The presence of false
teachers and heresies made it necessary for John to counsel the believers to be
careful. He did not want them to be deceived so he paused briefly to warn them.
Together with the warning, he also taught them how to test and distinguish the
truth. Afraid that believers would be gullible and think that the source of the
teachings of the false prophets were from the Holy Spirit, he urged them to
test every spirit. Here is a key to determine what is of God and what is not.
The key to unlock the truth rests in the Incarnation of Christ.
The pertinent question is: “What does the person believe about Jesus Christ?” A
teacher who confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh is from God. However, if
a person cannot and will not confess that Christ had come in the flesh, is likely
to be operating from the spirit of anti-Christ. That person can never be from
God. Notice that the issue is not in the denying but in the confessing. This
suggests that false prophets could be identified more from their teachings than
their works.
Turning to the readers in verse 4, John assured and reminded them
of the powerful Holy Spirit who is dwelling in them. This Holy Spirit had
helped them and would continue to help them deal with the opposing spirits of
the anti-Christ. The teachings of the anti-Christ could appeal to the people of
the world because they came from there. Furthermore, these were worldly-minded
people and could only share something from the world. In contrast, believers
are from God. True believers would pay attention to the teachings of the
Apostles. Being grounded on the faithful words of the Apostles would help one
to distinguish truth from error.
There are two creeds that have helped the church to maintain her
orthodoxy. They are the teachings of the apostles in a nutshell.
The Apostles’
Creed
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth. I
believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord. He was conceived by the power
of the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary. He suffered under Pontius
Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended to the dead. On the
third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right
hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I
believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic (universal) Church, the communion
of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life
everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God, the Father, the Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth, of all that is, seen and unseen. We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ, the only
Son of God, eternally begotten of the Father, God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God, begotten, not made, of one being with the Father. Through
Him all things were made. For us and for our salvation He came down from
heaven: by the power of the Holy Spirit He became incarnate from the Virgin
Mary, and was made man. For our sake He was crucified under Pontius Pilate; He
suffered death and was buried. On the third day He rose again in accordance
with the Scriptures; He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of
the Father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and His
kingdom will have no end. We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of
life, Who proceeds from the Father and the Son. With the Father and the Son He
is worshiped and glorified. He has spoken through the Prophets. We believe in
one holy catholic (universal) and apostolic Church. We acknowledge one baptism
for the forgiveness of sins. We look for the resurrection of the dead, and the
life of the world to come. Amen.
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