They are of the world.
We are not.
And there are spiritual forces at work among us.

Remember, in this ancient letter we are studying, John “presented the world not as the global earth or the mass of humanity, which God Himself loves (John 3:16). Instead it is the community of sinful humanity that is united in rebellion against God. Here, John suggests that there are forces of spiritual darkness that guide and influence the world.”(Enduring Word Commentary)

“They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” (1 John 4:5)

Those who speak as of the world often speak about how they feel with no regard for what God says.

The world hears them, and likes them, because they call wrong things right and those involved in those wrong things feel better about themselves.

We need only look to the policies of the progressive left, the liberal education system of this country, and most of the entertainment industry to see “the spirit of error” being celebrated as truth.

Just yesterday, Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream posted, “ Today is National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day! ⚕️ We stand with abortion providers today and every day.“

I hope you’ll never buy their ice cream again. But this is really no surprise, is it? Our world continues to celebrate wrong things as right—

Abortion
Gay Marriage
Transgenderism
Homosexuality

All of these things go against a Creator God and His Ways.

If we know God and read His Word, we know these things are wrong.

And it’s hard because we see some very smart people (college professors, business owners, political leaders etc) calling wrong things right.

Again, this why we have to test everything—even those things we are being taught in some of our churches.

The Enduring Word commentary says, “If someone hears what God has said in the Bible, we know he has the spirit of truth. If he does not hear it, he has the spirit of error. John makes it clear that error has a spiritual dynamic to it; it isn’t just about being educated or smart. Some very educated, very smart people can still be influenced mightily by the spirit of error.”

But remember! We have the Spirit of Truth! We have the Holy Spirit inside of us helping us to test everything and walk in truth!

And what you are doing to read the Word, study the Word, meditate on the Word, day in and day out, wont return void!

For God will use it to direct your steps and show you the way out of the temptation to cooperate with the spirits of error in this world. And sometimes that may be as simple as buying a different ice cream 🍦!

read1John

Note – this is a continuation of my study of 1 John.