Discerning Truth: Victory Through Christ's Work
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we delved into the profound truths found in 1 John 4:1-6, focusing on the importance of discerning truth from error, especially in the context of false teachings about Jesus Christ. We began by emphasizing the necessity of a sound Christology, understanding who Jesus is—His incarnation, His work on the cross, His resurrection, and His ongoing intercession for us. This foundational knowledge is crucial for Christians to avoid falling prey to false doctrines.
John's pastoral heart shines through as he addresses the believers as "little children," reminding them of their victory through spiritual birth. This victory is not based on our efforts but on the work of Christ. The new birth grants us the ability to overcome false teachings and the lies of the world. John reassures us that we are not defeated; we are victorious because of Christ's victory.
We explored the reality of living in a world filled with tribulation and false teachings. The world system, driven by the spirit of the Antichrist, is always at odds with the truth of Jesus. However, we are reminded that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. This assurance empowers us to stand firm in our faith, knowing that the Holy Spirit resides in us, guiding us into all truth.
John also highlights the importance of adhering to the apostolic testimony. The apostles were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, and their teachings form the foundation of our faith. We must remain grounded in their testimony, rejecting any teachings that deviate from the truth they proclaimed.
In conclusion, we are called to live as people of the truth, discerning the voices we hear and standing firm in the victory that Christ has won for us. We must immerse ourselves in God's Word, allowing it to shape our understanding and guide our lives. As we do so, we will be equipped to overcome the false teachings and tribulations of this world, living as victorious followers of Jesus Christ.
### Key Takeaways
1. Victory Through Spiritual Birth: Our victory over false teachings and the lies of the world is rooted in our spiritual birth. Being born again means we are not defeated but victorious through Christ's work. This victory is not based on our efforts but on the new birth granted to us by God. [36:03]
2. Greater is He Who is in Us: The Holy Spirit resides in us, empowering us to overcome any false teachings and tribulations. This assurance that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world gives us the strength to stand firm in our faith. [54:57]
3. The World System vs. God's Truth: The world system, driven by the spirit of the Antichrist, is always at odds with the truth of Jesus. We must be vigilant in discerning the voices we hear, ensuring that we align ourselves with God's truth rather than the world's lies. [01:05:19]
4. Adhering to Apostolic Testimony: The teachings of the apostles, who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, form the foundation of our faith. We must remain grounded in their testimony, rejecting any teachings that deviate from the truth they proclaimed. [01:16:37]
5. Living as People of the Truth: As followers of Jesus, we are called to live as people of the truth, immersing ourselves in God's Word and allowing it to shape our understanding and guide our lives. This commitment to truth equips us to overcome the false teachings and tribulations of this world. [01:22:43]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[28:37] - Opening Prayer
[29:50] - Reading 1 John 4:1-6
[31:02] - Context and Importance of Discernment
[33:27] - The Need for Sound Christology
[35:31] - Victory Through Spiritual Birth
[37:01] - Overcoming False Teachings
[39:07] - Living as Victorious Believers
[41:34] - The Reality of Tribulation
[43:23] - Peace in Christ Amidst Tribulation
[45:39] - Navigating Truth and Lies
[48:37] - The World's Opposition to Truth
[50:59] - Ground of Our Victory
[54:57] - Greater is He Who is in Us
[01:00:30] - God's Wisdom and Power
[01:05:19] - The World System vs. God's Truth
[01:10:48] - False Teachers and Worldly Values
[01:16:37] - Adhering to Apostolic Testimony
[01:22:43] - Living as People of the Truth
[01:25:56] - Faithful Teaching and Apostolic Witness
[01:30:15] - Warning Against Idolatry
[01:34:36] - Closing Prayer and Baptism Preparation
[01:42:04] - Prayer for Grant and Ellie
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1 John 4:1-6 (ESV)
> "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."
#### Observation Questions
1. What does John mean when he says, "test the spirits to see whether they are from God"? ([29:50])
2. How does John describe the victory that believers have over false teachings? ([35:31])
3. What assurance does John give about the Holy Spirit's role in believers' lives? ([54:57])
4. According to John, what is the significance of adhering to the apostolic testimony? ([01:16:37])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it important for Christians to have a sound understanding of who Jesus is, according to the sermon? ([33:27])
2. How does the assurance that "greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world" impact a believer's daily life? ([54:57])
3. What are the dangers of the world system that John warns about, and how can believers remain vigilant? ([01:05:19])
4. How does adhering to the apostolic testimony help believers discern truth from error? ([01:16:37])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you encountered false teachings. How did you discern the truth, and what steps did you take to stay grounded in your faith? ([29:50])
2. In what ways can you remind yourself daily that you are victorious through your spiritual birth in Christ? ([35:31])
3. How can you cultivate a deeper awareness of the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance in your life? ([54:57])
4. What practical steps can you take to ensure that you are aligning your beliefs and actions with the apostolic testimony? ([01:16:37])
5. Identify a specific area in your life where the world's values conflict with God's truth. How can you stand firm in your faith in that area? ([01:05:19])
6. How can you immerse yourself more in God's Word to better discern truth from error? What specific changes can you make to your daily routine to achieve this? ([47:46])
7. Think of someone in your life who may be influenced by false teachings. How can you lovingly guide them towards the truth of Jesus Christ? ([01:12:44])
Devotional
Day 1: Victory Through Spiritual Birth
Our victory over false teachings and the lies of the world is rooted in our spiritual birth. Being born again means we are not defeated but victorious through Christ's work. This victory is not based on our efforts but on the new birth granted to us by God. John reassures us that we are not defeated; we are victorious because of Christ's victory. This new birth grants us the ability to overcome false teachings and the lies of the world. It is a reminder that our strength and victory come from Christ alone, not from our own efforts. [36:03]
1 Peter 1:23-25 (ESV): "Since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for 'All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever.' And this word is the good news that was preached to you."
Reflection: Think about a recent challenge or false teaching you encountered. How does knowing that your victory is rooted in your spiritual birth through Christ change your perspective on that situation?
Day 2: Greater is He Who is in Us
The Holy Spirit resides in us, empowering us to overcome any false teachings and tribulations. This assurance that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world gives us the strength to stand firm in our faith. The world system, driven by the spirit of the Antichrist, is always at odds with the truth of Jesus. However, we are reminded that greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world. This assurance empowers us to stand firm in our faith, knowing that the Holy Spirit resides in us, guiding us into all truth. [54:57]
1 John 4:4 (ESV): "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."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt overwhelmed by the world's pressures. How can the knowledge that the Holy Spirit within you is greater than any worldly force help you face current or future challenges?
Day 3: The World System vs. God's Truth
The world system, driven by the spirit of the Antichrist, is always at odds with the truth of Jesus. We must be vigilant in discerning the voices we hear, ensuring that we align ourselves with God's truth rather than the world's lies. The world system is constantly trying to deceive us and lead us away from the truth of Jesus. However, by staying grounded in God's Word and being vigilant in our discernment, we can navigate through the lies and hold on to the truth. [01:05:19]
James 4:4 (ESV): "You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God."
Reflection: Identify a specific area in your life where you feel the world's influence is strong. How can you actively choose to align yourself with God's truth in that area today?
Day 4: Adhering to Apostolic Testimony
The teachings of the apostles, who were eyewitnesses to Jesus' life, death, and resurrection, form the foundation of our faith. We must remain grounded in their testimony, rejecting any teachings that deviate from the truth they proclaimed. The apostles' teachings are the bedrock of our faith, and it is crucial to adhere to their testimony. By doing so, we ensure that we are following the true teachings of Jesus and not being led astray by false doctrines. [01:16:37]
2 Peter 1:16 (ESV): "For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty."
Reflection: Consider the sources of your spiritual learning. Are they rooted in the apostolic testimony? How can you ensure that you are grounding your faith in the true teachings of Jesus?
Day 5: Living as People of the Truth
As followers of Jesus, we are called to live as people of the truth, immersing ourselves in God's Word and allowing it to shape our understanding and guide our lives. This commitment to truth equips us to overcome the false teachings and tribulations of this world. By immersing ourselves in God's Word, we allow it to shape our understanding and guide our lives. This commitment to truth equips us to overcome the false teachings and tribulations of this world, living as victorious followers of Jesus Christ. [01:22:43]
John 17:17 (ESV): "Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth."
Reflection: How can you make a daily habit of immersing yourself in God's Word? What specific steps will you take to ensure that God's truth shapes your understanding and guides your life?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Do you realize today that if you are born again today, you are not defeated? You are a victorious one because of the work of Christ. The new birth grants unto us victory." [36:03] (16 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "We are not to live like those in the world who pursue stuff, status, likes, resumes, possessions, attention. We are to die for God, to die to self, and to walk in the glorious life that is living inside of us, which is Jesus Christ." [40:04] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Peace is only found in Christ. Anybody need peace today? Do you look at our world? Does our nation need peace today? Does our world need peace today? It is only found in Jesus Christ, not in any kind of false religion, not a single one." [48:07] (18 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We have got to quit living defeated lives. That is not who God's people are. Have you read the end of the book, by the way? God wins. He's already won at the cross. No one is greater. No one is more powerful." [54:26] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Greater is he who is in us. In Jesus, His work, the Father's work in sending Jesus, the Holy Spirit, they enable us to reside in us to guarantee our victory." [01:01:06] (17 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Every one of us who have been redeemed by God and are followers of Jesus, we need a sound Christology. Christology is a study under theology of the nature and the work of Jesus: His incarnation, His pre-existence, His work on the cross, the resurrection, His ascension, His work now as the great intercessor, as our great high priest." [33:27] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The new birth does this incredible work of moving us from being an enemy of God to now being a friend of God, united with God, and walking with God. We move from death unto life, and our heritage that we have been born again and that we are of the Lord cannot be forgotten by us." [39:36] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We overcome all untruth, all false teaching because he who is in us is greater than he who is in the world. So the ground of our victory is not our intelligence, though we ought to aim to be incredibly intelligent in the word of God." [50:59] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We are in Christ, yet we are also sojourning through this world that is not our home. Our home is Jesus. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He is my treasure. He is my life. And yet I've got to walk through this world of tribulation." [45:39] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "We are not to teach anything but what has been written down to us by the apostles. And this is why the concern is now, in our day and time, you've got people sitting at a desk, typing on their little blog, saying things that aren't true about Jesus." [01:25:56] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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