How should 1 John 4:3 influence our response to false teachings? Hear the Warning in 1 John 4:3 “and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and now is already in the world.” The Heart of the Verse • “Confess Jesus” means openly affirming the full biblical testimony—His eternal Sonship, incarnation, atoning death, bodily resurrection, and present lordship (John 1:1,14; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; Romans 10:9). • Anything or anyone who will not make that confession is “not from God.” • Such denial is branded “the spirit of the antichrist,” already active. Why This Matters for Us 1. False teaching is not harmless; it carries a spirit opposed to Christ. 2. The conflict is present tense—“now is already in the world.” 3. Compromise on Christ’s identity is the enemy’s frontline strategy. Testing Every Voice The immediate context says, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1). Practical testing: • Compare every message to Scripture’s clear Christology (Acts 17:11; 2 Timothy 3:16). • Ask, “Does this teaching exalt Jesus as Scripture reveals Him?” (1 Corinthians 12:3). • Note subtle shifts: diminishing His deity, redefining His work, or sidelining His exclusive claims (2 Corinthians 11:3-4). Four-Fold Response to False Teaching • Discern – Stay alert; deception often sounds spiritual (Matthew 7:15). • Confront – “Speak the truth in love” (Ephesians 4:15) when error arises within the fellowship. • Separate – If the confession of Christ is denied, refuse partnership (2 John 10-11). • Contend – “Earnestly contend for the faith once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Anchoring Points from Other Verses • Galatians 1:8-9 – Even an angelic messenger altering the gospel is “accursed.” • 1 John 2:22 – Denying Jesus as the Christ brands one “the antichrist.” • 2 Thessalonians 2:3 – A falling away precedes final revelation of “the man of lawlessness.” • 1 Timothy 4:1 – “In later times some will abandon the faith to follow deceiving spirits.” Living in Victory, Not Fear “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4) • The Spirit empowers us to spot error. • The Word supplies the unchanging standard. • The confession of Jesus remains the non-negotiable line. Holding it firmly guards the flock and glorifies the Lord until He returns. |
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