Sermon from April 27

Test the Spirits

1 John 4: 1 - 13

1. To "test the spirit" means to give teaching an acid test, just like a metal-worker does to make sure gold or silver is pure.
2. The acid test is: what does the teaching say about Jesus. (The Gnostics were teaching that Jesus did not have a physical body.)
3. Any teaching that says we can get to heaven any way other than faith in Jesus is false. John 14:6
(This is the Jesus we find in the Gospel accounts.)
4. God gives us the faith to accept the grace of salvation. Ephesians 2: 8, 9
5. The proof that we belong to Christ is our love for one another.
6. The standard for love was set by Jesus. We willingly sacrifice for each other. We want what’s best for each other.