Opening Prayer
Lord, let Your Word of truth lead us forth on the right way of faith. Amen.
Text: First John 4:1-4
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because 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 of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
Devotion
“Beware of false prophets,” the Lord says. And here the Apostle warns: “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” Love is kind and trusting, it does not think evil, it believes all things, hopes all things, and puts the best construction on everything, but it is also aware and sensitive and watchful against lying and ungodliness. And how necessary this is! We must never think that we are secure and safe here, but we must know that the deceiver’s arrows are always whistling past us. The devil allows himself no rest; where God’s Word is proclaimed, he is always there also to pour his venom into the hearts, sometimes appealing to our reason, sometimes as a sympathetic friend. And unfortunately he has no lack of servants; there are enough of them who are more than willing to run his errands.
In our text the Holy Spirit gives a clear sign to recognize antichrists: “Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God,” that is: Whoever does not teach that Jesus Christ is true God and true Man in one Person is a false prophet. But “every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,” that is: Whoever teaches and confirms with his life that Jesus is God’s Son is a servant of God for “no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit” (1Co 12:3).
Most often the Antichrist has tried to disguise himself in the likeness of Christ’s clothing, and always he claims to be teaching true Christianity in a renewed and pure manner. In our days he steps up with shameless impudence and openly denies the Father and the Son, and this he dares to call pure Christianity! “The old faith is outdated, away with it! Away with the junk! New age, new teaching!” But you know now, dear Christians, what kind of spirit this is! It is good that John has given us a clear and simple mark of the Antichrist and his forerunners. Those who would get rid of the old truths of faith, dogmas, as they call them, doctrines about God’s Son and the atoning power of His blood, are really voices of the Antichrist. – They think they should own the future. O yes, in a way they do. We do not expect good and happy times. But John says: “You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” So then the victory remains yours to the end. “Be wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Mat 10:16); be kind and charitable, but watchful and diligent. Walk always in the light as children of light. Have no fellowship with antichrists!
Closing Prayer
O God, let Your light and Your truth lead us; let them lead us to Your holy hill and Your dwelling place. Guard us in this evil age; help us to withstand all the storms of deceit and to remain truly faithful in love. Amen.
Hymn
May God root out all heresy,
And of false teachers rid us
Who proudly say, “Now, where is he
That shall our speech forbid us?
By right and might we shall prevail;
What we determine cannot fail;
We own no lord and master.”
Therefore saith God, “I must arise,
The poor My help are needing.
To Me ascend My people’s cries,
And I have heard their pleading.
For them My saving Word shall fight
And fearlessly and sharply smite,
The poor with might defending.”
Luther: O Lord, look down, from heaven behold L 497:3-4 ELH 440:3-4 tr. The Lutheran Hymnal;
tune: Ach Gott vom Himmel