I John 4:4-6
4 You are from God, little children,
and have overcome them;
because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
5 They are from the world;
therefore they speak as the world,
and the world listens to them.
6 We are from God;
the one who knows God listens to us;
the one who is not from God does not listen to us.
By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Introduction
Our text this morning continues our study of John’s first Epistle
Now remember, the Apostle John is writing to a group of churches under his care in order to counter the threat of false teachers who are troubling his flock.
Therefore, last week John opened this current section of his letter by reminding us that our response to the world’s false teachers requires an ever vigilant testing and discernment.
That is, John reminds us that a large part of what is required to abide in and faithfully follow Christ involves a vigilant testing and scrutiny of all spiritual claims. That which says the same thing about Jesus as God does is from God. That which denies or alters Jesus is not from God and it will never lead you to God.
In our text, this morning John continues his discussion on the need to test and discern the source of all spiritual teachings and claims.
Verse 4
Notice at once, if last week verses 1-3 alerted us to the daunting opposition that God’s people face (John says that many false prophets/teachers have gone out into the world, who are backed by the same darkness/agenda as the antichrist) then in verse 4, John immediately turns to fortify/assure the believer’s heart amid such opposition. Notice then, John reminds us that we are from God. That is, we have not been left here as hapless victims of Satan’s assault. Instead, we too have been sent. Not only that, the one who sends/backs us is the God of all creation. Notice then the manner in which John assures us: John calls us little children FN#1. Importance: at once John’s affectionate address underscores the security and standing the believer has before God. We are God’s precious children. In turn, we have not been abandoned nor left helpless in the world. Rather, God has sent us on a noble mission of great value and importance. Not only that, our heavenly Father has pledged His ongoing presence, care, and commitment to His beloved children.
Next, notice the further assurance that John provides God’s embattled children: However, first notice what that assurance is not: John does not say that one day you will overcome them or that one day victory will be yours. Instead, John says you have overcome them. In other words, the outcome of our mission is already decided. Thus, regardless of the ups-and-downs, the opposition, or the very real costs we may encounter along the way, our victory has been secured and at no point is it in question FN#2. In fact, the believer’s mission is not a struggle to gain victory. Instead, it is a heraldry to announce and offer the victory that is already in place.
Next, notice the reason John says that the believers’ victory is already secured/certain. John says that we have overcome them because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. Importance: remember John is in the midst of instructing us to test every teaching and teacher in order to determine their spiritual backing/source. Notice then the believer’s spiritual source: the one who backs you is God the Holy Spirit (4:2) FN#3. Not only that, notice He is in you. That is, He dwells in you; He goes with you, and He directs, protects, and empowers your mission. In other words, verse 4 underscores the direct and personal nature of God’s backing/involvement (God is not just up there rooting for you. He is with you). Next, notice John reminds you that the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. Now remember, the one who is in the world refers to the spirit of the antichrist who has gone out into the world (4:3). That is, it points to the demonic backing behind all teachers and teachings who deny or alter Christ, and thus try to distort, discredit, and replace the Gospel. Notice then the point: in the face of what often seem to be overwhelming evil and unstoppable darkness, John reminds you that the one who backs your mission is infinitely greater and more powerful than the one who backs the world’s rebellion. Importance: at once verse 4 reminds me that courage and faithfulness (not despair or capitulation) are to be the believer’s response to the world. Therefore, in the face of darkness, I am to remember the earthshaking power of the believer’s simple confession: Jesus is God come in the flesh as the only savior of men FN#4.
Verse 5
Next, notice the contrast: John reminds us that our opponents are from the world FN#5. However, please note, John is not talking about their location (believers and unbelievers alike live on the earth). Instead, John is talking about the source and sort of spiritual nature that is theirs. Notice then in verse 5 world refers to fallen creation as it is defined by separation from God, brokenness, and the blindness of sin. As such, it is a world that shares Satan’s rebellion and objectives and thus is readily susceptible to his deceptions, influence, and bondage. Notice the results: first those who are from the world speak as the world. In other words, they share the same vantage point as the world. That is, they speak from the very separation, rebellion, and blindness that define the world. As such, they perpetuate the same lies and condone the very conditions that hold the world in misery and bondage FN#6. Next, notice the second result of being from the world: John says the world listens to them. In other words, the world embraces anything that supports its rebellion and its desire to be free from God. In turn, the world also violently rejects and seeks to silence anything that holds it accountable to God.
Verse 6
Next, notice the contrast: once again, John reminds us that we are from God and thus have a fundamentally different orientation to every aspect of life (one that seeks God instead of rejecting Him) FN#7. Notice then John says the one who knows God (who is born again, God’s child) listens to us FN#8. That is, they don’t just hear or tolerate what we are saying. Instead, they embrace it and receive it with joy. Why? It is from the same source/Holy Spirit as dwells in them. However, by contrast, the one who is not from God, whose nature is defined by sin and brokenness (not grace), they do not listen to us. That is, they do not receive but reject God’s claim about His Son. Notice the result: John says by this (singular) we know. In other words, the one single deciding factor for all that you encounter is how it responds to God’s testimony about Jesus. Notice then John says by this we know for certain and can distinguish the spirit/followers of truth and the spirit/followers of deception FN#9. However, please note the change in testing: in verse 1-5 the focus of the test was on what a person actively teaches/says/ confesses. However, not everyone is an orator/leader. Therefore, John expands the test to include what one embraces/receives. In other words, in verse 6 we have moved from the teachers to their audience. Notice then, those who do not embrace/ receive the teaching that God has instructed the Apostles and the Church to proclaim about His Son are not from God nor are they directed by God’s Holy Spirit FN#10. Instead, their defining source is a spirit of deception. As such, deception is what they desire, seek out, and embrace.
Bottom line: verses 4-6 remind me that every facet of the world I encounter is claimed and counter claimed. As such, it either serves, reflects, and seeks God; or it endeavors to usurp God and efface His reflection from His creation. Therefore, faithful living and a faithful/clear witness to the world require a vigilant testing of every spiritual teaching and claim so that that which is from Christ is alone embraced and followed.
Footnotes
1] At first glance being described as little children does not seem assuring but terrifying. Notice then the picture verse 4 provides: we have been sent as helpless children out among ravenous wolves. And such we are, for we are not strong in the way that the world counts strength. Our tools and resources are not the weapons in which the world places its confidence. And often when we assess the situation that confronts us we seem helpless and overwhelmed. Thus being sent as little children seems terrifying, that is, until we remember whose children we are and who it is that goes with us.
2] Importance: remember the security/certainty of our victory rests upon two unmovable bedrocks: first, our victory has been secured by God’s sovereign plan that governs all time and event. It is God who determines whatsoever shall come to past (Eph 1:11). Second, our victory has been secured by Christ’s absolute accomplishment/fulfillment of God’s plan. Remember, unless sin is dealt with, God’s plan for man, creation, and His Kingdom will not be realizes as God intends. Therefore, Christ has overcome all that stood in the way of God’s purpose for His people. In turn, Christ has been given the government/unfolding of God’s plan since its basis rests upon Him. In fact, Revelation 5:1-5 provides a wonderful picture of this very theology as the Lamb slain and risen opens up (administers) the scroll containing God’s comprehensive plan for man and all creation.
3] The Greek literally reads: greater is He who is in you all
Importance: the plural pronoun you all underscores the fact that the Spirit’s indwelling presence along with all the assurances given in verse 4, belong to each and every believer (not just the spiritually elite). In other words, verse 4 is about you and me as much as it is about the Apostles and the Church fathers.
4] In the end, notice the 4 assurances that verse 4 provides every believer: (1) we have been sent from God into the world with a divine commission (2) we are God’s precious children and thus go assured of His presence, commitment, and backing; (3) the God who backs us is infinitely greater than that which backs the world; and (4) we are assured that God’s sovereign purpose and victory are already certain.
5] Notice John’s constant shifting from the singular backing/source (the one in the world) to the plural agents directed by this source (they are from the world). We see this dynamic throughout 4:1-5 (one source, many agents and forms of deception)
6] Simply put, fallen man lives and speaks from within the demonic horizontal (they are cut off from God, broken in nature, and thus reject every reference to God in thought, desire, and action).
7] Importance: notice three times in these three short verses (4-6) John pounds home the vital distinction of the two opposing spiritual sources at play. Not only that, by doing so, John shows us over and again the distinguishing differences between these two sources. Why? John wants you to be alert to the divided allegiance that defines our entire world. He then wants you to be able to identify the source of all you encounter; and finally he wants you to understand what is at stake and what the objectives of Satan’s dark agenda truly are (there are no harmless/benign religions, spiritualties, or claims).
8] Note: when John says “we” are from God. He has widens his focus to include not only his flock (the “you all” in verse 4) but also the Apostles and all believers (the Church). Why? The testimony that God has given regarding His Son, He has given to all His people (not just a select group). In turn, all who receive/embrace this testimony are from God and a part of Christ’s Church
9] Importance: the “spirit of truth” does not point directly to the Holy Spirit. Remember our objective here is to test men. Thus, John’s point is to enable us to determine which spirits (i.e. teachers and teachings) are from God, have the Holy Spirit as their directing source/backing, and thus are true, and which ones seek to deceive, ensnare, and lead men to their doom.
10] “by this (singular) we know”. Importance: notice the singular Christ centered nature of John’s test throughout this passage (4:1-6): The single deciding factor comes down to whether a person receives what God says about His Son in His Word. It is this Word and this testimony that God has given to the Church to proclaim. Thus, when John says if they do not listen to us they are not from God, he does not mean that a person must receive everything that the Church has said on any matter at any given time. Instead, he means that a person must receive the testimony about Jesus that God has sent His Church to proclaim/offer. Simply put: the deciding factor is not your view on Noah’s Ark or spiritual gifts. Rather, the deciding factor is you acceptance of God’s testimony about His Son. Notice then, it is from this embrace of Christ that the embrace of all that is from Christ and according to Christ follows.