1. “Testing the Spirits”
1 John 4:1-6, 12-13, 19-21
Pastor Sig Schuster

2. Introduction Wow! What a month… Canada Watch Local News World News
“Those who obey His commands live in Him and He in them. And this is how we know … by the Spirit He gave us.” (3:24)

3. Truth vs. Error (4:1-6)
Navigating the turbulent waters of secular society
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (vs. 1)

4. Truth vs. Error (4:1-6)
Navigating the turbulent waters of secular society
Then – secular society and religious leaders were hostile to Christianity!
Today – secular society (modern or post-modern) reject “absolute truth”!

5. Truth vs. Error (4:1-6)
Need for a trustworthy standard – the truth about Jesus!
“This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God… (v. 2)

6. Truth vs. Error (4:1-6)
Need for a trustworthy standard – the truth about Jesus!
“… but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (vs. 3)

7. Truth vs. Error (4:1-6) Divine confidence of true believers
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” (vs. 4)

8. Truth vs. Error (4:1-6)
Contrast between secular vs. Christian counsellors
“They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.
We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.” (vs.5-6)

9. Truth in God’s Love (4:12-13)
The promised Counsellor to guide believers
“No one has ever seen God; but if we love each other, God lives in us and His love is made complete in us.
We know that we live in Him and He in us, because He has given us of his Spirit.” (vs )

10. Truth in God’s Love (4:12-13)
Jesus promised a Counsellor to guide believers
“If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.”
(John 14:15-17)

11. Truth in God’s Love (4:16-21)
The central truth of Scripture – the Father’s amazing love!
“… God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
Love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like Him.” (vs. 16b-17)

12. Truth in God’s Love (4:16-21)
The wonderful by-product of God’s amazing love!
“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The man who fears is not made perfect in love.
We love (Him) because He first loved us. (vs )

13. Truth in God’s Love (4:16-21)
The spiritual obligation of God’s amazing love!
“If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.
And He has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.” (vs )

14. So what? How can I demonstrate the reality of this love in my life?
How can I be more responsive to God’s great commandment?
How can I demonstrate the reality of this love in my life?
What is one specific act of love I can do this week?