Parkview church of

ChristA “Testing”

PeopleA “loving”

People

I John 4

God demands both!

A Testing And Loving People

• Testing and Loving must continue – “present tense” (I Jn. 4:1, 7)

A Testing And Loving People

• Testing and Loving must continue – “present tense” (I Jn. 4:1, 7)

• How can we be a church of Christ if both testing teachers and loving brethren is not continuing together?

A Testing And Loving People

• If we “know God” (I Jn. 4:2, 7)

A Testing And Loving People

• If we “know God” (I Jn. 4:2, 7) • If we are “of God” (I Jn. 4:3, 6, 7)

A Testing And Loving People

• If we “know God” (I Jn. 4:2, 7) • If we are “of God” (I Jn. 4:3, 6, 7)• If we are “in God” – “Abide in God”

(I Jn. 4: 4, 15, 12-13, 16)

A Testing And Loving People

• If we “know God” (I Jn. 4:2, 7) • If we are “of God” (I Jn. 4:3, 6, 7)• If we are “in God” – “Abide in God”

(I Jn. 4: 4, 15, 12-13, 16)• The church of Christ knows God, is born of

God, abides in God and God abides in them…

A Testing And Loving People

• If we “know God” (I Jn. 4:2, 7) • If we are “of God” (I Jn. 4:3, 6, 7)• If we are “in God” – “Abide in God”

(I Jn. 4: 4, 15, 12-13, 16)• The church of Christ knows God, is born of

God, abides in God and God abides in them…• We cannot be a specialist in one and ignore

the other!

Test or Try the Spirits

• Loving, but not credulous – “Beloved, believe not every spirit” (I Jn. 4:1, I Cor. 13:7)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Loving, but not credulous – “Beloved, believe not every spirit” (I Jn. 4:1, I Cor. 13:7)

• Despite what we might wish, many false prophets are in the world!

Test or Try the Spirits

• Loving, but not credulous – “Beloved, believe not every spirit” (I Jn. 4:1, I Cor. 13:7)

• Despite what we might wish, many false prophets are in the world!

• Teaching doctrines not from Christ is being against Christ (I Jn. 4:3, Lk. 11:23) !

Test or Try the Spirits

• Knowable Standard: “Hereby know ye the spirit of God” (I Jn. 4:2, Eph. 3:3-4)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Knowable Standard: “Hereby know ye the spirit of God” (I Jn. 4:2, Eph. 3:3-4)

• An essential doctrinal truth – the spirit that confesses Jesus has come in the flesh is of God (I Jn. 4:3)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Knowable Standard: “Hereby know ye the spirit of God” (I Jn. 4:2, Eph. 3:3-4)

• An essential doctrinal truth – the spirit that confesses Jesus has come in the flesh is of God (I Jn. 4:3)

• Error: Jesus just “appeared” to be in the flesh, but did not actually partake of flesh (Heb. 2:14).

Test or Try the Spirits

• Knowable Standard: “Hereby know ye the spirit of God” (I Jn. 4:2, Eph. 3:3-4)

• An essential doctrinal truth – the spirit that confesses Jesus has come in the flesh is of God (I Jn. 4:3)

• Error: Jesus just “appeared” to be in the flesh, but did not actually partake of flesh (Heb. 2:14).

• Error: Jesus did come in the flesh, but was not the promised Christ (I Jn. 2:22).

Test or Try the Spirits

• Apostles’ doctrine is the standard for knowing “truth” and “error” (I Jn. 4:6)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Apostles’ doctrine is the standard for knowing “truth” and “error” (I Jn. 4:6)

• Apostle’s doctrine is infallible (Jn. 16:13-14) – Apostles’ lives are not (Gal. 2:11-14)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Apostles’ doctrine is the standard for knowing “truth” and “error” (I Jn. 4:6)

• Apostle’s doctrine is infallible (Jn. 16:13-14) – Apostles’ lives are not (Gal. 2:11-14)

• Apostles’ teaching is the commandment of the Lord (I Cor. 14:37)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Apostles’ doctrine is the standard for knowing “truth” and “error” (I Jn. 4:6)

• Apostle’s doctrine is infallible (Jn. 16:13-14) – Apostles’ lives are not (Gal. 2:11-14)

• Apostles’ teaching is the commandment of the Lord (I Cor. 14:37)

• Apostles’ teaching helps us discern “good” and “evil” (Heb. 5:14)

Test or Try the Spirits

• Apostles’ doctrine is the standard for knowing “truth” and “error” (I Jn. 4:6)

• Apostle’s doctrine is infallible (Jn. 16:13-14) – Apostles’ lives are not (Gal. 2:11-14)

• Apostles’ teaching is the commandment of the Lord (I Cor. 14:37)

• Apostles’ teaching helps us discern “good” and “evil” (Heb. 5:14)

• Apostles’ teaching in what true Christians are “steadfast” or “strong” (Acts 2:42).

Parkview church of

ChristA “Testing”

People

I John 4Apostles’ Doctrine – Infallible Standard

Knowable Standard

Loving, but not Credulous!