THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF INSPIRATION, THE EXTENT OF INSPIRATION.

THE BIBLICAL VIEW OF INSPIRATION.
The biblical view of inspiration is called the Dynamic View. The Scriptures are the result of a divine-human relationship, as set forth in Hebrews 1:1. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets." God did the speaking, but He did it through the prophets or through His instruments. Inspiration is a supernatural work of God in man, involving both divine and human elements, which produced an infallible record of the divine revelation.

The Dynamic View holds all the elements together. God did the speaking, but He did it through His chosen vessels and their personalities. Their individualism is as clearly seen as their inspiration. The Holy Spirit moved on the writers in a dynamic way in harmony with their personalities but not completely suppressing them. God created men as it pleased Him, each man having traits of his own; and through these vessels He spoke His Word, using their lips, their minds, their gifts, their temperaments, and their personalities. Then, He breathed out to them His infallible Word. Another example is Nehemiah 9:30. "Yet many years didst thou forbear them, and testifiedst against them by thy Spirit in thy prophets." Nehemiah was saying that God spoke out against Israel in judgment by His Spirit in the prophets.

In conclusion to this view it should be noted that the inspired Word, the Bible, can be compared to the incarnate Word, Jesus. In the incarnation of Christ the divine and human elements are blended; in the inspiration and the writing of Scripture the divine and human elements also come together into one.

THE EXTENT OF INSPIRATION.
In speaking of the extent of inspiration, this does not refer to how much of the Bible is inspired, because there are no degrees of inspiration. It is all inspired! The genealogy of chapter one of Matthew is as inspired as the account of Jesus' birth in chapter two. Chapter one shows Him to be a son of Abraham coming through the line of David; in chapter two, the birth narrative, He is seen to be the Son of God.

Some believe that only the thoughts were inspired, and that God left the writers of Scripture completely free to choose their own words, their own ideas, and their own expressions. This view is incorrect because it is unrealistic. God reveals His thoughts to man through the media of words, just as man does in communicating with others. If God wished to convey His will and His Word to man in such a way that it could not be twisted and misinterpreted, He would have to inspire the very words. If He merely inspires thoughts, the writers would have to choose what they would say.

The Scriptural view is the plenary verbal inspiration view. The term "plenary" means full, complete, entire, or absolute. This means that the entire Scriptures are inspired, not just a part; all Scripture is God-breathed (II Timothy 3:16). "Verbal" means that which is expressed in words; therefore, verbal inspiration means that God inspired the very words of the Bible and not merely the thoughts. Thus, plenary verbal inspiration means that the Scriptures in their entirety are the words of God; therefore, they are infallible and inerrant in the original autographs or manuscripts.

God said to Jeremiah, "Go to all that I shall send thee, and whatsoever I command thee thou shalt speak.... I have put my words in thy mouth" (Jeremiah 1:7-9). He said the same thing to Moses in Exodus 4:10-12, "Now therefore go, and I will be with thy mouth, and teach thee what thou shalt say." In Exodus 34:27-28 God told Moses to write the Ten Commandments. In Revelation 1:11 Jesus said to John, "What thou seest, write in a book." God told Ezekiel, "Speak my words" to the people (Ezekiel 2-3). Isaiah 2:1 and Amos 1:1 both speak of the words which the prophets saw. In II Samuel 23:1-2 David claimed to have been anointed and inspired with the very words of God. He said, "The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue."

Critics deny the plenary verbal inspiration view by saying that human agents wrote the Scriptures. Their contention is that all men are fallible; men wrote the Bible; so the Bible is fallible and is not inerrant in all of its words.

In reply, one must distinguish between the prophet and his prophecy, between the writer and his writings. When the Bible speaks concerning inspiration, the emphasis is on the Scriptures themselves, on the writings and not on the writer. For instance, II Timothy 3:16 says that all Scripture is God-breathed, but it does not say a thing about the writer. Paul truly was inspired, but the thrust is upon the Scripture and not the author. "Prophecy came not in old time by the will of man" (II Peter 1:20-21). The emphasis is on prophecy. While the writers were sometimes inspired, their writings were always inspired. Yes, they were fallible men who could (and did) make mistakes; but their writings were God-breathed and, therefore, infallible. For example, when Peter denied the Lord, he certainly was not inspired of God; but he was inspired when he wrote his epistles.

In summary, the Bible shows that all Scripture is God-breathed; consequently, when a man was writing Scripture, he was motivated and inspired by the Lord and recorded what God said to write. Edited. Shared.

God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.

TODAY'S KINGDOM INSIGHTS

SERMON TOPIC:

5 “RELIGIONS” THAT SEEM CHRISTIAN, BUT ARE NOT!

Theme Scripture:

“For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders…” — Matthew 24:24

> Important clarification: This message should not be used to attack people or mock sincere believers. The issue is doctrine—what a movement teaches about Jesus Christ, salvation, Scripture, and the gospel. Some groups may use Christian language while holding beliefs that differ fundamentally from historic biblical Christianity.

NOT EVERYTHING THAT SAYS “JESUS” PREACHES JESUS.

Church, one of the greatest dangers facing Christianity today is not only atheism.
It is deception wearing religious clothing.
The greatest danger is not always the person who says, “I don't believe in Jesus.” Sometimes the greater danger is the person who says, “Jesus is Lord,” carries a Bible, talks about prayer, sings Christian songs—but teaches another gospel.
Jesus warned us:
Matthew 7:15:
> “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing…”

Notice something: Jesus did not say they would come looking like wolves.
They come in sheep's clothing.
That means deception can look familiar.
It can sound spiritual.
It can quote Scripture.
It can mention Jesus.
It can even perform impressive religious activities.

But the question is:

WHO IS JESUS TO YOU?
Because Christianity is not simply about believing that Jesus existed.
It is about believing who Jesus is, what He accomplished on the cross, and how sinners are saved through Him.

1. THE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

Jehovah's Witnesses use the Bible extensively and speak about God and Jesus. However, their theology differs fundamentally from historic Christian doctrine.
One major difference concerns the identity of Jesus Christ.
Historic Christianity teaches that Jesus is truly God, eternally existing with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
John 1:1 says:
> “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
And John 1:14 identifies the Word:
> “And the Word was made flesh…”

Jesus is not merely a created messenger.
Why does this matter?
Because if Jesus is only a created being, then the biblical doctrine of Christ has been fundamentally changed.
Colossians 1:16 says concerning Christ:
> “For by him were all things created…”
If all things were created through Him, Christ cannot simply be another created thing.

Spiritual lesson:

Do not determine truth by how much Scripture someone quotes. Determine truth by whether their teaching agrees with the whole counsel of Scripture.

2. THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS — LDS/MORMONISM.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints uses the name of Jesus Christ and teaches about God, salvation, prayer and family.
But its theology differs substantially from historic Christianity.
Among its distinctive teachings are additional scriptures and doctrines concerning God, humanity, Jesus Christ, salvation and eternal destiny.
The biblical faith teaches that Scripture is God's authoritative revelation and that the gospel of Christ is not to be replaced by another gospel.
Paul warned:
Galatians 1:8
> “But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.”
The issue is therefore not merely:
“Do they talk about Jesus?”
The issue is:
“Is the Jesus they preach the Jesus revealed in Scripture?”
Paul said:
2 Corinthians 11:4
> “For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus…
There can be a different Jesus presented using the same name.

3. CHRISTIAN SCIENCE.

Christian Science uses Christian vocabulary and refers to Jesus, God, prayer and healing.
But its understanding of fundamental Christian doctrines differs significantly from biblical Christianity.
Historic Christianity teaches the reality of sin, the physical incarnation of Christ, His death and bodily resurrection.
The Bible says:
1 Corinthians 15:3–4
> “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…”
The resurrection was not merely a spiritual idea.
Jesus physically rose from the dead.
Thomas was invited to touch the wounds of the risen Christ.
Jesus Himself said:
Luke 24:39
> “A spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see me have.”

Spiritual lesson:
Never reduce Christianity to positive thinking, spirituality or personal experience.
The Christian faith is grounded in the historical work of Jesus Christ.
The cross was real.
The blood was real.
The resurrection was real.
And salvation is real.

4. UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM

Unitarian Universalism is religiously diverse and generally does not require belief in the historic Christian doctrines of the Trinity, the deity of Christ, or salvation through Christ alone.
This is important because Christianity is not simply:
> “Be a good person, love everybody, and believe in God.”
Jesus did not teach that human morality alone could save us.
Jesus said:
John 14:6
> “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Christianity is fundamentally Christ-centered.
Acts 4:12 declares:
> “Neither is there salvation in any other…”
The danger of religious morality
A person can be kind and still be spiritually lost.
A person can give to charity and still need salvation.
A person can help the poor and still need Christ.
Good works are important—but good works do not replace the gospel.
Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
> “For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works…”
5. ONENESS PENTECOSTALISM
Here we need to be especially careful.
Not everyone who uses the term "Oneness Pentecostal" believes exactly the same thing, but historic Christian churches generally regard Oneness theology as outside orthodox Trinitarian Christianity.
Why?
Because historic Christianity teaches:
One God in three distinct Persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
Matthew 28:19 says:
> “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”
At Jesus' baptism, we see the Son being baptized, the Spirit descending like a dove, and the Father's voice from heaven.
The Father is not the Son.
The Son is not the Holy Spirit.
Yet there is one God.
This is the mystery of the Trinity.

Spiritual lesson:

We must never reshape God into something easier for our minds to understand.
We submit our understanding to God's revelation.

THE BIBLICAL CASE STUDY:

THE BEREANS.

Acts 17:11 gives us one of the greatest examples of spiritual discernment.
The Bereans:
> “received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.”
Notice they did not blindly accept even Paul's preaching.
They searched the Scriptures.
That is spiritual maturity.
The question is not:
> “Who preached it?”
The question is:
> “Is it biblical?”
Not:
> “How popular is this teacher?”
But:
> “Does this teaching agree with Scripture?”
Not:
> “How many miracles happened?”
But:
> “Does this exalt the biblical Christ?”

5 TESTS FOR IDENTIFYING FALSE TEACHING.

1. WHAT DOES IT TEACH ABOUT JESUS?
Is Jesus truly God?
Did He truly become flesh?
Did He truly die?
Did He physically rise from the dead?
Is He the only Savior?
1 John 4:2–3 gives us a serious test concerning the confession of Christ.
2. WHAT DOES IT TEACH ABOUT SALVATION?
The biblical gospel says:
Ephesians 2:8:
> “For by grace are ye saved through faith…”
Salvation is not something we purchase with good works.
It is God's gift through faith in Christ.
3. WHAT AUTHORITY DOES IT GIVE SCRIPTURE?
Whenever a movement says:
> “The Bible is not enough; you need our special revelation…”
Christians must examine that claim carefully.
The Bereans searched the Scriptures.
Acts 17:11.
4. DOES IT PREACH ANOTHER GOSPEL?
Paul was extremely strong about this.
Galatians 1:9:
> “If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.”
There is only one gospel.
5. DOES IT PRODUCE CHRISTLIKE FRUIT?
Jesus said:
Matthew 7:20
> “Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.”
Truth should produce holiness.
Grace should produce transformation.
The gospel should produce Christlikeness.

DEEP SPIRITUAL INSIGHT.

The devil does not always need to convince people to stop believing in God.
Sometimes he only needs to convince them to believe in a distorted version of God.
That is why discernment is essential.
Satan quoted Scripture when he tempted Jesus.
Matthew 4:6.
So the question is not simply:
“Does this person quote the Bible?”
The question is:
“Is the Bible being interpreted correctly and is Christ being faithfully proclaimed?”

PRACTICAL ACTION STEPS.

1. READ YOUR BIBLE FOR YOURSELF
Do not build your theology entirely on sermons, TikTok videos, Facebook posts or YouTube clips.
2 Timothy 2:15 calls believers to rightly divide the word of truth.
2. KNOW THE FUNDAMENTALS OF CHRISTIAN FAITH
Know what the Bible teaches about:
God
Jesus Christ
The Holy Spirit
Sin
Salvation
Grace
The resurrection
The second coming
The authority of Scripture
3. TEST EVERY TEACHING
Don't reject something merely because it is unfamiliar.
And don't accept something merely because it is popular.

Test it by Scripture.

4. DON'T MOCK PEOPLE
Our assignment is not to insult people.
Our assignment is to speak the truth in love.
2 Timothy 2:24–25 teaches believers to correct those who oppose the truth with gentleness.
5. KEEP YOUR EYES ON CHRIST.
The goal of discernment is not to become experts in other people's errors.
The goal is to become deeply rooted in Jesus Christ and His Word.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION.

1. Who do I believe Jesus Christ really is?
2. Do I know the biblical gospel clearly?
3. Can I recognize false teaching when I hear it?
4. Do I read Scripture for myself?
5. Have I allowed popularity to become my standard for truth?
6. Am I following Christ—or merely following a religious personality?
7. Can I defend my faith from Scripture?

POWERFUL PRAYER POINTS.

1.
Father, give me the spirit of discernment. Help me distinguish truth from error, in Jesus' name.
2.
Lord, establish me deeply in Your Word so that I will not be carried away by every doctrine.
3.
Father, reveal every false belief operating in my life and lead me into biblical truth.
4.
Lord Jesus, help me know You—not merely know about You.
5.
Give me wisdom to recognize false teachers without becoming judgmental, arrogant or hateful.
6.
Holy Spirit, protect my heart from deception and keep me faithful to the true gospel.
7.
Father, make me a faithful teacher of Your Word who will speak truth with love.

STRONG CLOSING:

DON'T JUST CARRY A BIBLE—KNOW THE CHRIST OF THE BIBLE

Beloved, we are living in a generation where information is everywhere but discernment is becoming scarce.
Everybody has a microphone.
Everybody has an opinion.
Everybody can build a platform.
Everybody can quote a Bible verse.
But not everybody is preaching the gospel.
Therefore, don't follow a preacher simply because he is famous.
Don't follow a movement because it is popular.
Don't follow a religion because it uses Christian language.

Follow Jesus Christ.
Search the Scriptures.
Test every doctrine.
Guard your faith.
Know the Word.
Know the Savior.
And when deception comes wearing religious clothing, may the Holy Spirit give you the wisdom to recognize it.
“Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God.” — 1 John 4:1
The question is not merely, “Does it look Christian?”
The question is: “Does it faithfully proclaim the Jesus of Scripture and the gospel of grace?”
Stand on the Word.
Hold fast to Christ.
Walk in truth.
And never trade biblical truth for religious appearance.

Surrender to Jesus by joining a Bible believing Church near you.
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From the viewpoint of God’s eternal purpose, the church exists to be
• the incarnation and manifestation of the ultimate passion of God
• the organic expression and physical extension of the Trinitarian Community
• the corporate image-bearer of the Lord Jesus Christ on the earth
• the family of God
• the divine building whereby every living stone is being transformed, reshaped, and fitted together to form the Lord’s temple
• the colonial outpost of the coming kingdom
• the masterpiece of God
• the spiritual “Bethany” where Jesus of Nazareth is received, obeyed, and adored in the midst of a rejecting world
• the vessel in which the power of Christ’s resurrection life is visibly displayed
• the object of God’s supreme affection and delight
• the willing vehicle for Christ’s manifested presence
• the torchbearer of the testimony of Jesus
• the “one new man”—the new species—the “third race”
• the fiancée of Jesus Christ—His very body, His very bride
• the new humanity marked out in the Son of God before time and brought into existence by His cross
• the Christian’s native habitat
• the spiritual environment where face-to-face encounters between the bride and Bridegroom take place
• the living witness to the fullness and headship of God’s Son
• the colony from heaven that bears the image of its Ruler

BEHIND JESUS

TEXT: Acts 18:28

SUPPORTING TEXTS: John 1:1–14; John 4:8, 24; Philippians 3:3

OBJECTIVES

At the end of this teaching, participants should be able to:

1. Understand that God is Spirit and that He has revealed Himself to humanity through Jesus Christ.

2. Recognize the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ, and understand why God manifested Himself in the flesh.

3. Explain why Jesus is the only way to salvation and why human religion, morality, or religious tradition cannot save man.

4. Defend the truth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and God manifested in the flesh, using Scripture.

INTRODUCTION

Acts 18:28 (KJV):

“For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

The subject of Jesus Christ goes beyond what can be seen physically. To understand Jesus, we must look behind Jesus—behind His humanity, His earthly appearance, His birth, His ministry, His death and resurrection—to discover who He truly is.

The Bible teaches that God is Spirit:

John 4:24 (KJV):

“God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”

God is also love:

1 John 4:8:

“He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”

Love cannot be seen with the physical eyes, and the Spirit cannot be seen with the physical eyes. Yet both are real.

QUESTION

Have you ever physically seen love? Have you ever physically seen a spirit?

Although you cannot see love itself, you can see the manifestation of love through actions. Likewise, God, who is Spirit, made Himself known to humanity through Jesus Christ.

John 1:14 (KJV):

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

Jesus is therefore the visible manifestation of the invisible God.

Colossians 1:15:

“Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature.”

1. GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF THROUGH MAN

God revealed Himself through the human life of Jesus Christ so that humanity could know, believe, and receive Him.

John 1:14:

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

Jesus did not merely come to teach people about God. He came as God manifested in the flesh.

1 Timothy 3:16:

“God was manifest in the flesh…”

Jesus showed mankind what God is like through His character, words, works, compassion, holiness, power and love.

2. THE BREATH OF MAN IS LIMITED

Man's physical life is temporary. The breath of man is dependent upon God.

Isaiah 2:22:

“Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?”

James 4:14:

“For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away.”

Man's life is limited, but God's life is eternal.

3. THE LIFE OF GOD IS ETERNAL

God does not depend upon another source for His existence. He is the eternal God.

John 1:4:

“In him was life; and the life was the light of men.”

John 11:25:

“Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life…”

1 John 5:11:

“And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.”

The eternal life of God is revealed to humanity through Jesus Christ.

4. THE CHARACTER OF MAN IS CORRUPTED BY SIN

Humanity, because of sin, cannot become its own saviour.

Jeremiah 17:9:

“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked…”

Romans 3:23:

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

Man therefore needs salvation from outside himself.

5. THE CHARACTER OF GOD IS GOOD

God is holy, righteous, loving and good.

Psalm 100:5:

“For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”

Psalm 145:9:

“The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”

Jesus demonstrated the goodness and character of God among humanity.

Acts 10:38:

“…who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

6. MAN CANNOT SAVE HIMSELF — JESUS SAVES

Religion cannot save man. Human wisdom cannot save man. Good works, by themselves, cannot save man.

Ephesians 2:8–9:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith… Not of works…”

Salvation is found in Jesus Christ.

Acts 4:12:

“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”

The God whom humanity could not physically see came near to humanity in Jesus Christ—and Jesus saves.

THE REASON GOD MANIFESTED HIMSELF IN THE FLESH

1. SO THAT WE COULD SEE HIM

God became visible through Jesus Christ.

John 14:9:

“He that hath seen me hath seen the Father…”

Jesus is the revelation of the invisible God.

Colossians 2:9:

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

2. SO THAT WE COULD TOUCH HIM AND KNOW HIM

John testified that Jesus was physically real.

1 John 1:1:

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes… and our hands have handled…”

The apostles did not proclaim an imaginary person. They witnessed, heard and physically encountered Jesus Christ.

3. SO THAT WE COULD FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM

Jesus did not merely appear to humanity from a distance. He lived among people.

1 John 1:3:

“…that which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us…”»l

Jesus also fellowshiped with His disciples.

Matthew 26:30:

“And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.”

He ate with them, walked with them, taught them and fellowshipped with them.

4. TO REVEAL THE POWER OF GOD THROUGH THE FLESH

Jesus demonstrated God's power through miracles, healing, deliverance and authority.

John 2:11:

“This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory…”

Acts 2:22:

“Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs…”

His works revealed what was behind the humanity—the divine nature and power of God.

5. TO EXPERIENCE HUMANITY AND IDENTIFY WITH US

Jesus experienced hunger, thirst, weariness, sorrow, rejection and temptation, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:15:

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities…”

Hebrews 2:17:

“Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren…”

He understands what humanity experiences.

6. TO SHED HIS BLOOD FOR OUR SALVATION

The ultimate reason for His manifestation was redemption.

Matthew 26:28:

“For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.”

1 Peter 1:18–19:

“…ye were not redeemed with corruptible things… But with the precious blood of Christ…”

Jesus came to die for the sins of humanity and rise again.

1 Corinthians 15:3–4:

“Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day…”

YOU CANNOT GET GOD CHEAPLY

Gold does not usually lie openly on the surface. It must be sought, discovered and refined.

In the same way, we must look beyond the outward appearance of Jesus to understand who He truly is.

Jeremiah 29:13:

“And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.”

Behind the soil, there may be gold.

Behind the humanity of Jesus, there is the revelation of God.

Jesus appeared as a man, but He was more than merely a man.

John 10:30:

“I and my Father are one.”

John 20:28:

“And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

The Messiah was hidden behind the humanity of Jesus until He was revealed to those who believed.

ANY SPIRIT THAT DENIES JESUS CAME IN THE FLESH

The Bible gives a serious warning concerning any teaching that denies the incarnation.

1 John 4:2–3:

“Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God…”

Jesus truly came in the flesh.

He was not merely a spiritual appearance. He was genuinely human while being divine.

WHY ACTS 18:28 IS IMPORTANT

Acts 18:28:

“For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.”

Apollos and the early Christian preachers had to convince the Jews from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah.

Many Jews expected the Messiah to establish an earthly political kingdom and deliver them from their enemies. They struggled to understand the manner in which the Messiah would first come.

Jesus did not come first as an earthly political ruler. He came as the suffering Servant who would deal with the deeper problem of humanity sin.

Isaiah 53:5:

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities…”

His kingdom is ultimately spiritual and eternal.

John 18:36:

“My kingdom is not of this world…”

Luke 1:32–33:

“…the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever…”

Therefore, Jesus did not fit the people's expectation of what the Messiah should look like, but the Scriptures testified concerning Him.

PRACTICAL EXAMPLE: WHY PEOPLE STILL REJECT JESUS

Even today, many people reject Jesus because they do not understand what is behind the Gospel.

Some see religious hypocrisy, fanaticism, scandals, poor leadership or people who claim Christianity but do not demonstrate Christ-like character.

But the failure of people does not invalidate Jesus.

We must distinguish between Jesus Christ and the imperfections of people who claim to represent Him.

Hebrews 12:2:

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…”

Our faith must ultimately be placed in Christ, not in imperfect human beings.

Some people look to God for survival, prosperity, longevity or protection but do not truly know Him.

They may place their hope in religious traditions, human philosophies or personal beliefs while rejecting God's saving grace.

But the Gospel points us back to Jesus.

THERE IS ONLY ONE WAY TO GOD

Jesus made this clear:

John 14:6:

“I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”

Peter also declared:

Acts 4:12:

“Neither is there salvation in any other…”

Jesus did not merely claim to know the way. He declared Himself to be the Way.

His resurrection became one of the greatest proofs of His identity.

Romans 1:4:

“And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”

The Christian faith is therefore not founded merely on human philosophy but on the person, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

CONCLUSION: WHO IS BEHIND JESUS?

Behind the humanity of Jesus is the divine revelation of God.

Jesus is the Word who became flesh.

John 1:1–3:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him…”

And then:

John 1:14:

“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us…”

Jesus is the image of the invisible God.

Colossians 1:15:

“Who is the image of the invisible God…”

The fullness of God dwells in Him.

Colossians 2:9:

“For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.”

He existed before Abraham.

John 8:58:

“Before Abraham was, I am.”

He is one with the Father.

John 10:30:

“I and my Father are one.”

Thomas called Him God.

John 20:28:

“My Lord and my God.”

And the Father Himself speaks concerning the Son:

Hebrews 1:8:

“But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever…”

Therefore, when we look at Jesus, we must look beyond the physical appearance of the man and understand the divine truth revealed through Him.

Jesus Christ is the Word made flesh.
Jesus Christ is the revelation of God.
Jesus Christ is the Messiah.
Jesus Christ is the Saviour.
Jesus Christ is the Way to the Father.
And in Him is eternal life.

FINAL CHALLENGE

Do not stop at what you see on the surface.

Look behind Jesus.

Look beyond His humanity and discover His divine identity through the Scriptures.

John 20:31:

“But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.”

The goal is not merely to know about Jesus. The goal is to know Jesus, believe in Him, and receive the salvation and eternal life that are found in Him.

Under the Tree of the Cross
Under the tree of the Cross we sat
Eating from its fruits, life
Jesus breathed and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit"
The breath of Jesus did not disappear
With every breath given to us
The Incarnation resolved all issues of separation
And buried them in the garbage dump of history
The Cross resolved all debate about love
The fire of self-sacrifice eradicated all argument
The Resurrection decided the defeat of life by death
The Resurrection defeated death and life flowed forth
The Trinity ended all talk about God.
For true Oneness is in a Trinity of love.
Glory to You, O crucified Jesus.

#Cross #Incarnation #Resurrection #Trinity #DivineLove #Salvation #Redemption

THE GOD WHO WALKS IN HISTORY
Thesis: The God who reveals Himself in Scripture also reveals Himself in the soil, stones, and civilizations of history. Faith is not blind; it is anchored in time, space, culture, and material reality.
SECTION 1 THE GOD WHO STEPS INTO HISTORY
Texts: Luke 1:1–4; John 1:14; 2 Peter 1:16 Doctrines: Incarnation, Revelation
Luke writes with the meticulous care of a historian, John speaks as a firsthand witness, and Peter writes as a man who saw Christ's glory and majesty with his own eyes. Christianity is not built on myth, speculative theories, or symbolic folklore; it is firmly anchored in concrete moments, specific places, real people, and verifiable historical events. Biblical faith is rooted in time, space, culture, and material reality.
Archaeology amplifies and illuminates this truth. While archaeology cannot create faith or prove divine inspiration, it bridges faith and historical inquiry by excavating, deciphering, and evaluating ancient material records. It demonstrates that biblical narratives are historically reliable, connecting sacred Scripture to the real world of ancient civilizations and providing material evidence that grounds divine revelation.
The Tel Dan Stele stands as a stone‑carved testimony that King David was not a legend, myth, or literary invention. Discovered in 1993 in northern Israel, this basalt victory monument commissioned by Hazael of Aram-Damascus contains the Paleo-Hebrew inscription Beit David ("House of David"). Written by a pagan king and bitter enemy of Israel, it provides an unshakeable external confirmation of David's historical existence, dynasty, and lasting impact.
In similar fashion, the Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered between 1947 and 1956 in caves along the Dead Sea shore, testify that the Scriptures were preserved with astonishing accuracy across generations. Containing biblical manuscripts over 1,000 years older than any previously known Hebrew texts—most notably the complete Great Isaiah Scroll—the scrolls demonstrate the faithful transmission and historical trustworthiness of God's Word across centuries.
Illustration: A man once told me, “I don't believe anything I can't touch.” I handed him a pottery shard from Galilee and said, “Then touch the world Jesus walked in.” He broke.
This moment illustrates how material evidence grounds divine revelation. The shores of the Sea of Galilee served as the floorboards of Jesus' classroom, where He ministered in real fishing villages like Capernaum and Magdala. Excavations in these towns have uncovered first-century synagogues, black basalt foundations, ancient homes, and fishing tools that directly reflect the Gospel accounts. Such artifacts and pottery shards demonstrate that the Incarnation is not an abstract theory or myth; the Word became flesh, breathed the air of a fishing village, walked on specific floors, and occupied the same physical world we do. By bridging faith and historical inquiry, archaeology confirms that biblical faith is firmly anchored in time, space, culture, and material reality.
SECTION 2 — SCRIPTURE’S RELIABILITY THROUGH ARCHAEOLOGY
Texts: Isaiah 40:8; Matthew 5:18; Psalm 119:89 Doctrine: Biblical inspiration
Archaeology does not create faith it illuminates faith.
The Lachish Letters
Written during the critical moments of the Babylonian invasion described in the prophetic book of Jeremiah, these military ostraca capture the immense fear, pressing urgency, and real-time collapse of Judah.
One notable message vividly records the military outpost's dire situation: “We are watching for the signals of Lachish… but we cannot see Azekah.”
As Jeremiah describes a nation enduring a catastrophic siege, the physical soil and artifacts of Lachish tangibly preserve the frantic final communications and authentic voices of its ancient defenders.
Other confirmations
Numerous other archaeological discoveries provide historical grounding for biblical accounts. For example, the Pool of Bethesda was excavated and uncovered precisely as described in John 5. Similarly, the powerful Hittite Empire—a civilization once dismissed by critics as mere literary fiction—is now fully documented through extensive historical records and material evidence.
Illustration: Archaeology acts as a floodlight. It does not create faith out of nothing, but rather illuminates the historic reality that was present all along, allowing us to see the historical record clearly.
SECTION 3 — THE WORLD OF THE PATRIARCHS
Texts: Genesis 12; Genesis 15; Hebrews 11:8–12 Doctrine: Covenant theology
Abraham lived in a world of law, covenant, and custom, deeply embedded in the cultural and legal frameworks of the ancient Near East. Surrounding civilizations possessed sophisticated legal traditions—such as the Code of Ur-Nammu, the Code of Hammurabi, and Hittite laws—demonstrating that codified law and covenantal structures were widespread during the second millennium BC.
The 15th-century BC Nuzi Tablets provide abundant cultural confirmation of Genesis, revealing adoption practices identical to Abraham’s heir dilemma where childless couples could adopt a servant as an heir—precisely mirroring Abraham's arrangement with Eliezer (Genesis 15:3). Nuzi documents also detail surrogate motherhood provisions requiring barren wives to provide servant girls to their husbands (matching Sarah and Hagar in Genesis 16:2) and document negotiable birthright transactions similar to Jacob and Esau.
Similarly, the 19th-century BC Mari Letters—a collection of 20,000 tablets—describe nomadic migrations, tribal movements, and Northwest Semitic customs that directly mirror Genesis. These texts contain name patterns specifically current in Mesopotamia during this period, including names closely matching Serug, Nahor, Terah, Abraham, and Jacob. Additionally, the contemporary Alalakh Texts further illuminate the authentic family and legal practices reflected throughout the patriarchal narratives.
God’s covenant was not communicated in a cultural vacuum; it was spoken into a real society with real expectations, authentic legal customs, and verifiable historical settings.
Illustration: A footprint in clay proves someone walked there. Genesis is full of footprints.
SECTION 4 EXODUS: THE GOD WHO LIBERATES
Texts: Exodus 3; Exodus 12; Psalm 77:14 Doctrine: Redemption
The Exodus is not a fairy tale. It is God confronting the Egyptian empire.
Egyptian records confirm Semitic populations resided in the Delta. The Merneptah Stele declares “Israel is laid waste,” providing early extra-biblical confirmation of Israel’s presence in Canaan. Furthermore, satellite technology using infrared sensors has detected ancient trails and heat patterns left in desert sands made by large groups leaving the Nile Delta along the Suez coast, mirroring the biblical route.
Archaeological excavations at Tell el-Kharouba in northern Sinai revealed a massive Egyptian military fortress guarding "The Way of Horus". This heavily fortified coastal highway explains why God redirected Israel through the wilderness—as recorded in Exodus 13:17–18—sparing a newly liberated population from encountering seasoned Egyptian military garrisons.
In Canaan, Late Bronze Age cities show sudden collapses consistent with Joshua’s conquest. At Jericho, archaeological excavations revealed massive fortifications featuring 4.6-meter stone retaining walls topped by mud-brick walls 1.8 meters thick. The collapsed mud-brick walls fell outward to form natural ramps for attackers at the wall base, while a massive 9-meter ash layer attests to fierce, intense destruction by fire. Jars of stored grain further indicate a brief siege before the city fell, exactly matching the biblical account in Joshua.
At Ai, traditional identification with et-Tell presented problems because that site was not occupied during Joshua's time. However, candidate sites such as Khirbet el-Maqatir show evidence of a 15th-century BC fortress that fits all biblical requirements, offering a promising resolution to long-standing geographical and chronological debates.
At Hazor—explicitly described as the "head of all those kingdoms" in Joshua 11:10 and noted uniquely in the 14th-century Egyptian Amarna Letters with a ruler titled "king"—excavations uncovered city walls over 7 meters wide, a massive conflagration layer, and evidence of sudden, violent destruction by fire dated to approximately 1400 BC.
Illustration: A chain breaks only when something stronger pulls against it. God pulled. The physical collapse of ancient Canaanite fortifications bears silent witness to divine intervention in human history.
SECTION 5 — THE KINGDOM ERA: GOD’S RULE IN REAL TIME
Texts: 1 Samuel 8; 2 Samuel 7; Psalm 2 Doctrine: Kingship
Israel’s monarchy unfolded in the same geopolitical world we excavate today.
The Karnak relief records Shishak’s campaign. Samaria ostraca reveals taxation systems matching Scripture. The Babylonian Chronicles align with 2 Kings and Jeremiah.
In 701 BCE, facing the imminent threat of Assyrian invasion, King Hezekiah secured Jerusalem’s water supply by redirecting the Gihon Spring—Jerusalem’s only permanent water source—through a 1,750-foot tunnel carved through solid rock, directly confirming 2 Chronicles 32:30. When Assyrian king Sennacherib boasted of shutting up Hezekiah "like a bird in a cage," he underestimated a king who had secured the city's lifeblood so that invading armies would not find water.
Inside the tunnel, the Siloam Inscription documents this extraordinary engineering achievement, describing how two teams of stonecutters guided by the sound of their axes carved through rock from opposite directions until meeting in the middle. This discovery validates the strategic preparations detailed in Scripture, demonstrating that Hezekiah did not simply pray and wait, but prayed and prepared by taking decisive action in obedience.
Illustration: History is God’s canvas. Kings rise and fall — the Artist remains. Faith does not wait for crisis; faith prepares for victory. Hezekiah dug a tunnel before the enemy arrived.
SECTION 6 — JESUS IN THE FULLNESS OF TIME
Texts: Galatians 4:4; Luke 4:31–37; John 19:16 Doctrine: Christology
Jesus entered a world we can still touch. The Incarnation means the Word became flesh and dwelt in real geographical spaces, walking on physical stones and breathing the air of first-century Judea and Galilee.
At Capernaum—known as Jesus' "own city"—excavations uncovered the black basalt foundations of the very synagogue where He taught, along with an octagonal church built over a humble first-century home identified as the House of Peter. Nearby at Magdala, archaeologists discovered a first-century synagogue featuring the "Magdala Stone," which depicts the Second Temple and its Menorah, as well as fishing tools and home structures consistent with the Gospel accounts.
In addition, first-century burial practices and ornate limestone ossuaries confirm names common to Jesus' era, including the ossuary of High Priest Caiaphas inscribed "Yehosef bar Qayafa". In 1961 at Caesarea Maritima, archaeologists discovered the Pilate Stone—a limestone block explicitly inscribed "Pontius Pilate, Prefect of Judea"—verifying the exact historical title and identity of the Roman governor who presided over Jesus' trial. Excavations in Nazareth further confirm authentic first-century settlement patterns, establishing that the narrative of Christ is deeply anchored in real time, space, and history.
Illustration: Walk the streets of Capernaum today and you walk where Jesus walked. Faith becomes sight.
SECTION 7 — THE RESURRECTION: THEOLOGY MEETS TANGIBLE REALITY
Texts: 1 Corinthians 15; Matthew 28; Romans 6:4 Doctrine: Resurrection theology
The resurrection was proclaimed in a culture that understood death intimately. Second Temple Jewish burial customs involved precise two-stage practices, where bodies were laid in rock-cut tombs before bones were placed in limestone ossuaries. Excavations throughout Jerusalem reveal tombs featuring burial niches and rolling stone tracks that directly mirror the Gospel accounts. For example, the discovery of the ornate limestone ossuary inscribed "Yehosef bar Qayafa" (Joseph, son of Caiaphas) confirms the historical reality of the high priest who presided over Jesus' trial and demonstrates the authenticity of first-century Judean burial traditions.
Furthermore, physical evidence such as the heel bone of Yehohanan—pierced by a seven-inch iron nail—forensically confirms Roman crucifixion mechanics and subsequent proper burial in Jerusalem during this era. Excavations beneath the Church of the Holy Sepulchre complex have also uncovered a first-century limestone quarry transformed into a working garden outside the ancient city walls, containing a rock-cut tomb matching the exact geographical and architectural setting described in John's Gospel.
Ossuaries and funerary traditions reflect a deeply ingrained belief in bodily resurrection, while subterranean catacombs, sacred symbols, and early Christian inscriptions boldly proclaim, “He is risen”. While archaeology cannot measure the supernatural moment of resurrection, the physical record—from excavated gardens to empty tombs—demonstrates that the Gospel narrative is anchored in tangible historical reality.
”
Illustration: A seed buried in the ground does not stay dead. Neither did the Son of God.
SECTION 8 — CLOSING MOVEMENT: “THE STONES CRY OUT”
Texts: Luke 19:40; Psalm 78:4; Hebrews 13:8
SECTION 8 — CLOSING MOVEMENT: “THE STONES CRY OUT”
Texts: Luke 19:40; Psalm 78:4; Hebrews 13:8 Doctrine: Faithfulness of God
Scripture is inherently trustworthy because God Himself is faithful. While archaeology is not the primary foundation of faith, it serves as a powerful, unbiased witness to the historical reality of divine revelation. The archaeological record does not invent spiritual truth; rather, it shines a floodlight on the physical setting of redemption, confirming that God acted directly within human history.
When Jesus declared in Luke 19:40 that the very stones would cry out, He testified to a reality that echoes through centuries of excavation. From the basalt of the Tel Dan Stele to the rock walls of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, physical artifacts continuously affirm the biblical narrative. As Psalm 78:4 urges believers to tell the glorious deeds of the Lord to the next generation, material discoveries serve as tangible evidence that can be passed down across ages.
The stones cry out from ancient city ruins. The scrolls cry out from the caves of Qumran. The inscriptions cry out from military ostraca, royal stelae, and Roman limestone. History itself cries out in unison.
And they all proclaim the exact same eternal truth: Jesus Christ is Lord. Yesterday, today, and forever. Just as Hebrews 13:8 affirms His unchanging character, the historical record testifies that the God who acted in centuries past remains the faithful Lord of today and eternity.
Final Illustration: Archaeologists brush away layers of dust and debris from ancient ruins to reveal the historical truth beneath. In the exact same way, God brushes away the guilt, darkness, and decay of sin to reveal the glorious, living presence of Christ in the human heart.

28 Beleifs # 5
THE HOLY SPIRIT

God the eternal Spirit was active with the Father and the Son in Creation, incarnation, and redemption. He is as much a person as are the Father and the Son. He inspired the writers of Scripture. He filled Christ’s life with power. He draws and convicts human beings; and those who respond He renews and transforms into the image of God. Sent by the Father and the Son to be always with His children, He extends spiritual gifts to the church, empowers it to bear witness to Christ, and in harmony with the Scriptures leads it into all truth.

Holy Wit – Reflections

#9 Test the Spirits
(Walking in the Light: Studies Through 1 John)

Scripture References: 1 John 4:1–6

The visitor arrived at the church carrying a large Bible, a polished smile, and the sort of confidence that made ordinary conversation seem too small for him. Before the meeting began, he told several people that God had sent him with “a fresh word for this congregation.” He said it quietly, but not so quietly that anyone missed it.

By the time he stood to speak, expectation had filled the room. He told stories of remarkable dreams, sudden healings, and distant places where crowds had listened to him for hours. His voice rose and fell at precisely the right moments. Even the ceiling fan appeared to slow down and pay attention.

Near the back sat Miriam, who had followed Christ for many years. She had no theological degree, no dramatic testimony, and no gift for making a room lean forward. She did, however, have a Bible with loose pages, crowded margins, and a binding held together by determined strips of tape.

The visitor began speaking about Jesus. At first, everything sounded familiar. Then the words shifted. Jesus, he said, had come mainly to show us the divine power hidden inside every human being. Sin was not guilt before a holy God but ignorance of our true spiritual greatness. The cross was an inspiring picture of sacrifice, not the place where Christ bore the judgment deserved by sinners.

People nodded. The speaker was sincere, impressive, and very difficult to interrupt.

Miriam looked down at her Bible. She turned to 1 John, then to the Gospel of John, then to several other passages. After the meeting, while others gathered around the visitor, she approached one of the church leaders.

“He says many beautiful things,” she said, “but I do not think he is speaking about the Jesus the apostles knew.”

The leader hesitated. “But surely you felt the power in the room?”

Miriam glanced at the ceiling fan. “I felt moving air. The rest we should test.”

That quiet answer brings us very near to John’s command: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.” John does not tell Christians to despise spiritual claims, nor does he tell us to accept them simply because they sound sincere. He commands us to test them.

Sincerity is not the same as truth. A person may be deeply convinced and deeply mistaken. Eloquence is not the same as truth. Error is often most dangerous when it is expressed beautifully. Spiritual intensity is not the same as truth either. Strong feelings may accompany what is true, but they cannot establish it.

John places the decisive test on Jesus Christ. Does the teaching confess the Son as He has truly come in the flesh? This is more than repeating the name “Jesus.” It means confessing the eternal Son who became genuinely human without ceasing to be God—the Christ proclaimed by the apostles, crucified for sinners, raised bodily, and reigning as Lord.

False teaching often keeps Christian words while quietly changing their meaning. It may praise Jesus as teacher, example, prophet, healer, or guide while denying His deity, His incarnation, His atoning death, His resurrection, or His exclusive authority. John does not permit us to replace the real Christ with a more fashionable one and then call the result Christianity.

This is why discernment requires Scripture. The command to test assumes a standard outside ourselves. Our feelings, private impressions, traditions, and admiration for a speaker must all stand beneath the apostolic Word. The question is not merely, “Did this move me?” but, “Is this faithful to what God has revealed?”

Discernment, however, should not make us proud or permanently suspicious. John writes to reassure believers: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” Our safety does not rest on our cleverness. God preserves His people through His Spirit and His Word. We test humbly, knowing that we too can misunderstand and need correction.

Not every mistake makes someone a false prophet. Faithful believers can be wrong and then receive correction. The deeper danger is persistent teaching that claims spiritual authority while leading people away from the apostolic Christ. Such a voice may be popular, warm, and persuasive. It may fill a room. It must still be tested.

Miriam’s worn Bible was not impressive beside the visitor’s performance. But it gave her something far better than an impression: a trustworthy measure. True discernment does not extinguish joy; it guards the church’s joy by refusing to let a counterfeit Christ take the place of the living Lord who saves sinners. The church does not need colder hearts. It needs hearts warmed by truth, minds governed by Scripture, and eyes fixed on the Jesus who truly came in the flesh.

#HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #WalkingInTheLight #1John4

Holy Wit – Bible Study

#9 Test the Spirits
(Walking in the Light: Studies Through 1 John)

Scripture Reading 1 John 4:1-6 (NKJV):
1 John 4:1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

1 John 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,

1 John 4:3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

1 John 4:4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

1 John 4:5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

1 John 4:6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

1 John 4:1–6 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A1-6&version=NKJV

1. The Command to Test Spiritual Claims
John begins with both tenderness and warning: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit.” Christian faith is not gullibility dressed in religious language. Believers are commanded to exercise discernment because a claim to spiritual authority proves nothing by itself. A teacher may sound sincere, speak movingly, describe unusual experiences, or attract a large following, yet none of these things establishes that the message comes from God. The question is not merely whether a message feels spiritual, but whether it is true.
The word “test” assumes an objective standard. John does not tell the church to consult private impressions or personal preference. The test is the revelation God has already given, especially the apostolic witness to Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit, who inspired Scripture, does not contradict Himself. Therefore, testing a teaching by Scripture is not resisting the Spirit; it is one of the ways obedience to the Spirit is expressed. Discernment is not suspicion toward everyone. It is careful submission to God’s truth.

1 John 4:1 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A1&version=NKJV
Acts 17:10–12 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+17%3A10-12&version=NKJV

2. False Prophets Are a Present Reality
John gives the reason for the command: “many false prophets have gone out into the world.” False teaching is not a remote possibility or a problem limited to openly hostile religions. False prophets often arise near the people of God and use familiar Christian words. Earlier, John described teachers who had departed from the fellowship because their doctrine revealed that they were never truly of it. Here he exposes the spiritual dimension behind their message. Human teachers speak, but their teaching serves either the truth of God or the spirit of error.

This does not mean that every mistaken believer is a false prophet. Christians may misunderstand a passage and later receive correction. A false prophet, however, claims spiritual authority while leading people away from the truth God has revealed—especially the truth concerning Christ. Scripture tells the church to examine both doctrine and fruit. Character cannot make false doctrine true, and correct vocabulary cannot make corrupt fruit harmless. The church must refuse the choice between truth and holiness; faithful ministry requires both.

1 John 4:1 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A1&version=NKJV
Matthew 7:15–20 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7%3A15-20&version=NKJV

3. The Decisive Confession: Jesus Christ Has Come in the Flesh
John places the central test at the heart of the Christian faith: every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. This confession concerns the identity of Jesus, not merely the sound of His name. The eternal Son truly entered human history. He did not merely appear human, temporarily inhabit a human body, or become divine through spiritual advancement. The One who was with the Father from the beginning became flesh while remaining fully divine. Jesus Christ is one Person with a true divine nature and a true human nature.

The incarnation is not a secondary doctrine for specialists. If Christ did not truly assume our humanity, He could not stand in the place of human sinners. If He were not truly God, His saving work could not possess the infinite worth Scripture assigns to it. The incarnation safeguards the cross, the bodily resurrection, Christ’s present intercession, and the believer’s future bodily hope. To confess Christ is therefore to receive the apostolic testimony about the real Jesus—not to attach the name “Jesus” to a figure of our own making.

1 John 4:2 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A2&version=NKJV
John 1:1–14 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+1%3A1-14&version=NKJV

4. The Spirit of Antichrist Denies the Biblical Christ
John states the negative test with equal force: the spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ is not of God. It belongs to the spirit of Antichrist, whose influence was already present in John’s day. Antichristian teaching does not always begin with an open declaration of hatred toward Jesus. It may praise Him as a moral teacher, prophet, healer, example, or spiritual guide while denying who He actually is. Respectful language can still hide a rejection of the Son.

John allows no neutral ground here. To deny the Son revealed by the Father is to stand against God, however religious the denial may sound. This is why doctrinal precision matters. Precision is not spiritual fussiness when the identity of Christ is at stake. The church does not preserve truth by being quarrelsome, but neither does it preserve love by treating every description of Jesus as equally faithful. Christian love rejoices in the truth and refuses to exchange the living Christ for a more acceptable substitute.

1 John 4:3 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A3&version=NKJV
1 John 2:18–23 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+2%3A18-23&version=NKJV

5. The Greater One Dwells in His People
After warning the church, John gives strong assurance: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them.” Their victory does not rest on superior intelligence, education, willpower, or experience. It rests on God’s presence: “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” The Holy Spirit indwells those who belong to Christ, preserving them in the truth and applying Christ’s victory to them.

This promise is not a celebration of the power supposedly hidden within the human self. The greater One is God, not us. Nor does the verse teach that believers cannot be confused or temporarily influenced by error. John’s assurance is that the power behind the truth is greater than the power behind deception, and that God will preserve His people through the means He has appointed: His Word, His Spirit, and the fellowship of the church. Discernment may require courage, but it need not be driven by fear. Christ has already triumphed over the powers of darkness.

1 John 4:4 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A4&version=NKJV
Colossians 2:13–15 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+2%3A13-15&version=NKJV

6. The World Listens to What Belongs to It
False teachers are “of the world,” and therefore they speak from the world’s viewpoint. John is not saying that every unbeliever agrees with every false teacher. He is identifying a shared spiritual orientation. Teaching that protects human autonomy, minimizes sin, removes the offense of the cross, or reshapes Christ to suit the age will naturally find a hearing in the world. Error often succeeds not because it is carefully proved, but because it tells fallen people something they are already inclined to believe.

Popularity is therefore an unreliable test of truth. A large audience may hear a faithful message, and a small audience may hear a false one; numbers alone settle nothing. Yet the church should not be surprised when biblical truth meets resistance. The gospel confronts the world’s deepest loyalties by declaring that humanity is sinful, Christ alone saves, and every person owes Him repentance and faith. The desire to be heard must never become permission to alter the message.

1 John 4:5 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A5&version=NKJV
John 15:18–19 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+15%3A18-19&version=NKJV

7. The Apostolic Word Distinguishes Truth from Error
John concludes, “We are of God. He who knows God hears us.” In context, the “we” points especially to the apostles and their authoritative witness. The church does not invent its confession in each generation. It receives the faith delivered through those whom Christ appointed and whose teaching is preserved for us in Scripture. To hear the apostles is to hear the testimony Christ authorized; to reject that testimony is to reject the standard God has given.

This is how the church recognizes the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. The test is neither novelty nor antiquity, emotional intensity nor intellectual sophistication, miracles nor lack of miracles. The decisive question is whether the message agrees with the apostolic Christ of Scripture. Not every spiritual voice deserves trust simply because it sounds sincere. Sincerity may accompany truth, but sincerity cannot create truth. God’s Word judges every teacher, every claimed revelation, every tradition, and every impression—including our own.

1 John 4:6 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+John+4%3A6&version=NKJV
Acts 2:42 (NKJV):
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+2%3A42&version=NKJV

Reflection Questions
• When you hear a spiritual claim, what standards do you normally use to judge it: Scripture, the speaker’s personality, popularity, reported experiences, or your own feelings?
• Why is the confession that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh essential to the gospel rather than a minor theological detail?
• What is the difference between a believer who is mistaken and a false teacher who leads others away from the apostolic Christ?
• How does “He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” give confidence without encouraging pride or carelessness?
• Are there teachings you have accepted mainly because they were popular, moving, or presented as spiritual? How should you test them now?

Prayer Points
• Thank God for revealing the true Jesus Christ through the apostolic Scriptures.
• Ask the Holy Spirit to deepen your knowledge of Scripture and sharpen your discernment.
• Pray for humility to receive correction when your own beliefs or impressions do not agree with God’s Word.
• Ask God to protect local churches from persuasive teachers who distort the person or work of Christ.
• Praise God that the One who dwells in His people is greater than the spirit of error in the world.

For further study (NKJV):
Deuteronomy 13:1–4
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Deuteronomy+13%3A1-4&version=NKJV
2 Corinthians 11:3–4, 13–15
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+11%3A3-4%2C13-15&version=NKJV
Galatians 1:6–9
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians+1%3A6-9&version=NKJV
2 Timothy 4:1–5
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A1-5&version=NKJV

#HolyWitBibleStudy #GordonMcGinnis #WalkingInTheLight #1John4