Know the Test Question
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I do not know
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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them.
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.
Years ago, the story goes, a San Diego bank hired a private investigator to track down a bank robber and retrieve stolen funds. The search led to Mexico. The investigator crossed the border and then, realizing he would need a Spanish interpreter, opened up the telephone book and hired the first interpreter listed in the Yellow Pages.
After many days, he finally captured the bandit and, through the interpreter, asked him, “Where did you hide the money?” In Spanish, the thief replied, “What money? I have no idea what you’re talking about”.
With that, the investigator drew his pistol, pointed it at the suspect, and said to the interpreter, “Tell him that if he doesn’t tell me where the money is, I will shoot him where he stands.”
Upon receiving this message, the bank robber said to the interpreter, “Senor, I have hidden the money in a coffee can, under the fourth floorboard, in the second-floor men’s room of the Palacio Hotel on Via Del in LaPaz.
“What did he say?” the investigator asked the interpreter. “Senor,” said the interpreter as he thought for a moment, “he says he is prepared to die like a man!”
Ivan R. Misner, The World’s Best Known Marketing Secrets, Bard Press, 1994, p. 41.
There are many false doctrines out there in the world. Some with just enough truth on the surface to make it believable but is surrounded by lies. A snare to catch anyone who does not know their Bible.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.
Just because someone stands behind the pulpit does not mean they are giving the truth.
There is an article on christianpost.com called ‘Preachers Who Do Not Believe - The Scandal of Apostate Pastors”. The study is based on 5 pastors from 5 different denominations including Methodist, United Church of Christ, Presbyterian, Church of Christ, and Southern Baptist. These ministers do not believe but continue to stay in the pulpit. Many of our churches today have such ambiguous fundamental faith statements, that it is easy to project belief when non exists.
The easiest thing to ask is, “ do you believe in God?” 9 out of 10 people will always say yes because even the concept of God can be ambiguous between different religions. The Apostle John gives us the correct question. The question is not do you believe in God, but do you believe Jesus Christ came in the flesh.
John goes on to write that we are more than overcomers of this world because greater is He who is in us than he that is in the world.
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
When we accept Jesus Christ as our our Lord and Saviour and believe that He did come in the flesh:
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
then we are overcomers. This is how we prevent ourselves from being deceived. Many things can be sugar coated, but still kill.
Many may wonder how one point of Jesus coming in the flesh is pivotal to the salvation message? Imagine the difference if Jesus came as a Spirit and not as a body.
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights; I have put my Spirit upon him; he will bring forth justice to the nations.
This verse makes it clear that Jesus will come in the flesh. This is part of the plan of salvation. Jesus would go on to be very stressed out about the upcoming cross and what he would endure.
“Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But for this purpose I have come to this hour.
If He was just a spirit, then Jesus would not have been so troubled. Paul goes on to describe in 1 Corinthians 15 how the resurrection is pivotal to everything.
And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain.
A spirit can not be raised from the dead because a spirit never dies. Jesus Christ had to rise physically, to be resurrected. This is why to believe Jesus came to the earth physically is so important.
A physical body sent by God to die on a physical cross and then physically rose again is the real question we should ask.
Not do you believe in God. A Buddhist’s view of God is completely different than mine.
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
Do you know the answer to the question? Do you believe Jesus came in the flesh? It changes everything if you do. To believe Jesus came in the flesh leads to the cross and the Resurrection and leads back around to our sinful state and separation from God. Jesus is the only way to bridge this gap.
A doctor cannot treat our illness until we recognize we are sick. The Great physician will not a spiritual healing on us. We have to recognize our need for a saviour.
A - Acknowledge
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
B - Believe
Acts 16:31 (ESV)
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved.”
C - Confess
because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.