1 John, Day 5
THE TRUTH
1 JOHN 4:1 – 6
A witness testifying in court must state their testimony is the “truth” and nothing but the “truth.”
Not everyone tells the truth. It starts from the time we begin to talk. “Did you eat that cookie?” asks Mom. The child replies, “It wasn’t me.” It’s built into our DNA because we are sinners. Telling lies only leads to more lies, and yet we still do it. The main liar in the Bible is Satan. Jesus tells us that Satan is “the father of lies” in John 8:44.
John opens Chapter 4 by addressing his listeners as “beloved.” This is not a word we often use. It’s a word of endearment. The Greek word agapetos is an adjective meaning “beloved, dear,” though it often functions as a noun with the idea of “dear friend.” It can also be synonymous with the church.1
Let’s return to court. For a trial, the prosecuting attorney will vet a witness prior to trial. This is so they know their witness will tell the truth. This is the same idea John is telling us in Verse 1.
As then, and since then, there have been many false prophets. Throughout the Bible, we are warned about listening to “false prophets.” Lamentations 2:14 states, “The visions of your prophets were false and worthless; they did not expose your sin to ward off your captivity. The prophecies they gave you were false and misleading.” Jesus in Matthew 24 gives this stern warning: “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” Did you notice “christs” in lower case? They still exist today.
“To ‘test the spirits’ is to make a choice from among competing claims” (Yarbrough, P. 192). How do we identify false prophets? By identifying their message. In the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 13:1 – 5 provides the acid test for false prophets. It’s their message we need to be aware of.
A sure test of a false prophet is the denial of the incarnation of Jesus Christ. We must confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh and is from God. If you don’t believe this, then you are of the antichrist. Jesus, back in Matthew, called them “ravenous wolves.”
In today’s age of “tolerance,” discriminating discernment can be viewed as being judgmental (“Judge not,” Matthew 7:11). Yet Jesus also taught, “Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment” (John 7:24, ESV Study Bible note).
For those who acknowledge Jesus as the incarnation, we have solid truth, that we are His beloved. Verse 4 is amazing. We have overcome the “false prophets” because “he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Amen! Don’t listen to false prophets. John finishes up with Verse 8: “We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
The question is, “Who or what are you listening to?” Turn your false prophet detector on and listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you.
Rejoice in the truth!
Tom Dye
1 Mounce’s Complete Expository Dictionary