08-05-12 PM - Hold To What Is True

Click here (or right click and select "save as") to download "Hold To What Is True"


1John 4:1-6 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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. 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. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 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.

 “We will know by the spirit of the teachers we are following”.

1. TEST THE SPIRITS OF TEACHERS
(1) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Rom. 16:17-18  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them. 18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

2Cor. 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. 14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. 15 Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

2. TEST THE CONFESSION OF TEACHERS (2-3)
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 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.
incarnation- 1. the embodiment of a deity or spirit in some earthly form;  the union of divinity with humanity in Jesus Christ.

Jesus means Savior.
Christ means Messiah or Anointed One.                                                                      
Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

Isa. 7:14 Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Luke 1:31And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

1 Tim 3:16 And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.

A false spirit:
-Jesus was not sinless
-Jesus died as a martyr to show us how we should face death, and be willing to die for righteousness.
-The resurrection was not a literal one but rather a picture of a spiritual truth that man can live in God’s presence.

2Peter 2:1, 9 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.  9 The Lord knoweth how to deliver the godly out of temptations, and to reserve the unjust unto the day of judgment to be punished:

3. TEST YOURSELVES (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.

Two ways to test yourself

1.Ask yourself if you are of God; that is have you been born of God?    
2. Ask yourself if you are overcoming the spirit of false teachers?

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

4. TEST THE FOLLOWERS OF TEACHERS (5-6)
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 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.

Worldly people follow worldly teachers.

1. False Teachers are of the world.

2. False Teacher speak of the world.

1Co 2:14  The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

3. The World Hears False Teachers.

True Teachers are followed by people who know God.

John 8:31-32 "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. 32 Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."