Counterfeit Authentic Christianity – p.5 1 John 4

Answer: 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

Answer: 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.

Answer: 1 John 4:1-3 (NIV) This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

How do we protect ourselves from being misled by false disciples? Bottom Line Answer: You should have been prepared…

How do we protect ourselves from being misled by false disciples? Don’t be gullible (4:1a) Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God

How do we protect ourselves from being misled by false disciples? The reason the warning is necessary (4:1b) because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

How do we protect ourselves from being misled by false disciples? The first test every teacher must pass is the test of Christocentricity (4:2-3) This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

How do we protect ourselves from being misled by false disciples? The first test every teacher must pass is the test of Christocentricity (4:2-3) but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.

Answer: 1 John 4:4-6 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Answer: 1 John 4:4-6 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

Answer: 1 John 4:4-6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

What confidence do we have that this won’t happen to us – again? Bottom Line Answer: You need to think about what just happened so it won’t happen again

What confidence do we have that this won’t happen to us – again? You…(v.4) is addressed to the people who stayed You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world

What confidence do we have that this won’t happen to us – again? They overcame because they are empowered by the all wise God.

What confidence do we have that this won’t happen to us – again? They…(v.5) is addressed to the people who left They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.

What confidence do we have that this won’t happen to us – again? We…(v.6) is referring to the apostles We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Answer: 1 John 4:7-16 (NIV) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Answer: 1 John 4:7-16 (NIV) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Answer: 1 John 4:7-16 (NIV) Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? Bottom Line Answer: Dogma (what someone confesses as truth) is not the only test – authentic Christians demonstrate God’s love.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is the nature of God (4:7-8) Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is demonstrated by God through Jesus (4:9-11) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is demonstrated by God through Jesus (4:9-11) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? Two things demonstrate God’s love: He sent His Son. He sent His Son to die (4:10) This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is how people see God (4:12) No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. “God lives in us and his love is made complete in us

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is the natural response to God’s Spirit in us (4:13-16) We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is the natural response to God’s Spirit in us (4:13-16) If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

Question: Is there any other evidence we should look for? It is the natural response to God’s Spirit in us (4:13-16) God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.

Bottom Line: When we know that we are being self- sacrificial in meeting the needs of others we are living as an authentic Christian.

For those checking out the Jesus of the Bible… Don’t be deceived by uninformed enthusiasm Trust the truth

For Those who are following the Jesus of the Bible… In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. There is no fear in love.

For Those who are following the Jesus of the Bible… But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

For Those who are following the Jesus of the Bible… We love because he first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.

For Those who are following the Jesus of the Bible… And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

For Those who are following the Jesus of the Bible… What are the warning signs that you may not be in a right relationship with God? (4:17-21) Fear You need to desire to please God because He has already favored you. Hate