Makeup Day -- 1 John 4

Because of a mistake in the production of the schedule, we have fallen behind by one day.  So, to catch up, we will also read 1 John 4 today.

1 John 4

New International Version (NIV)

On Denying the Incarnation

4 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. ² 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, ³ 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.

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TEST THE SPIRITS

In our modern world a new brand of spirituality has developed. It is based on "feelings" and "emotions" rather than on truth.   It says, "if I feel right with God -- if I believe in my heart that I am connected to Him, then I must be."

But a Christian should know that it's not just about how I "feel," but is grounded on the truth of a Savior who loved us and gave His life for us.  One can sincerely believe that some other deity rules the universe, and even live morally under that belief, and still be dead wrong.

True faith is grounded in Christ.  It understands that He, and He alone, is our only hope for the future.  It recognizes our sin and our deep need for His atoning sacrifice.  It embraces His love and willingness to pay the price for our sin.

"Feel good" religion says that faith is about trying hard to do good -- according to ones own definition. In it, truth is relative and is based on one's inner feelings.  

Christianity is based on the truths revealed to us by God Himself. It seeks to conform one's life to His plan and to give Him first place in our lives. 

So be careful.  There's a lot of pretenders out there.  

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⁴ 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. ⁵ They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ 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.

God’s Love and Ours

⁷ Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸ Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. ⁹ This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. ¹⁰ This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ¹¹ Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. ¹² No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
¹³ This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. ¹⁴ And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. ¹⁵ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. ¹⁶ And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ¹⁷ This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,cannot love God, whom they have not seen. ²¹ And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.