Test of True Love

Sermon notesRe-Energize: The Letters of JohnTest of True LovePastor Stephen HsuScripture: 1 John 4:1-6Dear friends [beloved], do not believe every spirit, but TEST the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges [confesses] that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is IN YOU is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.—1 John 4:1-6Big Idea: The test if a spirit is from God is if it points to the incarnate Jesus, which is how God showed us what true love looks like.IntroductionFather, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.—John 17:24 NRSV1 John’s Purpose:I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.—1 John 5:133 TESTS OF TRUTH & LOVE:1. Does the spirit point to the incarnate Jesus? (v. 1-2)2. Do you believe the Spirit in you is greater than Satan in the world? (v. 3-4)3. Are you accountable to the world OR a church community? (v. 5-6)CONCLUSION:That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2 The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us. 3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. 4 We write this to make our joy complete.—1 John 1:1-4