Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Adult Sunday School Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/bb/bb20041219.htm

1 JOHN: DEFEATING MISLEADING SPIRITUAL ERROR TRULY TO COMMUNE WITH GOD
Part VI: Blessings The Mature "Father" Has In His Walk With God
F. The Blessing Of Sure Evidences Of A Holy Spirit Controlled Life
(1 John 3:24b-4:6)
  1. Introduction
    1. True fellowship with God produces a tremendous, multifaceted, spiritually fulfilling lifestyle even on this earth in this mortal life, something John briefly stated in 1 John 1:3-4.
    2. So, having shown the basic levels of growth, John gave insight into the blessings that mature "fathers" have for overcoming a dependence on others as a "little child" together with the world's lusts, and of overcoming dependence on the world as a "young man". The sixth blessing "fathers" enjoy is the blessing of knowing they are living a Holy Spirit controlled life via sure evidences of that fact (as follows):
  2. The Blessing Of Sure Evidence Of A Holy Spirit Controlled Life, 1 John 3:24b-4:6.
    1. After addressing the three levels of maturity in 1 John 2:12-27, John began an extensive treatment of the blessings occurring for spiritual "fathers" as motivation for his readers to mature into spiritual fatherhood.
    2. The sixth blessing of maturity is confidence we are maturing by noting sure evidences we are living by the power of the Holy Spirit, that we are indeed walking by means of the Holy Spirit (as follows):
      1. John introduced the view that we can be sure we fellowship, or abide in Christ by means of the Holy Spirit Who indwells us the instant we believed on Christ as Savior from sin, 1 John 3:24b; Eph. 1:13f.
      2. Lest we question just how we can discern the Holy Spirit's PRESENCE, John gave first a description of defining one who as INDWELT by the Holy Spirit versus one who was NOT in 1 John 4:1-3:
        1. John first warned that many who pose as godly leaders are actually spiritual impostors, 1 John 4:1b.
        2. He thus revealed we should test the spirits behind every minister, 1 John 4:1a. That test is this: (1) every one who states as his own belief (Greek homologeo) that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh says so BY God's HOLY SPIRIT, 1 John 4:2, cf. U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966 ed., p. 820). Also, 1 Corinthians 12:3b states one who states as his own belief that "Jesus is Lord" (NIV, ESV, i. e., the Creator God) does so BY God's HOLY SPIRIT. (2) Yet, every one who either can not state these truths as his belief (1 John 4:3) or who calls Jesus accursed (1 Cor. 12:3) is an unbeliever influenced by Satan, Ephesians 2:2; 1 John 4:1,3!
      3. Further, John reveals in 1 John 4:4-6 sure evidences of the Holy Spirit's WORK in the believer:
        1. The believer who is controlled by the Holy Spirit resists adopting the heresies of false teachers who either fail to confess or deny Christ's incarnation and full deity, 1 John 4:4a with 4:1-3 and 1 Cor. 12:3. He thus overcomes by the power of the Holy Spirit Who is greater than Satan who influences the false teachers or people in the world, 1 John 4:4b; Ephesians 2:2. [cf. 1 John 2:14b]
        2. In stark contrast, the false teachers that are of the world system speak in accord with the meeting of the world's lusts of the flesh, the eyes and the pride of this life, so the world hears them, 4:5; 2:15f.
        3. Third, the Holy Spirit controlled believer heeds the apostles' [Scripture] teachings unlike those of the world, 1 John 4:6a. In fact, the maturing believer discerns the spirit of truth from that of error by noting that doctrines that appeal to the lusts of the flesh, the eyes and the pride of life are errant ones where those that reflect the Apostolic doctrines are of God, 1 John 4:6b.
Lesson: Truly maturing believers evidence they live by the Holy Spirit's control in (a) confessing as their belief Christ's full deity and incarnation unlike false teachers, and (b) holding to Scripture beliefs (c) versus accepting false doctrines that cater to the filling of the lusts of the body, eyes and pride of life.

Application: (1) If we (a) confess Christ's incarnation and full deity, we are saved and indwelt by the Holy Spirit. If we (b) adopt these doctrines AND resist those beliefs that appeal to the lusts of the body, eyes and pride of this life, we are controlled by the Holy Spirit and are maturing in Christ. (2) Yet, if we (a) fail to confess Christ's incarnation and full deity, we are lost, and must trust in Christ. (b) If we are ABLE to do the LATTER but find we replace what the Bible teaches to gratify our lust of the body, our lust of the eyes or the pride of our earthly life, we are believers, but live apart from the Holy Spirit's power, and must accordingly repent to enjoy God's blessing and joy!