Have you ever met someone and at first glance they seemed very pleasant? Then after some time in fellowship that person revealed a more unpleasant character. Well here John is addressing this issue with his flock. The previous verses tell us that the Holy Spirit is our truth detector. Now John goes one step farther. This truth passage is vital to us today because every where there are those who appear “like us” but in fact are not of us!

 

The Bible is the inspired Word of God.   All of it! One of our responsibilities is to examine (test) those who come into our fellowship as to their true stand! How is this done? There are two ways clearly seen here. 1) The Holy Spirit 2) the truth of God’s Word. What does the person proclaim? (examples can be: demonstrating signs, special gifts, claims to be a prophet)! Our job is to test their claim. How? Matthew 7: 15-23 tells us. What kind of fruit is this person producing? Does the one professing believe in Jesus as God’s one and only Son and the only Messiah? (John 10:30) Is Jesus God in the flesh? Is the Bible in it’s fullness the one and only inspired Word for life and witness? Is the prophecy God’s word or man’s word?

Yet even with these tests there can come some who say the right thing but are not of us? What then? The only clear answer is one of discipline. We need to know the word of God, “study to find thyself approved unto God, a workman who is not ashamed rightly dividing the word of Truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Daily walking in the truth for our lives, we need the power of the Spirit in this daily walk to guide us through the Word to a clear understanding and strength to test the spirits and walk in the true Light.

 

John was dealing with people who had a testimony of Jesus but were not in Jesus. Gnostic teaching was epidemic (today too). We see in Scripture that Jesus was fully God and fully man. He lived a sinless life, died painfully for all our sins, His blood paid it all for us. We are the benefactors of His mercy and grace! Nothing less would have done. Only Jesus! Who do you listen to?  Do you know your churches doctrinal statement? Does it line up with the whole council of God’s Word? Our job is to test the spirits. May we be diligent in this assignment!

May we each be found worthy when Jesus returns.

Blessings to each of you dear ones,

Sandra Davis for all at the ministry center