Sermon Seven - The Cautions of Fellowship

Introduction

The Gnostics of John’s day were leading some believer’s away from the truth through deceiving spirits. John instructs us in chapter four on how to distinguish between a lying spirit and the Spirit of Truth. John acknowledges the presence of numerous spirits. Believer’s must be wise and discerning so they will not be misled. This is why we should never believe everything we hear just because someone says its a message from God. John instructs us on several ways we may test teachers to make sure their message is truly from the Lord. John reveals some cautions of fellowship.

A caution concerning lying spirits: false prophets (vv.1-6)

The existence of lying spirits - (v.1)

John is warning of impending trouble for believers because of the spread of Gnosticism throughout the region. These things shouldn’t be strange for believers.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.”

1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:”

The examination of lying spirits - (vv.2-6)

John is contrasting truth and error, between deceiving “antichrists” and “trustworthy teachers.” In this passage John focuses on the responsibility not of the teachers but of the hearers - our responsibility to distinguish truth from error. John begins expressing his concern for the doctrinal purity of his readers by stating the importance of examination. Our love must be discriminating, discerning and distinguishing love. Our faith must also be discriminating, discerning, and distinguishing faith. John speaks plainly and says, “do not believe every spirit, but try the spirits.”

Ephesians 4:27 “Neither give place to the devil.”

Colossians 2:8 “Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:3–4 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him.”

A caution concerning a loving spirit: false profession (vv.7-21)

Love must not cool off. There is a problem within the church of a weakening love for one another.

The ground of love - (vv.7-10)

The ground of love is the theological reason for loving one another. This points us to the nature of God and the implications of that nature for our intimate union with Him. “Love is from God” (v.7) and “God is love” (v.8). Love is the essence of His person. The act of sending His Son as our Saviour was purely grace - selfless, sacrificial love.

John 15:13 “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

The glories of love - (vv.11-21)

This is the reciprocal reason for loving one another. To “reciprocate” means to return a favor. However, in the divine economy, reciprocation for God’s loving, gracious actions toward us can’t be paid back to God. He doesn’t need anything from us. God doesn’t desire us to “pay it back” but to “pay it forward.”

There is also the practical reason for loving one another (v.12). We continue to grow in our love for one another (vv.19-21).

Insights on 1, 2 & 3 John, Jude Application: 1 John 4:7–21

We’re to love one another—those brothers and sisters in Christ beside whom we worship during our Sunday services, among whom we sit in Sunday school, with whom we minister in the nursery, and whom we pass by silently in the hallways. And that’s just the brothers and sisters in our own churches! We’re to love them unconditionally, selflessly, and sacrificially.

John 15:12–13 “This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

Romans 12:9–13 “Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

Romans 13:8–10 “Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”

Galatians 5:13–15 “For, brethren, ye have been called unto liberty; only use not liberty for an occasion to the flesh, but by love serve one another. For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. But if ye bite and devour one another, take heed that ye be not consumed one of another.”

Ephesians 4:1–3 “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.”

Hebrews 10:24–25 “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.”