The Spirit of Truth within
This is how you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming; even now it is already in the world. 1 John 4:2-3 CSB
John gave a warning that believers should not believe every spirit. What he is referring to with the word “spirit” is the one that promotes false teachings. In this world that we are in, we will be in constant battle with the spirit of this world which is the devil for the Holy Spirit living within every true believer will never be in agreement with lies. The Holy Spirit, “He is the Spirit of truth. The world is unable to receive him because it doesn’t see him or know him. But you do know him, because he remains with you and will be in you” (John 14:17). And since the spirit of lies has gone out into the world, all the more that believers should be vigilant in not only distinguishing truth from lies, but also to promote the teachings of Christ so that those who need to hear the message of the Gospel could be freed from the influence of false teachings. “‘Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, ‘If you continue in my word, you really are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free’” (John 8:31-32). Those who promote teachings that claim that Jesus’ humanity is separated from His divinity are without God’s authority. Today we have numerous teachers and preachers who deny that Jesus Christ is human and divine. They are not from God, says John. In fact, he labels the spirit of such denial “the spirit of the antichrist.” As we are approaching the day when Jesus returns, it is important that we are holding on to the true teachings of God’s word and that we know we belong to God. “Therefore, everyone who will acknowledge me before others, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven” (Matthew 10:32-33). The Holy Spirit that lives in us guarantees our relationship with God and that we belong to Him. “The one who keeps his commands remains in him, and he in him. And the way we know that he remains in us is from the Spirit he has given us” (1 John 3:24). It will be the Spirit of God who will attest to the witness of God’s Word so we will not be led astray. “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth. For he will not speak on his own, but he will speak whatever he hears. He will also declare to you what is to come” (John 16:13).
Blessings,
Isaac De Guzman
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