Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction:

Let me tell you about a “Christian” lady that met Christ in Heaven and wrote a book about it in 1994: Her Name, Betty Eadie.

Her bestseller, Embraced By The Light:The Most Profound and Complete Near-Death Experience

Her website: https://embracedbythelight.com

This book was on the N.Y.

Times bestseller list for more than 40 weeks, including 5 weeks as the #1 seller.

In November 1973, Eadie alleges that she died after undergoing a hysterectomy, and returned five hours later with the secrets of heaven revealed by Jesus.

Eadie says that Jesus "never wanted to do or say anything that would offend me" while she visited heaven.

Indeed, Jesus seems to be relegated to the role of a happy tour guide in heaven, not the Savior of the world who died on the cross.

She revised this book several times after the first publishing.

The idea of hell and judgment are nowhere to be found in this book.

Eadie says that Jesus "never wanted to do or say anything that would offend me" while she visited heaven.

Indeed, Jesus seems to be relegated to the role of a happy tour guide in heaven, not the Savior of the world who died on the cross.

She revised this book several times after the first publishing.

The idea of hell and judgment are nowhere to be found in this book.

The Apologetics Index (apologeticsindex.org)

family of web sites provides 40,870+ pages of research resources on alternative religions, religious cults, the sects, and movements that are deceptive and unbiblical.

Wrote this about her book:

It has been well-documented that Betty Eadie’s story is full of contradictions.

(Her gynecologist denied that she died.)

Furthermore, Eadie has changed her story a number of times depending on the audience to which she is speaking.

Her book Embraced by the Light was originally published as a MORMON book by Mormon publishers in Utah.

(Eadie has been a Mormon since BEFORE her experience and reflects classic Mormon doctrine.)

It quickly became the #1-selling book among Mormons.

The general public then picked up on her story, which was quickly changed to be more palatable to the general audience.

She quickly became a "Christian" and her books sold in Evangelical stores.

Her book Embraced by the Light was originally published as a MORMON book by Mormon publishers in Utah.

(Eadie has been a Mormon since BEFORE her experience and reflects classic Mormon doctrine.)

It quickly became the #1-selling book among Mormons.

Then, suddenly, Jesus as the Light became just a light that could be Buddha or some other religious figure to someone else.

Her original MORMON volume recounts how Jesus told Eadie abortion was wrong; it is a crime against the child.

The general public then picked up on her story, which was quickly changed to be more palatable to the general audience.

She quickly became a "Christian" and her books sold in Evangelical stores.

Then, in her second book, Jesus is suddenly very pro-choice and is saying something completely different.

Also, distinctively Mormon phrases are removed.

Then, suddenly, Jesus as the Light became just a light that could be Buddha or some other religious figure to someone else.

Her original MORMON volume recounts how Jesus told Eadie abortion was wrong; it is a crime against the child.

Then, in her second book, Jesus is suddenly very pro-choice and is saying something completely different.

Also, distinctively Mormon phrases are removed.

From the Leadership U apologetic website (http://www.leaderu.com/)

Ms. Eadie says that she was shown in the spirit world that we were with God in the beginning and that we helped him to create the earth.

She tells us that Eve’s "initiative" made it possible for mankind to have children, that sin is not our true nature, and that we are inherently divine.

She continues by saying that we are all God’s children and that we are here on earth to learn the lessons we need for our own spiritual evolution.

Our key lesson is to remember our divinity and return to heaven.

Eadie embraces the idea that all religions and faiths are equal in God’s sight and that they are essential in our development.

Likewise, spirits from the other side will also help us learn the lessons of life and aid in our progress.

Ms. Eadie says that death is a spiritual "rebirth" as we simply make a "transition" to another state of being.

There will be no judgment day and we will judge ourselves regarding our spiritual evolution.

Transition:

Words from a supposed Christian, who is teaching our modern American culture a thing or two about God.

If the Apostle John were here in the flesh today, I think he would have a thing or two to teach about people like this lady and he did so about 2,000 years ago in his first letter to some churches:

Scripture Reading:

Having just commanded his readers to “believe” in the name of Jesus as we saw last week in verse 23 of chapter 3 (3:23), John now tells them whom not to believe, and no surprise that it is the false prophets/teachers.

It serves as a warning of the danger faced by the church then and in any age since.

Transition:

So verse 1 gives reason why we need to test people.

Verses 2 & 3 give the test to be applied to those who claim to be God’s spokesmen.

And John does this by looking at spirits, so the outline this morning is going to be on what he has to say about these spirits.

I. Don’t believe the spirits (v.1)

With these verses being pretty familiar to us, I thought I might share with you the Greek because there are several interesting words being played in the original language-- and some of these words, you are already familiar with:

1

(literal translation:) Beloved, not every spirit you should believe, but you should test the spirits if out of the God is, because many pseudo-prophets have gone out into the world.

Using ἀγαπητοί as his address to his audience once again, John encourages his readers more as a friend to a friend rather than as parent to child as he did in the previous chapters.

This agape term is a reminder both of his deep love and concern for his readers.

What can be inferred by this is a reminder that they are also loved by their heavenly Father as well.

Using ἀγαπητοί as his term of affection once again, John admonishes his readers as friend to friend more than as parent to child.

It is a reminder of both his deep affection and concern for his readers.

Included in this is a reminder that they are loved by their heavenly Father as well

So What is he meaning by spirits? or of what spirits is he referring to here?

(1) Some see this referring to demonic and angelic spirits.

John’s choice of the plural πνεύματα to indicate that just as the Holy Spirit can work through many people, so, too, the “spirit” of the antichrist, which he sees as an actual spirit.

Some use Paul’s writings to strengthen support that demonic spirits are in mind like in

but identifies these spirit demons in our passage as human spirits.

(2) Others see the spirits in our passage referring to the Holy Spirit as opposed to Satan as the source of the prophets’ teachings.

In this interpretation, the “spirit of truth” and “spirit of error” coming in verse 6:

the spirits would then refer to the Holy Spirit and Satan.

You could then say: “The Holy Spirit influences and motivates the human spirits of the believers in the community to which the author is writing, while the evil spirit of deceit influences and motivates the human spirits of the opponents with their false teaching.”

(3) Or our passage in verse 1 could refer to human spirits, those of teachers of truth and conversely, false teachers.

This sees these spirits as a synecdoche for “both the prophet and the spirit who inspired him”.

While this interpretation is, I think closer to what John meant

(4) It is more accurate to see this as a metonymy for the teaching or teacher with “spirit” indicating the source behind the teacher or teaching.

This is likely the right view based on John’s grammar choices.

In other words, it is the false teacher and his teaching that is being evaluated, not necessarily the spirits themselves influencing him.

You can still easily recognize the source, but the actual testing is of the person and his or her teachings, not a witch-hunt for demons or angels within the congregation.

Also, John is not quite saying that these false teachers are demonically possessed.

They are as likely to be influenced by the “spirit” of this age (the world’s values, their culture) as they are by satan’s spirits.

So what is the test?

Is John saying that there is a physical test and a physical way we can reveal the source of the teachings?

Just as Jesus said: their fruits.

These “fruits” may be visible conduct, but may also include their teachings.1144

The woman Jezebel of the church in Thyatira () was identified as a false prophetess because her teachings led men astray into idolatry and sexual immorality.

The church was condemned by Jesus for “allowing” her to teach those things.

In this epistle (2:22; 4:2, 15; 5:1) and the next (), it is their christological confession that reveals the teachers’ genuineness or falseness.

Well, yes!

Just as we’ve seen in previous weeks, Jesus taught us it is their “fruits”.

These “fruits” may be the way they behave, but it also includes their teachings.

The woman Jezebel of the church in Thyatira ()

Jezebel is revealed as a false prophetess from the fruit of her teachings!

Her teachings led men astray into idolatry and sexual immorality.

The church was condemned by Jesus for “allowing” her to teach those things.

In this epistle (1jn 2:22; 4:2, 15; 5:1) and the next (), the test is their confession of Christ that reveals the prophets’ genuineness or lies.