The TRUTH book Volume 1 (PDF) - For My People Ministry

Chapter three - Steve Wohlberg 103calls for more than verbal agreement with a teaching: it demands the Christfilledlife.” From Vol. 5, p. 379: “It is when we abide in Him [Christ] and Heabides in us that our confession of faith in Him will ‘bear much fruit’ (see John15:1-8).” From p. 1043: “Thus glory comes to God when His image is reflectedin the lives of His followers.God says:The Desire of Ages, p. 357He who would confess Christ must have Christ abiding in him. Hecannot communicate that which he has not received. The disciples mightspeak fluently on doctrines, they might repeat the words of ChristHimself; but unless they possessed Christlike meekness and love, theywere not confessing Him. A spirit contrary to the spirit of Christ woulddeny Him, whatever the profession. Men may deny Christ byevilspeaking, by foolish talking, by words that are untruthful or unkind.They may deny Him by shunning life's burdens, by the pursuit of sinfulpleasure. They may deny Him by conforming to the world, byuncourteous behavior, by the love of their own opinions, by justifyingself, by cherishing doubt, borrowing trouble, and dwelling in darkness. Inall these ways they declare that Christ is not in them. And "whosoevershall deny Me before men," He says, "him will I also deny before MyFather which is in heaven."Summation• 1 John 4:1-3 is not the only test in God’s Word.• There are a number of tests of the spirits, but they all are validindependent of one another.• 1 John 4:1-3 can be used to test an evil spirit.• Angels are also spirits.• Prophets are often guided by angels; therefore, those angels must betested as to whether they are for Christ or against Him. 1 John 4:3 can beapplied to good or evil angels. Pastor Wohlberg has taken one of the verykey tests God gave us to distinguish between good and evil angels andcounteracts its full meaning and effectiveness.• The word answer in Ernie’s statement has the same meaning as confessin 1 John 4:2-3. We all agree that to confess means living that confession.Yes, evil angels can say that Jesus came in the flesh, but they do notmean what they say and do not show it in their life. To this point, theHerald passes all the tests of an angel of God.ConclusionFollowing are some comments by Ellen White on 1 John 4:1.S.D.A. Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 952There will be false dreams and false visions, which have some truth,but lead away from the original faith. The Lord has given men a rule bywhich to detect them: "To the law and to the testimony: if they speak notaccording to this word, it is because there is no light in them." If theybelittle the law of God, if they pay no heed to His will as revealed in thetestimonies of His Spirit, they are deceivers. They are controlled byimpulse and impressions which they believe to be from the Holy Spirit