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Letters from JohnLetters from JohnPart 7 - Written so that you know who to Part 7 - Written so that you know who to

believe!believe!1 John 4:1-61 John 4:1-6

““So what are we So what are we supposed to believe?”supposed to believe?”

““Can God die?”Can God die?”

1 John 4:1-61 John 4:1-611 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but

test the spirits to see whether they are from test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. out into the world. 22 This is how you can This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, the flesh is from God, 33 but every spirit that but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. in the world.

44 You, dear children, are from God and have You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. greater than the one who is in the world. 55 They They are from the world and therefore speak from the are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. them. 66 We are from God, and whoever knows We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

11 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into because many false prophets have gone out into the world. the world. 22 This is how you can recognize the This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 33 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. already in the world.

1 John 4:1-61 John 4:1-6

Ephesians 2:2Ephesians 2:2““You were dead in your sin in which You were dead in your sin in which

you used to live when you followed you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spiritspirit who is now at work in those who is now at work in those who are disobedient.”who are disobedient.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-15a1 Corinthians 2:10-15aThe Spirit searches all things, even the The Spirit searches all things, even the

deep things of God. deep things of God. 1111 For who knows a For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Spirit of God. 1212 What we have received is What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. understand what God has freely given us.

1 Corinthians 2:10-15a1 Corinthians 2:10-15aThis is what we speak, not in words taught us This is what we speak, not in words taught us

by human wisdom but in words taught by by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. Spirit-taught words. 1414 The person without The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. through the Spirit. 1515 The person with the The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things…Spirit makes judgments about all things…

1 Thessalonians 5:21 1 Thessalonians 5:21

““Test everything. Hold on Test everything. Hold on to the good.”to the good.”

Bereans in Acts 17:11Bereans in Acts 17:11““Now the Bereans were of more Now the Bereans were of more

noble character than the noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” to see if what Paul said was true.”

1 John 4:1-61 John 4:1-611 Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test

the spirits to see whether they are from God, the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into because many false prophets have gone out into the world. the world. 22 This is how you can recognize the This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, God, 33 but every spirit that does not but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. coming and even now is already in the world.

““Christological” Christological”

““The fundamental doctrinal test of The fundamental doctrinal test of the professing Christian concerns his the professing Christian concerns his

view of the Person of Jesus.”view of the Person of Jesus.”

Hypostatic UnionHypostatic Union

The divine nature was united with human The divine nature was united with human nature but yet remained distinct natures nature but yet remained distinct natures

within the one person of Jesus Christ, within the one person of Jesus Christ, making him fully God and fully man. making him fully God and fully man.

““isms”isms”Eutychianism NestorianismEutychianism Nestorianism

Apollinarianism ArianismApollinarianism Arianism

CouncilsCouncils

Creed of ChalcedonCreed of ChalcedonCreed of ConstantinopleCreed of Constantinople

2 Peter 2:12 Peter 2:1““But there were also false prophets But there were also false prophets

among the people, just as there will among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them-sovereign Lord who bought them-bringing swift destruction on bringing swift destruction on themselves.” themselves.”

  44 You, dear children, are from God and have You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the you is greater than the one who is in the world.world. 55 They are from the world and They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. world, and the world listens to them. 66 We We are from God, and whoever knows God are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. falsehood.

Hebrews 2:14-15Hebrews 2:14-15……in order that through death he might in order that through death he might

destroy the one has the power of death, destroy the one has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.”to lifelong slavery.”

44 You, dear children, are from God and You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. who is in the world. 55 They are from the They are from the world and therefore speak from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them.listens to them. 66 We are from God, and We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

44 You, dear children, are from God and You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. who is in the world. 55 They are from the They are from the world and therefore speak from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. listens to them. 66 We are from God, and We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

How would you answer?How would you answer?

““You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I You heard me say, ‘I am going away and I am coming back to you.’ (This is Jesus) If am coming back to you.’ (This is Jesus) If you loved me, you would be glad that I you loved me, you would be glad that I am going to the Father, for the Father is am going to the Father, for the Father is

greater than I.greater than I.- John - John

14:28 14:28