nor popular. It is, however, both biblical and necessary."
• "Again we are reminded that our greatest dangers are not from without but from within."
•  "God. John provides a fourfold test we must take. This exam is more important than any you will ever take in any school. Its results are of eternal significance."
  

Divisions: 

1. Are You Following False Prophets (4:1)?: All believers have the obligation to assess truth vs lies. See also Deuteronomy 13:1-5, 18:20-22, and 2 Corinthians 11:1-4 for text elsewhere we can use to discern the distinction between truth and lies. Scripture provides ample warnings about false teachers: see also Matthew 7:15, 24:11, 14, Mark 13:21-23, Acts 20:28-30, 2 Peter 2:1-22, and Jude 4-19.
   
2. Are You Confessing the True Jesus (4:2-3)?: If we are to discern truth, we must believe that Jesus "is the very incarnation of God, then the gospel and only the gospel is true....[A true confession] is heartfelt, mind-engaged, and soul-committed. It is on this truth that authentic Christianity stands or falls—that there was a true, genuine, and permanent wedding of deity and humanity in the person of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son." We must be prepared to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior just as Peter did in Matthew 16:16.
   
3. Are You Trusting in the Greater Spirit (4:4)?: With the Holy Spirit and the full armor of God (Ephesians 6) we are stronger than the world. "[We]  can live confidently, blessed with supernaturally given assurance that [we are] His and that [we] fight a battle in which victory is mine for the taking."
   
4. Are You Listening to the Right Teachers (4:5-6)?

Excerpt from the conclusion: "A battle is indeed raging for the hearts, the minds, and the souls of men and women. Be a good soldier of Christ and the cross, of that which is true and that which is right. Test the spirits, confess Christ as Lord, trust the Holy Spirit who is within, and stay latched to the Word. Here is your strength. Here is your safety. Here is your salvation."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You provide Truth, the full armor of God, discernment, etc. to help me defeat the forces of darkness, including false teachers that seek the pry me from Your hands.  Thank You for Your protection.  I am undeserving.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.