John gives us advice about how to be discerning, by asking us that we “test the spirits”.
1 John 3:
1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
3 And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.
4 Everyone who makes a practice of sinning also practices lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.
5 You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him.
7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous.
8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Love One Another
11 For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
12 We should not be like Cain, who was of the evil one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his own deeds were evil and his brother's righteous.
13 Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.
14 We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. Whoever does not love abides in death.
15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
16 By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.
17 But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
18 Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth.
19 By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;
20 for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.
21 Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;
22 and whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him.
23 And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
24 Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
1 John 4: Test the Spirits
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
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.
5 They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
God Is Love
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
17 By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.
19 We love because he first loved us.
20 If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
21 And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Things to think about…
How can we discern between those who are born of God and are the children of God and those who are of the devil? 1Jn 3:1-10. Those who continue in sin, vs 8, those who do not practise righteousness and those who do not love other brothers and sisters in Christ, John says, are of the devil, vs 10. But those who practice righteousness, who love others in God’s family and abstain from sin are the children of God, vss 7, 11. A very simple but effective test to know who is a Christian or not, regardless of whether they regularly attend church.
John affirms how to show our identity as the children of God by saying it must be practical. We should not just say that we love each other, but our love must be on display and be backed up by actions, 1Jn 3:16-18.
Godly fruit is one way to discern those who are the true children of God, but John says another way is by confession and heart belief. He says that we should not believe every spirit, but to test the spirits 1Jn 4:1-6. Anyone who confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh and believes He has come from God and listens to the Apostles teaching, vs 6 is from God. This is saying that those that acknowledge Christ came and fulfilled His ministry as Saviour on earth and who also believe and follow Scriptures is how we are able to discern the spirit of truth as opposed to error, 1Jn 4:6.
Just in case you missed what John has been driving at, John says it plainly. God is love and whoever loves God must love his brother, 1Jn 4:7-21. Jesus tells us to love God and to love our neighbours as ourselves. Our nearest neighbours are those within the household of faith. Our Lord even saying at one point, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” Mt 12:50.
What are you fearful of? John says “perfect love casts out fear”, 1John 4:18. He says fear involves punishment. But what about the fear of hell. Some are saved through fear, Jude 1:23. But this is a fear of judgment. Our punishment and therefore our judgement rests upon Christ. So we are not fearful of the Lord’s judgement. If we are not fearful of His judgement then all other judgements from others pale into insignificance. Rejoice and be at peace – God loves you!
Vision Point for cell groups
CBC’s Vision :- To be a growing biblical church community, significantly influencing our city and beyond, through intentional outreach, fulfilling our mission.
The reading for Sunday came from 1 Peter 3:8-22.
1. Discuss why Peter is writing this letter
2. What is the context behind the passage of 1 Pet 3:8-22 with respect to judgement.
3. Did Jesus really descend into hell? Discuss.
4. How can we apply this passage in our lives today?
Prayer Points
1. Clarity of life and freedoms through to the end of the year.
2. Pray for testimonies that people will be doing every second week. Please consider when you would like to do yours when the pastor asks you to share yours.
3. Pray for other building projects – café roof, the repair of the house roof and solar.
4. Growth, conversions, joy in the Word and Spirit to remain and increase.
Praise Points.
1. Graham’s sermon
2. Lock down restrictions eased for Qld.
3. New visitors to the church on Sunday.
4. The unity and grace on display at CBC.
Announcements
1. PlayPatch for toddlers at church, Fridays 9:30-11am. Please get the word out. See Maddison for details.
2. Recharge Youth – 6:30-8:30pm. Parents to contact Melinda for details.
3. Church bank details bsb:- 704 913 and Acc number:- 4000 4388 1
