God Or The World

MARCH 31, 2021 STUDY NOTES I JOHN 4:4-6 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES GOD OR THE WORLD? INTRODUCTION Throughout the book John has presented the difference between the spiritual forces Between the work of God in the believer and the work of Satan and his demons in the world John still has in mind the “spirit of antichrist” which is now in the world, 1Jn 4:3 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. He presents to us again the truth of the two opposing spiritual forces found in the world There is a strong contrast between those who are of God and those who are of the world Verse 4 begins with “you,” referring to those who are “of God” Verse 5 begins with “they,” referring to the false prophets and the spirit of antichrist Verse 6 begins with “we,” referring to John and the apostles and all Christians who follow them OVERCOMING SATAN 1Jn 4:4 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. John speaks to all who “are of God” with a strong emphasis We can read it like this, “You, yes you, yes even you,” “You are of God” John wants to be sure that we believe it, never forget it, and live like it Christians are “of God” because we have been born “of God,” 1Jn 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. “Of God” is a relationship that Satan or the spirit of antichrist cannot destroy, Joh 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. God promises that we will never perish, throughout the ages we will “never perish” We are secure in God’s hand, Joh 10:29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. The relationship that exists between God and His children is an eternal relationship, Joh 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him. Never forget who you are in Christ, 1Pe 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: John further describes the Christian as little children, John likes that description of a Christian, he uses it seven times: (2:1,12,28; 3:7,18; 4:4; 5:21) “Little children” is a term of affection referring to those who are born “of God” There is a world of difference between the children of God and those who are of the world Those who belong to God have overcome them: When John says that we have overcome “them,” he is referring to the false prophets Page 1 of 5 He also refers to those who are of the world and we have “overcome them” To “overcome” means “to win a victory” or “to conquer” The “overcomer is the one who is victorious in a struggle We have little strength within ourselves, but we have a Father who is powerful We have a Father who equips us with His power, Eph 1:19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, The same power that resurrected Christ from the grave works in us, Eph 1:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Christ is the One who has overcome the world, Joh 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. Because we are born of God we are “overcomers,” 1Jn 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Faith in Jesus overcomes the world, 1Jn 5:5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? Overcoming does not refer to a physical battle, it is an intellectual battle of the mind Paul tells us of the victory that is through the mind of Christ, Php 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: False teachers seek to deceive the mind of the Christian and they will continue to increase, 2Ti 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. The deception of the deceivers will increase because they are of the spirit of antichrist The spirit of antichrist denies the truth of the Person of Jesus, 1Jn 2:22 Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Because of the spirit of antichrists, the world will continue to deny the Person of Jesus Christ But the Christian is convinced of the truths of Jesus and will overcome false teaching We are not to be taken in by false teachers or led astray by the spirit of the antichrists We are not to be corrupted by the teaching of a false prophet Christians can be victorious not because we are a mental genus and smarter than the false teachers But because greater is he that is in you, “Greater” tells us why we have overcome, “Greater” means “mightier” Christians have a power within that is mightier than the power without The “ONE” who indwells the Christian with greatness is the Holy Spirit The Holy Spirit indwells every believer, Rom 8:9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. One who is not indwelt by the Spirit is not saved and does not belong to Christ Because of the Holy Spirit within us we have a greater knowledge of God, 1Co 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. We have a greater life, 2Co 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. John presents a contrast, the difference between “in you” and he that is in the world. “World” is a key word in this passage, it is found three times in the next verse It refers to a world of people who are following a worldly path of opposition to God Satan is the one who is working in this world through the spirit of the antichrists Satan is called “the prince of this world,” Joh 12:31 Now is the judgment of this world: now shall the prince of this world be cast out. Satan is called “the god of this age,” 2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of Page 2 of 5 them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them. Satan is “the ruler of the kingdom of the air,” Eph 2:2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: All- of the evil in the world is of Satan, 1Jn 5:19 And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness. In this present world is a world of people who are opposed to God A WORLD OPPOSED TO GOD 1Jn 4:5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. “They” refers to the false prophets and the false teachers, “They” are of the “spirit of antichrists” The “They” of this world are in contrast to “You” who are “of God” and indwelt by the Spirit “They” do not come from God, they come from the evil system organized against God “They” are a world of people who have refused to accept Jesus Christ and obey God’s Word A world of people who have accepted a false salvation and live according to Satan’s lies Their principles, zeal, goals, all come from the teachings of this world which come from Satan therefore speak they of the world, The message from Satan is a worldly message filled with the world’s doctrine Filled with the world’s philosophy from the viewpoint of the world Satan’s false prophets speak that which the world fully agrees with Everything false prophets teach is of the world’s system according to what they want to hear As we draw closer to the return of Christ more attention will be given to false prophets, 2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; The evidence of that time is present in the religious world of today and the world heareth them. The world agrees with what they hear from the false prophets That is no surprise because they speak the same language The world is interested in what they hear from false prophets Worldly people want to hear a worldly message from a worldly prophet Jesus speaks of those who are of Satan and do not hear God because they are not of God, Joh 8:47 He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God. The same principle applies to God’s people, God’s people listen to God’s prophets THOSE WHO LISTEN TO GOD 1Jn 4:6 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. First of all, the “we” speaks of the apostles who are identified in the beginning of this letter Those who were a personal witness of the Person and Work of Jesus Christ, 1Jn 1:1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, of the Word of life; Those who shared with us the truths of Jesus, 1Jn 1:2 (For the life was manifested, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and shew unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was manifested unto us;) Page 3 of 5 The foundation of the church of today was built upon the Apostles and Prophets teaching of Jesus Eph 2:20 And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone; The Apostles and Prophets of the N.T. received the mystery of the church in the present Age Eph 3:5 Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; Jesus promised the Apostles that the Holy Spirit would come and teach them, Joh 14:26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. The teaching ministry of the Spirit continues today, He teaches “all the truth” concerning Jesus Joh 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. The Holy Spirit teaches us what the Lord has done, is doing, and will yet do He guides the believer into spiritual truth as revealed in Christ He takes the things of Christ and reveals them to us So, all believers are included within the “we” of 1 John 4:6 “We” includes those who have received and believed the teaching of the Apostles So, the difference between “we” and “they” is easily distinguished The difference is believing in the Person and Work of Jesus and accepting who Jesus really is The teaching of the Apostles found in the Bible is the standard that we must go by The Bible is the guide to determining the difference between truth and error Godly people want to go to a Godly church and hear a Godly message from a Godly teacher They want to hear the word that comes from the Word of God, so who listens? he that knoweth God heareth us; Those who know God through a personal experience with Jesus, the experience of salvation God’s people are the ones who are listening to God’s Word, they hear the voice of Jesus Joh 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: The Thessalonians are an example, 1Th 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. The Thessalonians listened because they knew they were hearing a word from the Word of God They did not receive it because man said it but because it was the truth of the Word of God The reason they received it is because they wanted the truth to work in their life Are you interested in the Word of God, do you want to read it and hear it taught? If not, you need to pay attention to what John now says--he that is not of God heareth not us. Why do God’s people come to church to learn more about the Bible? Because they are “of God” and God’s people “hear” when the truth of God’s Word is taught God’s people come to church to hear more about Jesus from God’s Word They want to hear so they can learn more about Jesus and live more like Jesus Those who are not of God also come to church, but they do not come to “hear” That means they do not receive the truth because their mind is set upon the world They prefer the “spirit of falsehood” because it tells them what they want to hear They do not hear the “Spirit of Truth,” Joh 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world Page 4 of 5 cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. The “Truth” means nothing to them, 1Co 2:14 But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. Christians “know” and hear the “Spirit of Truth” Hereby know we the spirit of truth, “Hereby” points back to the beginning of this chapter, the two tests and their conclusions This is the way to know the difference between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error The “Spirit of Truth” is the Holy Spirit which is of Christ, Joh 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me: Because of the Holy Spirit within us we know when we hear “the spirit of truth” Christians also know when they hear the “spirit of error” and the spirit of error. Those in error are those who have been deceived by false prophets The world is listening to the lies of Satan today Hearing the “spirit of error” today is preparing the world for hearing the Antichrist They believe the lie of Satan today and God will allow them to accept the lie of the Antichrist The day will come when Antichrist, the “Wicked” will be revealed, 2Th 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: He will come with “lying wonders,” 2Th 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, Those who perish will be those who refused the love of the truth, 2Th 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. They will believe a lie, 2Th 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: Because they did not believe the “Truth,” 2Th 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. Those who are “Of God” hear the truths of God today Those who are “of the world” hear the lies of Satan CONCLUSION In these verses John has given us a foundation to stand upon, which is “Truth” The truth of Jesus Christ which is written in the truth of God’s Word The truth of God’s Word is revealed to us through the Holy Spirit within us If you have not trusted Jesus as your Savior, you cannot know the “Truth” If you are saved and not learning the Bible you are not living the “Truth” Without the Word of God and the leadership of the Holy Spirit Satan will lead you astray We must stand daily upon the firm foundation of God’s Word Watch the screen, listen to the song Page 5 of 5