Checking Your Walk

As human beings, we tend to view ourselves with rose tinted glasses, considering ourselves better than those around us.  Sometimes this is even worse among religious people than among the general population, because they make such a big deal about being good.  Many times the same person who is so very religious in church on Sunday has a reputation as someone who can’t be trusted in business.    They are like the Scribes and Pharisees, who Jesus described as stealing a widow’s home while making a big religious show to hide their wickedness, in Matthew 23:14.   “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.” 

If we are Christians, there are certain characteristic attitudes, known as the fruit of the Spirit that the Holy Spirit produces in our lives.  If we are walking in the Spirit, allowing him to lead, those attitudes will govern how we relate to other people in our daily lives, and eliminating most of the conflicts, as Proverbs 16:7 tells us.  “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.”   I Corinthians 3:3 tells us conflict with our associates is evidence of an unspiritual state.  “For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?” 

In Colossians 3, Paul addresses some areas of life that many of deal with every day.  Because they are so familiar, it is easy to let ourselves fall back into ungodly habits rather than letting the Spirit guide us in these areas, yet they are some of the most important relationships in our lives.  If we are not allowing the spirit to control these areas of our life, we cannot be walking in the Spirit. 

The first area Paul addresses is the marriage relationship in Colossians 3:18-19.  “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.   Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.”  A bossy, complaining wife who demands her own way is in deliberate rebellion against God’s principles as established in Genesis 3:16, and is clearly not walking in the Spirit.  A controlling, abusive, unforgiving, uncaring, or disrespectful husband also cannot be walking in the Spirit.  Conflicts in these areas distract us from serving God and interfere with our spiritual relationship.   I Peter 3:7 warns, “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.”

A second major area that gets neglected is the relationship between parent and child.  Colossians 3:20-21 instructs, “Children, obey your parents in all things: for this is well pleasing unto the Lord.  Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged.”  A parent is responsible for keeping his children safe, because children do not understand the dangers.  God has given him that responsibility and the child ought to respect the authority God has given.  If he does, and the parent has done his job properly, it will result in a long and healthy life for the child.   At the same time, the parent has the responsibility to set the proper example before the child.  A child’s picture of God is largely based on the example his parents, and especially his father sets.  A spiritual parent will be consistently loving and reasonable in their expectations, not angry and capricious.  Ephesians 6:4 refers to this as bringing them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, literally as God directs.   Failure to do so causes them to give up hope of ever being acceptable to either the parent or to God, and they may well reject Christianity as a result.    

The final area Paul addresses is our relationships at work, in Colossians 3:22-4:1.  “Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.  But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.   Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.” 

Most of us are employed by someone.  We need to sincerely respect our employers, not just make a show when they are looking.   Whether we realize it or not God has put them in that position and you need to give them your best, even when they don’t earn it.  I Peter 2:18 commands, “Servants, be subject to your masters with all fear; not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward.”  We need to keep in mind that ultimately we are working for and representing God, and that he will reward us accordingly, with no allowances for who we think we are.  Employers and bosses need to respect the work their employees do, seeing that they receive fair treatment and pay, realizing that they also work for God and will be rewarded as they deserve. 

These things are not meant to discourage us, but to be signals that we are not consistently walking in the Holy Spirit.  These areas are especially important for checking our spiritual walk because they are areas we deal with regularly, and problems will show up here before they show in other areas.  

Training Camp

We need to realize that life in this world is only a temporary stopping point, much like a training camp for eternity.    The struggles here are preparing us for our position in the future.  Revelation 5:10 tells us Christ has“… made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”   Before we can be qualified as kings and priests to judge the world, we will first have to learn to live with him and trust him.  That requires experience and practice if we wish to be on the team.  II Timothy 2:11-13 tells us, “It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.”       

If we are to be a valuable member of the team, there are some sacrifices we may have to make.  Colossians 3:4-7 tells us, “When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.  Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them.”   Before we were saved it didn’t really matter whether we did those things or not.  Now that we have been saved and are on the team, we need to quit old habits that distract us or sap our strength.  Instead, we need to replace them with habits that make us better able to play our part.  It is much like a football or basketball player quitting drinking and going to all night parties in order to get enough rest and proper nutrition so that he can play his best.  Failure to do so will incur the coach’s wrath because it indicates we don’t really care.    When Christ comes and the game starts, we need to be at our best. 

“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.  Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.” (Colossians 3:8-11)

We are on Christ’s team.  We need to put away all the things that interfere with working together, and play as a team, working together for a single goal, rather than all trying to get our own way or get ahead of others.  As part of Christ’s team we have to develop a whole new mindset toward others. 

“Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.  And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.  And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.  Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” (Colossians 3:12-17)

In Galatians 5:22-23 , Paul referred to these things as the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Here he says we need to allow the peace of God to rule in our hearts.  The point is that like growing fruit, it is essential to allow the tree to produce the fruit, not try to make it ourselves.  We need to provide the opportunity for the fruit to grow.  A friend shared how that body builders can inflate their muscles by using a light weight many times, causing the muscles to retain plasma and appear larger, but a little bit of rest allows the muscles to shrink back to normal size.  Weight lifters focus on lifting heavy weights to build their strength, and their body builds additional muscle cells.  Their muscles do not shrink after a short rest.    We need to let the Spirit produce the fruit rather than trying to make ourselves look good.       

Don’t Allow Yourself To Be Distracted

One of the most effective tools false teachers use is the idea that there is something more that is missing from your spiritual life, whether it be financial wealth and prosperity, or a second blessing of being filled with the Spirit so that you can speak in tongues or do miracles.  Hundreds of seminars, revivals, and training sessions are held each year trying to produce that something extra in the Christians who attend.   In order to obtain these extra things, we need to spend more hours in prayer or soul winning or positive affirmations, give more offerings to the Lord, take some special discipleship or other training course or start using a different style of music and worship service to attain maximum spiritual blessings. 

Paul paints a very different picture in Colossians 2:10-15.  “And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ: Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead.  And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it.”

When you received Christ, you received the Holy Spirit.  If you do not have him, then you have not been saved, according to Romans 8:9.  “…Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”   A physical circumcision is unnecessary, because God has spiritually circumcised us, removing our sins through Christ’s being cut off or killed for us. We have been crucified with Christ through faith, and have received a new life, with all our sins forgiven.  He has set us free from the law which made us aware of our sins, so that we are no longer subject to it, as Romans 10: 4 tells us.  “For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.”  He has defeated Satan and the powers of the world, and is now seated on the throne in heaven as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  We are completely remade as II Corinthians 5:17-18 tells us.  “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ…”   

Because God has changed us completely, making a new person of us, we ought not allow others to condemn because we don’t do things the same way they do.  Colossians 2:16 commands, “Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ.”    Those physical practices are only an attempt to show physically what is happening spiritually.  The real worship is spiritual, as John 4:24 tells us.  “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”    The heart attitude is far more important than the physical rituals or practices. 

We need to be careful not to let false teachers destroy our blessings by making us feel inferior or focusing our attention on spirit beings or other things.  Colossians 2:18-19 instructs, “Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.”  Too often unspiritual leaders have an inflated ego that leads them to talk about things they have no real knowledge about, and the focus becomes on those things rather than on Christ himself.    When the focus is on Christ and what the scriptures teach, God will cause the church to grow both numerically and spiritually, without all their programs and promotions. 

As Romans 10:4 says, “Christ is the end of the law to everyone that believeth.”  Colossians 2:20-23 asks, “Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?  Which things have indeed a show of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body; not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.”  Why go back to trying to be good enough to go to heaven by keeping earthly rules when Christ has already done everything for us.  While those things give an illusion of being good and righteous, and make us feel good, they will never produce eternal satisfaction. 

We must not let ourselves be distracted by all the expert’s seminars and programs.  Colossians 3:1-3 commands, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.  Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.  For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.”  We are dead to the world and its things no longer control our lives.  Our concern ought to be on pleasing Christ rather than any earthly accomplishment.    We shouldn’t be any more  worried about how many we win to Christ, how big a church we have, or whether we can speak in tongues than whether we have a million dollars to retire with.  As I Corinthians 3:5-7 reminds us, our accomplishments count for very little.   “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”  Any worthwhile results are thanks to God’s work rather than ours.  

Be Careful Who You Associate With

Many times we are told that as Christians, we should overlook false doctrines as a means of showing our love.  Paul was quite emphatic that we should withdraw fellowship from them in II Thessalonians 3:6.  “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.”  In Titus 3:10-11 he commanded, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.” 

Jude 1:12-16 explains why it is critical that we withdraw from them.  “These are spots in your feasts of charity, when they feast with you, feeding themselves without fear: clouds they are without water, carried about of winds; trees whose fruit withereth, without fruit, twice dead, plucked up by the roots; Raging waves of the sea, foaming out their own shame; wandering stars, to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness for ever.  And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints,  To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.  

These are murmurers, complainers, walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons in admiration because of advantage.”

These false teachers are like a smear of grease on clean white shirt, completely destroying its appearance, when they participate in the church’s activities without concern.  They contribute nothing of real value to the church, but as Paul said in Titus, the condemn themselves.  They face God’s judgment when Christ returns, along with all those who have gone along with them.  They are like the Israelites who rebelled against God in the wilderness, always complaining about what God supplied and wanting something more or different and insisting on doing as they pleased and choosing leaders who would do what they wanted. 

We need to remember that the apostles warned us repeatedly that there would be false prophets, as Jude 1:17-19 reminds us.  “But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts.   These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.”   By their teachings, they separate themselves from the church, because they do not have the Holy Spirit leading them.   I John 2:19 tells us, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.”  The separation is by their choice, rather than ours.  We are not obligated to meet them half way.   Our love for God takes precedence over our love for them. 

We have the responsibility to stay true to God and his word.  Jude 1:20-23 tells us, “But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.  And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”  We have a responsibility to try to get them to turn to God, but in order to do so, we must make sure we are firmly grounded in the truth ourselves, realizing we have to give an account to God.  We should deal with them as if we were pulling someone out of the fire, while making sure we don’t get burned ourselves.  We mustn’t just walk into the fire with them.

We are trying to bring them to God, not to take God to them.   We need to realize it is God who is protecting us, and stay within his protection, as Jude 1:24-25 reminds us. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and for ever. Amen.”

False Teachers And Their Followers Will Be Judged

People’s memories change over time, unless there is something to keep them fresh.  Like the other writers of the New Testament, Jude realized the need to write down what God taught so people would be able to go back and correct things that got distorted.  It is especially important because false teachers play on those forgotten or distorted details to mislead people.  Jude 1:3-4 explains, “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.  For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”   

As any organization or group grows there are people who want to take it over and use it for their own purposes.  They infiltrate and blend in, working at progressing up through the ranks, until they can seize control.  Once they are in control, they change the focus to accomplish their goals rather than the original purpose of the group or organization.  Unfortunately, this is just as true of Christian groups as of political organizations or businesses.   As Jude says, they are ungodly men chosen by Satan to distort the Gospel into a justification for sinful behavior and deny that Christ is God come in the flesh.  Far too often Christians blindly go along with them, without question, because they are in positions of authority or have a large following. 

Jude 1:5-7 warns that there are serious consequences for just going along with the crowd.  “I will therefore put you in remembrance, though ye once knew this, how that the Lord, having saved the people out of the land of Egypt, afterward destroyed them that believed not.  And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.  Even as Sodom and Gomorrha, and the cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set forth for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire.”  In each case there were many who did not actively rebel against God, but just went along with everyone else.  Only those who actively stood for the Lord were saved in each case. 

Just like the ones who rebelled against God in the instances cited, false teachers today reject God’s authority, ignore his standards of morality, and accuse those who maintain his standards of evil, as Jude 1:8-10 describes.  “Likewise also these filthy dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion, and speak evil of dignities.  Yet Michael the archangel, when contending with the devil he disputed about the body of Moses, durst not bring against him a railing accusation, but said, The Lord rebuke thee.  But these speak evil of those things which they know not: but what they know naturally, as brute beasts, in those things they corrupt themselves.”  Michael, the most powerful of the angels did not dare say the evil things about Satan these say about God or those who serve him.  They violate the natural order of things, ignoring even their own conscience.  One example of this is when a man insists that he is a woman despite the fact that he is genetically a man. 

 Romans 1:25-32 describes the moral state of these false teachers and their followers.  “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.  For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet.

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” 

Judgment is certain to come on such leaders.  Jude 1:11 says, “Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core.”   These false teachers and their followers are like Cain, who I John 3:12 tells us, “…who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.”  They slander and even kill people just because they have a higher moral standard than themselves.  Others are like Balaam, in Numbers 22-24, who would do anything for money, including disobey God.  Still others are like Korah and his followers, in Numbers 16, who rebelled against God because they wanted power.  

Follow Christ, Not The Preacher

In Romans 16:17-18, Paul warned, “Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.   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.”    Peter warned that there would be false teachers in every group.  Ultimately their goal is to use the church to meet their own desires rather than to please God.  The pastor of the church where Gaius attended was such a man. 

III John 3:9-10 says, “I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.   Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.”  Diotrephes wanted to control the church, so he tried to prevent the people from hearing from or visiting with the former pastor and men who had started the church, accusing them of false teaching or immoral behavior and forcing those who stood up for them out of the church.  

 Such an attitude is fairly common today, with new pastors trying to erase any memory of the previous pastor.  Such pastors frequently point to Hebrews 13:17 to justify their position.   “Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.”  They ignore the instructions in I Peter 5:3 about not lording it over the church.  “Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.”  Jesus made a similar statement in Matthew 20:25-26.  “But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”  The pastor is not to be the boss, but a servant who leads the way. 

While we have an obligation to follow when the leaders are following what God has said, we ought not follow when they begin to go against his word.  III John 1:11 commands, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.”  In I Corinthians 11:1, Paul said, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”  Hebrews 13:7 says, “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” 

In I Timothy 4:12, commanded Timothy, “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”  The leaders are to set the example for the church in every area, but they are not our God.  When they do not set the proper example, whether morally or doctrinally, we are not to follow them.  We are accountable to God, no to them. 

The standards God set for pastors and leaders in I Timothy 3:1-12 and Titus 1:5-9 are not extreme, simply requiring that the man demonstrate his ability to fulfill the role of the pastor or leader before he is given the job.   Because Diotrephes was misusing his position, it would be necessary for the church to replace him, and according to III John 1:12, a better qualified man was available.  “Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.” 

If it were necessary, John himself would come to help the church take away Diotrephes’ authority and correct his false teachings and practices.  “I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee: But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.” (III John 1:13-14)

Helping Other Ministries

In the modern world, there is a lot of emphasis on getting the big picture right.  Politicians focus on trade agreements or the Federal Reserve Bank to resolve economic problems.  Churches focus on organization and programs to accomplish God’s work.  Businesses ship jobs overseas or use cheaper materials to increase profits.    Too often we forget that the big picture is comprised of thousands of individual pixels.  If all the pixels are right, the big picture will also be right, but each pixel that is not right makes the picture less satisfactory.    Similarly, in an economy, each person who is struggling to survive weakens the economy, and each person who is not spiritually strong hampers the accomplishment of God’s purposes.  Federal Reserve monetary actions or trade agreements will only obscure economic problems temporarily.  Reorganizations and new programs will only obscure the lack of spiritual development for short time. 

If we address the individual problems, we have much greater success in resolving the problems with far less stress, and at much lower cost.  Many times just fixing a few small problems at the individual level eliminates the bigger problems at the top.  This series on Spiritual life has focused on individual spiritual growth, and III John continues that focus.  It was written to a specific individual, rather than a church, and focuses on his personal responsibility. 

The first thing we see about Gaius was that he remained faithful to what he had been taught, as is clear from III John 1:1-4.  “The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.  Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.  For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.  I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”  He was actively practicing what he had been taught, not just clinging to a creed. 

One of things he was doing was showing his love for others, helping them as he was able, whether financially or in other ways, according to III John 1:5-8.  “Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.  We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.”  John encourages him to help those who have gone out as missionaries at their own expense, such as Paul and Barnabas, so that they can devote more of their time to the ministry. 

Please understand that most modern missions programs bear little resemblance to what Pau, Barnabas, and others did in the early church.  Today, most missionaries are fully supported by a missions group or individual churches, but as we see, Paul and Barnabas worked at various jobs on the field.  When Paul wrote I Corinthians, he had served several years as a missionary.  In I Corinthians 4:11-13, He describes he and his companion’s efforts.  “Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: Being defamed, we entreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.”  They largely supported themselves.  In fact, in Philippians 4:15, we are told Paul only had one church that supported him, and even that was not a consistent thing.  “Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only, For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.”    

Help from individual Christians had a major impact on what Paul and other missionaries of his day were able to accomplish, and Paul mentions different ones had done to help him.   John encourages Gaius to become personally involved in helping those who are reaching out to spread the gospel, providing them a place to stay temporarily or feeding them, not just sending them a monthly donation.   This personal involvement also helps in less obvious ways, sometimes spotting problems with a ministry or meeting emotional or spiritual needs that money cannot address.   

Standing For The Truth

Like Paul’s epistles, the primary focus of the epistles of James, Peter, John and Jude is on developing a strong spiritual life.  II John 1:1-3 stresses the point that truth is eternal.  “The elder unto the elect lady and her children, whom I love in the truth; and not I only, but also all they that have known the truth; For the truth's sake, which dwelleth in us, and shall be with us for ever.  Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”

Jesus is the truth, as he states in John 14:6.  “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”  In John 14:16-17 Jesus promised, “And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; 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.”  The same spirit of truth that empowered Jesus abides with and in those who believe. 

Many cars today have GPS systems in them, but sometimes people get lost because they haven’t learned how to use them, or don’t follow the instructions.  In the same way, every Christian receives the Holy Spirit, but many never learn to let him direct them.  John was thrilled that the Christians he was writing to were following what the Holy spirit taught them, as he says in II John 1:4-7.  “I rejoiced greatly that I found of thy children walking in truth, as we have received a commandment from the Father.  And now I beseech thee, lady, not as though I wrote a new commandment unto thee, but that which we had from the beginning, that we love one another.  And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.  For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 

Just as the map and the GPS should indicate the same things, the scriptures and Holy Spirit should give pretty much the same directions.  However, if you just ask people off the street how to get someplace, you risk getting bad instructions, because they may not know.  We need to be careful where we get our directions for living a spiritual life, because some have no clue and others deliberately mislead.  Just as following bad instructions can wind up with us getting lost or stuck in a dangerous situation, following flawed spiritual teaching can put us in spiritual danger. 

II John 1:8-11 tells us to be careful about who we listen to.  “Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward.  Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.  If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.”  We can lose the rewards we have already earned by just going along with false teachers.    If they do not Take God’s teachings seriously or follow them, they don’t really believe in God as the final authority.  To go along with their practices, or even to tell them God bless you is to in effect to place your approval on their false teachings.  We are supposed to stand for what is right, not to support what is not.    

Stay Focused On The Lord

We live in a world where we are surrounded by sin, and confronted with it on every hand.   We are often told that we should not judge others, but as we saw in a previous post, it is not being judgmental to say that certain actions are wrong, and imply a person is not a Christian.  John returns to the subject in I John 5:18-19.  “We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.  And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lieth in wickedness.”

Because the Holy Spirit changes the attitudes of those who receive Christ as savior,  they become aware of what they do, and avoid sin, feeling miserable when they do something wrong.  I John 3:9-10 states, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.”  He cannot be satisfied living in and practicing sin.  When he submits himself to God, Satan’s attacks have little impact as James 4:7 states.  “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” 

Because we have received the Holy Spirit, we can know that we are saved, as Romans 8:16 tells us.  “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:”  While the world around us is full of wickedness, We are God’s children, because Jesus Christ has made propitiation for our sin.  He also gave us his Holy Spirit to teach us what the truth is, according to John 16:13-14.  “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 show you things to come.  He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you.”  As a result,  I John 5:20 states, “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life. “ 

Because we know we are children of the true God, and are kept by his power, we don’t need to look for something more or follow other things, whether religious, or simply worldly things such as wealth, or public acclaim.  We can trust God to provide the things we need freely and abundantly.  As a result, I John 5:21 advises us, “Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.”  We should not let ourselves be distracted by our desires for such things as a better income, a new car, a bigger home,  a bigger ministry, or a mate.  We need to stay focused on God, As Jesus stated in Matthew 6:22-34.    

“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.  But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!  No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.  Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature? And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.  Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.” (Matthew 6:22-34)

As long as we keep worrying about these things, our life will be inconsistent.   James 1:8 warns, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”    

The Sin Unto Death

Humans received a conscience as a result of Adam and Eve’s sin in the Garden of Eden.  Unfortunately, even that conscience has gotten perverted as a result of sin, according to Titus 1:15.  “Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.”  As a result, our ideas of right and wrong have become distorted.  For example, in our present political system, If one party says it, it is a horrible lie, but if the other says it is treated as unimportant.   We do the same things with other sins, accepting some as unimportant, while others are viewed as very important.  Historically, the Catholic church and some protestant churches classified sins as either mortal sins such as suicide, which could not be forgiven, or venial sins such as getting drunk, which could be forgiven just by an act of penance.   Which sins are considered unforgiveable varies with the particular religious group. 

I John 5:16-17 tells us, “f any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give him life for them that sin not unto death. There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.  All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death.”    Clearly, there is some distinction between which sins can be forgiven and which cannot.  John says we don’t need to pray for those who have committed that unpardonable sin, that sin unto death.  So what is that unpardonable sin? 

Mark describes the scribes and Pharisees accusing Jesus of casting out demons through satanic power.  Mark 3:28-30 records Jesus’ response.  “Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit.”  The modern English word for blaspheme is slander.  Luke 4:1 tells us Jesus was full of the Holy Ghost, or Holy Spirit.  They were effectively slandering the Holy Spirit by claiming that the things he was doing were by Satan’s power rather than God’s, and unless they changed their attitude, would face God’s judgment.   Luke 12:10 confirms the record, telling us, “And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.” 

In blaspheming the Holy Spirit, people blaspheme the very nature of God.  Psalm 5:4 describes his nature.  “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.”  When we become Christians, we receive a new nature, which is similar to that of God, according to Ephesians 4:24.  “And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.”  As a result, III John 1:11 tells us, “Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."

When Jesus sent out his disciples, they were empowered by the Holy Spirit, Just as Jesus was.  He gave them specific instructions as to how they were to react if people refused to accept the Holy Spirit’s message, as Mark 6:11 describes.   “And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear you, when ye depart thence, shake off the dust under your feet for a testimony against them. Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city.”  The same instructions are repeated in both Matthew and Luke. 

There comes a point where people reject God so completely there is no longer hope of changing their minds, and God no longer works to change them as Romans 1:28-32 tells us.  “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” 

These are people who have heard and understand God’s laws and still refuse to pay attention.  Hebrews 6:4-6 tells us, “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.”  They have been close enough to see God’s power and love, yet reject it as not good enough for them.  As I John 5:15-17 tells us thare is a sin unto death, and we are not keep praying for or trying to reach those who have turned away from God so determinedly. 

In I Samuel, 15:26, Saul had deliberately disobeyed God’s command and refused to repent, although he still wanted Samuel’s approval.  “And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.”    Though Samuel could not place his approval on what Saul had done, He continued to pray for him and hope he would change, as I Samuel 15:35-16:1 describes.  “And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.  And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.”

God told Samuel not to waste more time on Saul because he was not about to change.  Instead he was to reach out to others who would receive his message.  When we see someone who claims to be a Christian who absolutely refuses to accept God’s word, we should not continue to waste our efforts on them.  Titus 3:10-11 commands, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject; Knowing that he that is such is subverted, and sinneth, being condemned of himself.”  By refusing to accept the Holy Spirit’s teachings in the Word of God, the person has blasphemed him, effectively calling him a liar.  

Answers To Prayer

I John 5:13 states, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  John wrote down the evidence so that we can be sure of our salvation. And commit ourselves fully to God in faith.  It would be foolish to blindly accept the promise without any evidence, but with evidence of God’s fulfillment of his promises in the past, we can have faith he will do so again, even though we do not see them fulfilled immediately. 

Because we know he has answered prayers for his people in the past, we can pray confidently today, as I John 5:14-15 tells us.  “And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.”   Please not that the verse says if ask anything according to his will he hears us.   The implication is that if the prayer is not in alignment with his will it simply gets ignored. 

Romans 8:26 tells us, “Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”  There are two very important points about this verse.  First, we don’t have to worry about wording our prayers just right, because the Holy Spirit will correct our mistakes so that God will hear the message properly and understand what we are asking, even when we don’t know how to express it.  At the same time, the Holy Spirit filters out improper prayers so that God never hears them. 

This is a very important point because many have taken the English translation of John 14:13-14 to mean that if you simply use the words ‘in Jesus name’ in your prayer, Jesus will have to give you whatever you ask.   When their prayers are not answered they feel like God has broken his promise.   Let’s look at the verses  more closely.  “And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.  If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.”  At various times I have worked for different companies where I was authorized to purchase things in the company’s name.  While I had the authority to buy what the company needed to do the job, I was not authorized to buy whatever I might want.  Each purchase had to be submitted to the purchasing department for approval.    The Holy Spirit acts kind of like God’s purchasing department in our prayers, forwarding valid requests and rejecting those that are not in accord with God’s purposes. 

When people get angry because they do not immediately see and answer to their prayers.  There is always a reason why they are not answered quickly.  Sometimes, the Holy Spirit rejects our requests because they are for selfish purposes, as James 4:3 tells us.  “Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.”  When our prayers are not answered immediately, we need to think about why we were praying.  Many times we ask for even good things for the wrong reasons.  For example we can ask for the church to grow or for someone to get saved just for the sense of pride or pleasure we get, or for the way other people view us, rather than from concern for the people involved, and the Holy Spirit knows the real reason. 

When I would order materials for a job, sometimes were delayed because of road construction or the need to make other stops as well.   Sometimes God’s answers are delayed because of satanic interference, such as Daniel describes in Daniel 10:12-13.   Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.  But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there with the kings of Persia.” 

Sometimes, I got different materials than I had ordered because what I had ordered was no longer available, or because a new item would do a better job.  Other times we didn’t receive things when we asked because we were not ready for them.  A cast iron bathtub can really get in the way when you aren’t ready to install it and there was danger of damaging it.   God didn’t allow David to build the temple because he needed to first get the conflicts with their neighbors settled. 

I just had to learn to reorganize my work to fit the delivery schedule, rather than getting upset because everything did not fit my plan, and sometimes God wants us to reorganize our work instead of getting upset that he didn’t do things exactly as we wanted them.   The changes seldom made much difference in what the job took.  God knows far more about what is needed than my suppliers did, and can be trusted to get what is needed on time.  Learn to use what he has given you and trust him to supply the other things you may need.   If a prayer isn’t answered right away there is always a reason.  

The Basis For Christian Faith and Practice

When a person is born again by believing in Jesus Christ, as Jesus described in John 3, he becomes a new person, according to II Coringhians 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.”  We receive a whole new attitude or spirit, as I Corinthians 2:12 describes.  “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. “  It is the same spirit or mind set Christ had, according to I Corinthians 2:16.  “…But we have the mind of Christ.”

Because we have the mind of Christ as a result of our faith it is possible for us to keep all God’s commandments, without fear or undue struggle.  I John 5:3-5 tells us, “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.  For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”  Everyone who has believed in Jesus as the Christ, the Son of God who came to save mankind receives the power to overcome the temptations and sin of this world. 

“This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.” (I John 5:6)

Jesus Christ came to earth in the form of a human baby, growing in his mothers womb, surrounded by amniotic fluid traditionally called the water, until his birth just like any other baby.  Eventually he was expelled lfrom his mother’s womb like any other baby, in the process we call birth.  It is the natural birth process.  Later he was crucified, and buried, rising from the grave three days later, almost as if he had been reborn through the blood of his death.   Both his birth and his resurrection were miraculous, and fulfilled the prophecies about the messiah’s coming.

“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.” (I John 5:7)

As proof that Jesus is the son of God, there are three beings in heaven that testify to that fact.  All three appeared at Jesus’ baptism, in Matthew 3:16-17.  “And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him: And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  There was no question that God, the Holy Spirit, and Jesus himself accepted Jesus as the Son of God.  They are equals.    

There are also three things on earth that give evidence Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, as I John 5:8 tells us.  “And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”  The Holy Spirit shows Jesus to be the Messiah in numerous signs and through the scriptures.  Jesus’ miraculous birth, fulfilling hundreds of prophecies, clearly demonstrated that he was the Messiah God had promised.   That he was then crucified and resurrected fulfilling every prophecy about that event as well provides incontrovertible proof Jesus had to be the Messiah.  The evidence from all three is in full agreement.

Based on the evidence, refusing to believe Jesus is the Messiah is very much like those who still insist the earth is flat despite the number of ships and planes that circumvent the earth every day, the obvious visual evidence of a ship slowly dipping below the horizon, and many other evidences.  It is a deliberate refusal to believe the truth, regardless how much evidence is presented.  I John 5:9-10 tells us, “If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son.  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son.”  What greater testimony could you get than God’s own statement that Jesus is His Son.  By refusing to believe it a person is essentially calling God a liar.  It also means they have deliberately ignored the evidence of the Holy Spirit’s working in the lives of those who believe. 

By their refusal to Believe God, they have rejected what he promised if they would believe,  I John 5:11-12 makes it very clear.  “And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.  He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.”  Eternal life is to be found only in faith in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.  Refusal to believe in him brings only eternal damnation.  John 3:18 says, “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “  John 3:36 reiterates the statement.  “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.”

Many times Christians are accused of blindly following traditions without any evidence.  As we have seen, we are not blindly following some tradition,  I John 5:13 states, “These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.”  We have a great deal of evidence supporting our beliefs.  Those who do not believe have deliberately chosen to ignore the evidence, just like those who still cling to the belief the world is flat.  

Why We Love Others

In John 3:16, Jesus said, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”  This is the ultimate demonstration of love, that God loved us enough to give his life for us even when we had no interest in him, as John 4:9-10 tells us.  “In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.  Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”  He loved us so much that he gave his life to pay off the penalty for our sin, knowing we might never return that love. 

If we have received God’s spirit into our heart, and understand that he loves us we ought to love other people, as I John 4:11-tells us.  “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.   No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.“  Man was created in the image of God, according to Genesis 1:27.  “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.”  As a result of sin, that Image was seriously damaged, but when people becomes Christians, that godly image is restored. according to Colossians 3:10, Christians “…have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him.”  While we have never seen God himself, every Christian should remind us of him.  As a result, we ought to love them. 

Romans 10:9-10 tells us.  “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.   For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”  I John 4:14-17 Makes it very clear that Jesus is in fact the Son of God who came to save the world.  “And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.  Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.  And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.  Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.”  Because we have believed, we have received God’s spirit to produce the same kind of love in us.  That love is perfected or demonstrated by our love for others, giving us assurance that we have been made like God again and need have no fear when the judgement comes. 

When we are living in fear of losing our salvation or not making it to heaven, our love for God is not fully developed, as I John 4:18-21tells us.  “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.  We love him, because he first loved us.  If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?  And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.” 

If we are afraid of losing our salvation, we do not understand how much God loves us.   Our love for him is based on how much he loved us even before we cared about him and is shown by our attitude toward those around us.  If we don’t love others who have an attitude somewhat like God, how can we really love God?  If we really love God we will love others simply because he told us to. 

I John 5:1-2 summarizes what John has said.  “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.  By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.“  Everyone who has accepted Jesus as the son of God who came to pay for man’s sins is saved, and if they have truly been born into God’s family, they will love his other children as well.  All of the commandment relate to how we treat others, and our attitude about obeying him shows whether we love him or not.  

Identifying False Teachers

Both Peter and John warned that there would be false teachers who would try to mislead the Christians.   They were concerned that the Christians might fall for their teachings.  In the church at Galatia, Paul had observed how easily this could happen, as we see in Galatians 1:6-9.  “I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ.  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.  As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”  He had been amazed at how easily they had accepted perversions of the gospel and warned them that it didn’t matter if it was one of the apostles themselves, or one of the angels, if they were teaching contrary to the scriptures they were cursed by God. 

Shortly before his arrest. In Acts 20:29-30, he warned  the church at Ephesus, “For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.  Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.”  While some of the false teachers would be from other groups, some of the most dangerous would come from their own ranks, just as Peter warned, in II Peter 2:1.  “…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.”

In II Corinthians 11:13-15, Paul warned, “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  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.”  Like Satan, they pass themselves off as ministers of the gospel.  Frequently, like Judas Iscariot, they are the most respected and trusted in the entire group, and no one ever questions their love for God until after they have betrayed the Lord.

Aware of the danger, John gives some specific things to look for to identify false teachers and those who are motivated by the wrong spirit.  In I John 4:1, he instructs, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. “  We should not blindly accept what the experts tell us, but check out what they say.  The People of Berea were greater Christians than others, because they checked out what they were being taught, according to Acts 17:11.   “These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”  If we are going to be strong Christians, we need to learn to check out what we are taught. 

The first thing John tells us to look for is in I John 4:2-3.  “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.”  The first thing to look for is what they believe about Jesus Christ.   If they do not believe he is God come in the flesh, that he was executed and raised from the dead as propitiation for our sins, they are teaching another Jesus or another gospel, and are inspired by the same satanic spirit that will inspire the Antichrist during the Tribulation.    It doesn’t matter whether they are famous theologian, or the head of some great religion, they are cursed of God and will be cast into hell. 

I John 4:4 instructs us to examine their lifestyle.  “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.”  Because we have been given the Holy Spirit to teach and guide us, we are no longer enslaved by sin.  An examination of those teachers lifestyle gives good indication as to whether they are led by the Holy Spirit or by some other spirit. 

According to I John 4:5 we next need to examine their focus.  “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.”   If they are primarily focused on earthly things such as the health, or wealth, or social problems or politics, for example, they are of the world, rather than of God.   checking out who they associate with and the kinds of crowds they dray makes it easy to tell where the focus is.  The things they focus on may e important, but they should not be the primary focus. 

The fourth thing to be considered is the attitude toward God’s church and the scriptures.   I John 4:6 tells us, “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.”  If they are from God, they will be interested in strengthening  the church and learning what God has said.  If they are trying to tear down the church, or reject God’s word it is a clear indication they are inspired by a satanic spirit rather than a godly one. 

We have already looked at the final test, John gives in I John 4:7-8.  “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.”  Jesus said that our love for others would be the most important evidence that we know Christ.   Love is an automatic result of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and as we have seen before if we do not have the Holy Spirit, we are not God’s children.  Thus a person who does not have a deep love for others cannot be led by God’s Spirit, since God is love personified.

When we apply these principles we can identify most false teachers rather easily.  Unfortunately, we find that many of the most popular religious figures throughout history fall into that category.    Take the trouble to check out those around you.  Some of them are false teachers as well.

Don’t Fake Love

An old rock song says, “I didn’t know what else to say, so I said ‘I love you’.”  Unfortunately, in modern society many people use those same words with no more sincerity than the song writer.   They use the same words about a food they like or a style of music, a clothing fad or any number of other things, when, in reality they mean they just think it is attractive at the moment.  Sadly this often carries over into our attitudes toward other Christians.   Godly spiritual love goes much deeper than just the words, as I John 3:11-12 makes very clear.  “For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.  Not as Cain, who was of that wicked one, and slew his brother. And wherefore slew he him? Because his own works were evil, and his brother's righteous.” 

Abel had done what God commanded while Cain did not.  Cain got jealous because God blessed his obedience, and did not do the same for Cain.  Rather than admit it was his own fault God did not bless him, Cain hated and murdered Abel.  We frequently see that same attitude, with people running down someone else’s accomplishments rather than admitting they have not earned the same rewards.  Had he loved Abel, he would have been pleased that God blessed him, rather than jealous.   Cain’s attitude is rather typical of the unsaved world, as I John 3:13-15 tells us.  “Marvel not, my brethren, if the world hate you.  We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death.  Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.” 

That attitude of competition and hating those who outdo us is a satanic attitude.  When a person is willing to destroy someone who is trying to do right, they are not walking in the Spirit.  In fact they are living as if they didn’t know God at all.  As we saw in 2:8-11, the lack of love for other Christians clearly indicates a person is not saved.  That we love other Christians indicates we have the Holy Spirit in us, and are saved.  That the world hates Christians demonstrates that they do not know God.    

God is love, and Christ demonstrated it by giving his life for us.  If we have that same attitude of love, wo ought to willing to do the same for others, as I John 3:16-18 explains.  “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?  My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”  If we are not willing to share the things we have with others, it clearly indicates we do not have God’s love in our hearts.   Godly love requires more than just words. 

The fact that we have a deep concern for other’s welfare should reassure us of our own salvation.  I John 3:19-22 advises, “And hereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before him.  For if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.  Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we confidence toward God.  And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight.” Sometimes we don’t feel like we are able to do as much as we should or aren’t good enough.  When we feel that way, we need to remember God is far more powerful than our feelings and knows we are still his child.  Those feelings do not change the fact.  When we feel good about our relationship with God, we have the confidence to pray, trusting God to supply what we ask because we love and obey him. 

God’s commands are actually fairly simple, as I John 3:23-24 tells us.  “And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.  And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.”   He simply asks that we place our trust in Jesus Christ as savior, and that we love other people.  If we will do so, the Holy Spirit will be obvious in our lives, giving us the assurance of our salvation.  Romans 8:16-17 tells us, “The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”  When we accept Christ and allow the Holy Spirit to take control, he provides all the assurance we will ever need that we have been saved.   Sincere love will be a natural part of our life.  

Identifying The Fruit

Because he loved us, God has adopted us as his children, and there is nothing that can ever take that love away.  Understanding how much he loves us will have a tremendous effect on how we live our lives.  I John 3:2-3 tells us that if we really believe in his love and forgiveness, we will make the effort to live a proper life.  “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.  And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”  We are not trying to earn our way into heaven, but to live up to our position as God’s children. 

Because we know he loves us, we make a special effort to obey him.  I John 3;4-6 tells us, “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.  And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.  Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”  People who blithely practice sin with no concern for what God commands have no understanding of who he is or what his love means.  Christ came to take away our sin, and if we appreciate his doing so, we will not go back to it as a way of life.   As a result, the type of lifestyle a person lives indicates whether they are truly Christians or not. 

I John 3:7-10 makes this very clear.  “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.  Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.  In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.” 

Because those who have truly believed have received the Holy Spirit, and he gives them a whole new mind, it will be impossible for them to be content living a sinful lifestyle.  If a person can happily live a lifestyle where they consistently violate God’s commands, as expressed in the law, it indicates the Holy Spirit is not in their lives, and as Romans 8:9 tells us, “…if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”  Thus, a person’s lifestyle gives a very clear indication of whether they are Christians or not. 

Many say we have no right to judge their way of life, quoting Matthew 7:1-2, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.  For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.”  In Matthew 7:15-20, Jesus warned, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.  A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.  Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.  Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”    We may not be able to judge whether an apple has the ideal shape and for its variety, but we can easily tell it is not a banana.  Similarly, we may not be able to judge whether a person is living at the peak of their potential, but we can easily tell whether they are living an evil lifestyle or not.  We don’t have to judge the fruit to identify it. 

Consistent or deliberate violation of God’s commands clearly identifies the lifestyle as wicked, and indicate the person is not truly a Christian.  One very important factor in identifying the lifestyle is whether they love other Christians, as we saw in I John 2:6-11.  

Understanding How Much God Loves Us

Many people go through life afraid that they will never be good enough to satisfy God, even if Jesus did pay for their sins.  When things go well they are on top of the world, excited about God’s blessings but when something goes wrong, they are in the dumps, wondering what they did wrong to make him upset.  Satan plays on these emotions, making people doubt their salvation and false teachers convince them they need to rededicate their lives or get saved all over again.  Some go to the altar every week as a result, not realizing that their emotions are a result of a lack of faith. 

The cure for such emotional instability is to take the time to really understand how much God loves us.  I John 3:1 tells us to examine his love more closely.  “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”   God has shown his love for us by adopting us as his children, as Galatians 4:4-5 tells us.  “But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.”  Titus 3:5-7 makes it very clear that adoption as his children was not based on anything we had done.   “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” 

Romans 5:8-10 expands on this point, stressing that God loved us even whem we were his enemies.  “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.  For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”  We were not just reconciled so that we don’t have to face God’s wrath at the judgment.  We have also received a new life in which we are no longer under sin’s power, according to Romans 6:3-6.  “Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?  Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.  For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.”

As we saw in I John 2:1-2 it is not God’s will that we sin, but he has made provision if we do.    “My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” 

God has invested a great deal into us, and will allow nothing to wipe out his investment.  Romans 8:32-39 reminds us, “He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”    

Since Christ is our advocate, and he was the one who gave his life to justify and cleanse us, making full payment for our sin, so that we could be adopted, there is no one who has the power to successfully challenge our adoption.  There is nothing that can weaken or destroy his love for us.  He knows the worst things about us and still loves us. 

While he may find it necessary to chasten us, he is never arbitrary, but always acts with our good in mind, as Hebrews 12:6-10 tells us.  “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.  If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not?  But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.  Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?  For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”  Even the chastening we receive is proof of his love, and is for the purpose of teaching us to understand and do what is right.  When we understand how much he loves us, we will no longer struggle with the fear and doubt.