Two Believers ~

Passage: 1 John 4:1-3 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (KJV)

There are millions upon millions of people living and breathing today segmented by nationalities, languages, and…beliefs.

There are many excuses to segregate from others; however, there is only one true segregating factor and that factor has eternal consequences – Belief.

~ “Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God”

~ “And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist”

God says in 1 John 4:2 “Hereby know ye the Spirit of God” and 1:John 4:1 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”

We are to know the Spirit of God and to diligently guard our heart. We are to “try the spirits,” that is, any teaching, preaching, reading, audio, acquaintances, “friends,” – all things using the Holy Bible (the 66 Canonical Books) as to whether those things are in line with God’s Word.

There are only two groups of believers ~

1. Those who confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh – they are of God

2. Those who deny that Jesus Christ came in the flesh – they are of the antichrist

Study - Personalities of God - Part 1 - Creator, Giver, and Sustainer of Life

Key Verse:

Job 33:4 “The ¹Spirit of God ²hath made me, and the ³breath of the Almighty hath given me life.”

Note 1:

“Spirit of God” – the Holy Spirit (the Third Person of the Trinity – God is a triune being)

Reference: Psalm 51:11, 12 “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.” (12) “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.”

- The Holy Spirit, being the Third Person of the Trinity is the One Who is present in Believer’s hearts (sent as the Comforter after Jesus’ resurrection) after a person receives the salvation gift from God

- Believers should not grieve the Holy Spirit to cause Him to withdraw His presence from their lives

Reference: Job 32:8 “But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding.”

- Upon repentance and acceptance of God’s gift of salvation, the Holy Spirit helps Believers to understand the Word of God in order to apply it to their lives

- Also, the Holy Spirit is the Person of the Trinity that convicts sinners of their need to repent of sin and accept Jesus Christ as their Personal Saviour

Note 2:

Reference: Genesis 1:2 “And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.”

- “the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters” - The Holy Spirit was actively involved in Creation

Reference: Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”

- God is the Creator – He created man and woman (and each child conceived), Giver (He breathed life into Adam, Eve and each person, and Sustainer of Life (He controls all that has been Created)

Note 3:

Reference: Genesis 2:7 “And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.

- Without His breath, man would not and cannot live

Reference: Job 27:3 “All the while my breath is in me, and the spirit of God is in my nostrils;”

- God is the Sustainer of life Who gives us our very breath, and the One who created and provides the oxygen to breathe.