JUDGING RIGHTLY: TESTING SPIRITS; OTHERS & OURS

JUDGING RIGHTLY: TESTING SPIRITS; OTHERS & OURS

Monday, November 23, 2015

John [GW] 1:1-5 In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was already with God in the beginning. Everything came into existence through him. Not one thing that exists was made without him. He was the source of life, and that life was the light for humanity. The light shines in the dark, and the dark has never extinguished it.

John [GW] 7:24 Stop judging by outward appearance! Instead, judge correctly."

2John [NLT] 1:5-11 I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God      

        has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning. 7 I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus

       Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. 8 Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward.

       9 Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son. 10 If anyone

       comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. 11 Anyone who encourages such people becomes a

       partner in their evil work.

  Reviewing 2John 1:5-11 we learn several critical points in properly judging whether to trust men or not:

·         Vs. 5 & 6 emphasizes Christ’ example and teaching on loving one another; without godly love involving discipleship we can’t have true righteous discernment. Jn.14:13-15.

·         Vs. 7 tells us to beware, for there are many deceivers. Jer.14:14; Mt.7:15; 24:11, 24; Mk.13:22; Lk.6:26; 2Pt.2:1; 1Jn.4:1;Tit.1:10.

·         Vs. 7 presents the essential test to judge by; who and what do they say of Jesus? (Two of the largest Christian groups in world consider Him other than God-incarnate. Jn1:1, 14; Heb.2:17; 1Jn.4:2)

·         Vs. 8 explains that we, as audience listening or reading, are the primary responsible party to profile and identify these deceivers. 2Tim.2:15-16.

·         Vs. 9 broadens the basis to judge by; what did Lord Jesus Christ teach during while Incarnate?

·         Vs. 10 orders the taking of action following judgment: We are not to endorse or support them in any way, shape, or form that will further their ministry. (We are to speak to them of Truth.)

·         Vs. 11 is a dire warning to those that support deceivers. This includes wishing them well in their efforts. Mt.10:14; Mk.6:11; Lk.9:5.

  In summation: When we are living The Way (Jn.14:6) as followers of Christ we are capable of and responsible to judge all things. (1Cor.2:9-16) Doing so takes work. Undeniably it commonly has a contemporary social cost. But not fulfilling this responsibility is a serious infraction that involves eternal expense. Jesus explained “Everyone who acknowledges me publicly here on earth, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But everyone who denies me here on earth, I will also deny before my Father in heaven. Don’t imagine that I came to bring peace to the earth! I came not to bring peace, but a sword. I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. Your enemies will be right in your own household! If you love your father or mother more than you love me, you are not worthy of being mine; or if you love your son or daughter more than me, you are not worthy of being mine. 38 If you refuse to take up your cross and follow me, you are not worthy of being mine. If you cling to your life, you will lose it; but if you give up your life for me, you will find it.” (NLT Mt.10:32-39)

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