THE SPIRIT OF GOD AND THE SPIRIT OF THE ANTICHRIST 1 John 4:1-6 Key verse: 6 In this passage we can learn two methods for discerning if a spirit is from God or of the AntiChrist. 1) Do they affirm that Jesus Christ came in the flesh and that he is of God. 2) Does the spirits testimony match that of the apostle s in the Bible. Part I: Test the spirits (1-3) 1. What are the people s responses to spirits (or spiritual things)? (1a) People's responses are to believe all supernatural things and believe every spirit that comes to them. Things such as ghosts, fortunetellers, psychics, séances are all perfectly acceptable and mysterious, supernatural, even seen as noble. Why do people have a tendency to be attracted to anything that is spiritual? (1a) The spirit and the spiritual are seen as extra ordinary and greater than the flesh. 2. What should Christians do to the spirits? (1a, 1b) Test every Spirit for consistency with the message in the Bible and to see if it is from God. Why? (1c) Because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Why is it dangerous to believe the spirit of Satan? (John 8:44) John 8:44 44 You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father s desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. Satan's natural language is to lie. He is a liar and a murderer from the beginning. In the end those who are possessed by an evil spirit will be destroyed by that same evil spirit. 3. Why should we test every spirits? (1b) There are two types of spirits the spirit of God and the Spirit of Satan. Not every spirit is from God, some are sweet sounding but out to deceive and destroy you. What does the word test mean? (1b) 1
The word test means to check for consistency. In this case the Greek word had a meaning of checking for the consistency of the metal that made up currency. We must test the words of each spirits looking for consistency in its words and actions. Why must the spirits be carefully examined? (1c) There are many false prophets and deceivers out in the world. 4. What does a true prophet do? A true prophet teaches the word of God as it is. They do not speak their own ideas but reveal the word of God. Men such as Elijah, Jeremiah, John the Baptist and women such as Deborah. What does a false prophet do? A false prophet changes the word of God and uses the word of God for their own purposes. How can one know a false prophet based on Jesus teaching? (Mt 7:15-16) Matthew 7:15-16 "15 Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?" By their actions and fruits. Do words match deeds and teachings? Answer is no. 5. How can we distinguish the Spirit of God from the spirit of the antichrist? (2, 3) Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. The anti-christ cannot acknowledge the Christ. What does Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God mean? (2) Jesus Christ -- the incarnation. This means that Jesus is perfect man and at the same time perfect God. Any spirit that denies the incarnation was true is not from God. 6. Who denies this truth? (3) The anti-christ and those who have the spirit of antichrist. Why is it important to believe this truth? 2
If we believe this then we are on the side of Christ. If not we are on the side of the anti-christ. The incarnation is central to Christian theology. It is central to the death and burial and resurrection. Ultimately this is what allows us to obtain redemption and salvation in Jesus Christ. Why did Jesus die? (Heb 9:12) Hebrews 9:12 "12 He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption." To give his blood as the atonement for our sins to restore us to a relationship with God and redeem us. It is because Jesus is the only mediator between God and human beings. He is the one who solves our sin problem. In order to mediate between the holy God and sinful men, the mediator must be God and at the same time a human. What happens if our sin is not redeemed by Jesus? Then we are caught in our sin live in our sin and then die in our sin--to face the full deserved wrath of God. Part II: Recognize the Spirit of truth (4-6) 7. Who are you? (4a) You are the readers and the ones who are believers in Jesus Christ. Those who believe that Jesus is God in the flesh. Who are they? (4b, 5) Those who are of the spirit of the anti-christ. They are false prophets. Why can Christians overcome the evil spirit? It is difficult to overcome the spirits of deception when they prevail all over the world placing doubts, unbelief, and fear in people s hearts. But Christians can overcome the evil spirit. Why? It is because they belong to God and have the Spirit of God. Why did Christians overcome the spirit of the antichrist? (4c) Verse 4c, 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. The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The Holy Spirit is stronger than that of the anti-christ in the world. 8. Why do the false prophets speak from a worldly point of view? (5) 3
Because their goal is to please the world and its standards and not the standards of God. The world is their audience, not God. Who are we? (6) Pay close attention to the context. First it was, You, then They, now it is we. This is Apostle John writing in the context of his being an Apostle. We means the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Why are the testimonies of the apostles so important? (Eph 2:20) Ephesians 2:20 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. The New Testament is built on their testimonies. They were eye witnesses and given the power of the Holy Spirit. Witnessing to Jesus Christ is foundational. 9. What does the Apostles Creed summarize? I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. On the third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen. It summarizes what Christians believe. The Apostles Creed summarizes the core doctrines of Christianity. Since the early Christian churches, it has been memorized by all Christians. It starts with God s creation and continues with the incarnation of Jesus, His suffering on the cross, resurrection, judgment, work of the Holy Spirit, forgiveness of sins, resurrection of the body, and eternal life. How can the Apostles Creed be the testing tool between those who belong to God and those who belong to Satan? 4
The true Christian will confirm this creed -- as it echoes what is in the Bible. Those who belong to God and His Spirit acknowledge the Apostles Creed and confess their faith. But those who belong to Satan cannot acknowledge the Apostles Creed. They deny parts of it or distort its contents. We can distinguish the spirit of God from the spirit of antichrist by using the Apostles Creed. 10. What are the characteristics of people from the world? (6) They do not listen to "us" meaning they do not listen to the Apostle s teachings. The Apostle s teachings equals the Bible. What are the characteristics of people from God? (6) They listen to God and his Apostles and recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. *Whom do you listen to and which way do you follow? Listen to the truth and follow the Spirit of God. 5