1 John 4 - Greater is He That is in You Than He that is in the World!

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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.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, the particular heresy which was being taught was that Jesus only appeared to come in the flesh, but he was more of a spirit being. Some of these teachers taught that because the flesh was bad, God would never inhabit a human body. 

Many might claim to be teaching "in the spirit", but unless their teaching acknowledges that Jesus was truly a man, it is not only false teaching, but John says it is controlled by the spirit of the Anti-Christ. We know that their are spirits which serve God, and spirits who serve the evil one. 

Today, some groups deny that Jesus is really God (such as the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons, and Muslims). But way back in John’s day, in this time closest to the actual life and ministry of Jesus on this earth, people didn’t have a hard time believing Jesus was God. They had a hard time believing that he was a real man. This false teaching said Jesus was truly God (which is correct), but really a “make-believe” man. - Guzik

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.

John teaches a truth that I have quoted many times. It is a very important verse when we talk about the battle we face with the evil one. John says, "Greater is He that is in you than he that is the world." 

Though we do battle the evil one every day, we come as those who belong to the Christ, who overcame sin, death, and the power of the devil on the cross. On the cross Jesus defeated all the enemies who dwell in darkness and Satan himself. For a time he has allowed them to roam the earth, one day they will be judged and thrown into a lake of fire for all of eternity. 

The ultimate goal of the evil one is prevent someone from coming to Christ, or leading a Christian away from Christ. This means the last thing they want is for someone to come to know Jesus and be saved. They know their fate has been sealed, but while they still have time they want to take others with them. 

We need to remember this when we sense the presence of the devil. Jesus lives inside of us and as Martin Luther writes in his great hymn "Almighty Fortress is Our God', 

"Though hordes of devils fill the land All threatening to devour us, We tremble not, unmoved we stand; They cannot overpower us. Let this world's tyrant rage; In battle we'll engage! His might is doomed to fail; God's judgment must prevail! One little word subdues him."

When someone has the Holy Spirit inside of them, they will listen to the truth from God's Word. They will respond to Christian teaching and enjoy Christian fellowship.  As Jesus said, "The Holy Spirit would guide us in to all truth." John 16:13

Where do you need to claim the promise, "Greater is He that is in me, than He that is in the world"? 

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.

John now turns to more practical matters. The greatest test for a Christian is do they love others. And remember the word for love in the Greek is "agape", which is sacrificial love. It is love that looks for nothing in return. It is love that is always seeking the best interests of the other person. It is love that stands by a friend no matter what. 

Importantly, we can love because God loved us first. John says, "It is not that we loved God, but he loved us and sent His Son to be a sacrifice for us." Jesus is the greatest example of sacrificial love. He gave us everything including his own live, because He loved us.  Because God loved us when we didn't deserve it, we can love others who don't deserve it. 

When I get irritated with someone or run into someone who is "extra grace required" (EGR), I need to remember the great patience God has had with me. One of my consistent daily morning prayers is, "You are so good to me despite what you know of me." 

Who is God calling you to love who might be challenging for You? How might knowing God's steadfast love for you empower you to love them with Jesus' love?