Do Not Believe Everyone

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” (1 John 4:1 NASB1995)

Sadly, it appears that in our day and time on the earth that not many people are adhering to what this says, but they readily accept whatever sounds good to their ears and whatever is quick and easy and does not require much time or thought or consideration of words spoken to see whether or not what is being taught as truth is actually the truth being taught in the Scriptures. And the evidence of this is seen in how many are buying into a false diluted gospel which makes no requirements for death to sin and walks of obedience to God’s commands, but which coddles people in their sins.

But read this one verse in the context of the whole of 1 John, and not just in the immediate context (see vs. 2-3) which is easy to misinterpret because of the English translation. For the word “confess” is not a verbal acknowledgement of something only. The word means to speak to the same conclusion, in full agreement, to align with, in this case to be in full agreement with God about all that he teaches, and to align ourselves with his teachings via conforming our lives to be obedient to his commands, to walk in his ways, in truth, and to no longer live in captivity to sin.

So, in 1 John 1 we learn that if we say (profess, confess) that we are in fellowship with God (with God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit) but while we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle, in practice) in the darkness (sin, wickedness, immorality), we are lying and we do not practice the truth. But if we walk (in conduct, in lifestyle) in the Light (in Jesus Christ, in truth, in righteousness, in obedience to our Lord and his commands), the blood of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, cleanses (frees us, delivers) us from all sin, and then we have fellowship with God and with others of faith in our Lord.

And in 1 John 2 we learn that we know that we have come to know God (Father, Son Jesus Christ, and Holy Spirit) if we keep (obey, adhere to) his commandments (New Covenant) which teach that by faith in Jesus Christ we must deny self, die to sin daily, and follow our Lord in surrender to his will in walks of obedience to his commands. And this doesn’t mean we will never fail (1 John 2:1-2), but if we do not obey our Lord, in practice, we are lying and the truth is not in us. But if, by the grace of God, in the power of God, obedience to God is what we practice, then we are truly in Christ Jesus.

And 1 John 3:7-10 says, “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous; the one who practices sin is of the devil; for the devil has sinned from the beginning. The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil. No one who is born of God practices sin, because His seed abides in him; and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. By this the children of God and the children of the devil are obvious: anyone who does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor the one who does not love his brother.” (see also: Matthew 7:21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23)

Yet so many people today who profess faith in Jesus Christ are ignoring teachings such as these while they embrace multiple Scriptures being taught outside of their appropriate biblical context which are being made to say what they do not say if taught in the correct biblical context. And so they have the impression that they are saved and on their way to heaven even if they ignore God and his commands, and even if they deliberately and habitually continue to make sin their practice, and not obedience to God. But they are believing lies which will send them to hell on the promise of heaven. So be those who test the spirits and who believe God and his word.

[Matthew 7:13-14,21-23; Luke 9:23-26; Romans 6:1-23; Romans 8:1-14; Galatians 5:16-24; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:17-32; Ephesians 5:3-6; Titus 2:11-14; 1 John 1:1-10; 1 John 2:1-6; 1 John 3:4-10; Acts 26:18] 

No Less  

An Original Work / March 19, 2012

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love

I can do no less than praise You,

Lord, for all You’ve done for me.

You died for my sins to save me,

So I would be set free.

I adore You! Lord, I praise You!

Jesus, Savior, King of kings!

You provided my redemption.

Your grace has pardoned me.

I can do no less than serve You. 

Lord, Your witness I would be,

Telling others of Your love,

And why You died on that tree.

Tell of how You gave of Your life,

So from sin we’d be set free,

So we could worship You forever,

And live eternally.

I can do no less than love You,

Lord, for You have first loved me.

You gave of Your life so willing,

Because You cared for me.

Turn from my sin! Obey freely!

Live for You each passing day.

Read Your word, and follow Your lead,

Lord, as I humbly pray. 

https://vimeo.com/125493623

Do Not Believe Everyone

An Original Work / February 15, 2026

Christ’s Free Servant, Sue J Love