WEEK 12
THE TEST OF LOVE (1 JOHN 4)
This week we will begin studying the test of love. We will find ourselves in 1 John 4. This chapter states that if a person is born of God, he will prove it by his love. There are five motives that will motivate one to love if he is a son. Here is the first of the five motives.
The fact is that some believed the errors of the Gnostics because they had not been enlightened on that subject. John told them to test the spirits for the purpose of finding whether or not the person put to the test meets the specifications laid down. The reason for putting visiting teachers to such a test was "because many false prophets are gone out into the world." The tense of the verb denotes a past action with existing results. Thus, they have gone out, at present time they are with us, and they have established themselves among the people. They will always be present with us. Therefore, this verse is for us today and is as up to date as tomorrow’s newspaper.
Next, John gives instruction as to how to try or test the spirits. Because Jesus was born and even though He died on the cross, He arose and exists today. John is exposing the error of the Gnostics who denied that Jesus was God. They stated that Jesus came in the flesh but was not the Christ until His baptism by John the Baptist. John states plainly that one is "of God" if they confess that "Jesus Christ is come in the flesh." John says that everyone (every spirit) who confesses this is energized by the Spirit of God and is of God. This does not mean that everyone who confesses this is personally a true Christian. It is clear that a doctrine might be acknowledged to be true, and yet the heart might not be changed. But it means that it was essential that this truth should be admitted by everyone who truly is of God.
When one denies this basic truth, they are in reality denying the doctrine of atonement of sin. These are the people who are energized by the spirit of the Antichrist who denies and is against all that the Bible teaches regarding the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ.
John encourages his readers by saying that they have overcome those false prophets. The saints were not taken in by the heresies of the false teachers, and were in a settled state of victory over them. They were confirmed in their attitude against heresy and had their eyes wide open to its source and nature. The reason for the victory is that God the Holy Spirit who indwelt them is greater than that fallen angel Satan who is in the world system of evil. Just as God is in believers and they are of God, so the world is in the evil one and the evil one in the world. The general everyday conversation of a man will show what spirit is in them.
John refers to himself and to those who taught the same doctrines he did in sharp contrast to the false prophets and the world. He refers to the growing saint as one who has progressive, experiential knowledge. John makes it very clear that everyone who has a true acquaintance with the character of God (been saved) will receive true doctrine, and anyone who will not receive true doctrine is not of God (not been saved). There is no reason for Christians to be duped by "the spirit of error" even though misleading spirits are present even today.
John admonishes us to love with the God kind of love (agape), the love which is produced by the Holy Spirit in the heart of the yielded saint. Real love shows that we have His Spirit, and that we belong to Him. The new birth is a permanent thing. The person who does not habitually love others or keeps on not loving, never knew God at any time. The nature of God is love, therefore, a stranger to love is a stranger to God. He who has no idea of love has no knowledge of God, because God is love.