Even if you have read the following scripture several times, read it again now. Let’s consider it carefully together. This is a very serious matter.
God loves every person and “…desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” 1 Timothy 2:4.
”Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:1-8.
John wrote the answer to the question, ”How do we know whether the spirits are of God?”
The first key to discernment here is to recognize Jesus, to accept Him as He is. ”for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.” John 8:24. The Word who came from heaven and became flesh is Jesus, the Son of God. ”The Word became flesh and dwelt among us…” John 1:14.
Of course, we cannot recognize any gift or other activity as being influenced by the Spirit of God unless the person acknowledges Jesus as Lord. This acknowledgment is therefore the first of the elements.
But the matter continues. To say Amen to the previous at this point would be too early. To do so would remain solely on an ecumenical level: – – –
The second key to discernment is crucial. John states that ”we are of God.” Verse 6. He meant himself and all the early believers (ekklesia, congregtion) who remained in the apostolic truth; and thus also us who remain in the apostolic faith today. “We are of God!” We remain in the original Christianity (who remain in it). We do not join new religions, such as Evangelical Lutherans, etc. – – –
“He who hears us,.. is of God!” That is what it said. And besides all this, the Word of God says the decisive criterion:
“THIS IS HOW WE KNOW THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH AND THE SPIRIT OF DECEIT!” So from what? – – – Does anyone want to hear the original apostolic Christianity. If someone rejects the word of the Bible, even though things are clearly shown to him, then we know that the Holy Spirit does not lead him.
We also know that the evil spirit prevents the Spirit of Truth from working in him. “By this we know… the spirit of deception…” But the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth, who guides into all truth!
Do you want to confess Jesus of Nazareth as your Lord revealed in the Bible and accept Him as the atoning sacrifice for your sins?
Do you want to forsake your sins? And do you want to obey His clear Word and be baptized in water in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ? (if you have not yet been baptized since your conversion) And do you want to forsake all religiosity that is not the influence of the Holy Spirit?
Do you want to forsake all your own opinions and focus only on the opinions expressed in God’s Bible?
If you say amen to all this, then all is well.
If you do not want to hear ”we”, then we cannot believe that the spirit in you is from God!
Check today that you are in harmony with God? Jesus wants to fix everything!
He is our GOOD Shepherd.
Blessings,
Weijo Lindroos