Do not automatically accept all who claim to be of God.
Test everything they do, say and believe by the word of God.
Steer well clear of all false prophets.
Test their understanding of Christ's divinity.
Do they compromise it in any way?
Do they acknowledge Him to be God from eternity past to eternity future?
Was He fully man and fully God on earth?
Denial = antichrist spirit at work.
We've been given the Holy Spirit to be overcomers.
We can overcome false teachers!
We have a greater Spirit in us!
It is by our standing on the truth.
Truth is always greater than error.
The world accepts anything but Biblical Christianity.
Why? Because false religion speaks the same language as the world.
Vanity, deceit, corruption, liberalism.
We are God's people - we are different.
God's people accept the truth and those who speak truth.
Those not of God will reject us.
Jesus said that we would know them by their fruits.
Christian love is manifest in good
works.
It can only exist where there is brotherly love.
We can only love this way because we belong to God.
Love is based upon our relationship with God.
No love? = God is not in that heart or place.
Love is the essence of God's character.
If God is with us then there must be love.
Proof of God's love is seen in Christ.
His sacrificial love on the cross.
This love brought us eternal life.
Christian love is not a product of love for God, but of His love for us.
Christian love originates with God.
He loved us before we loved Him.
He did not wait for us to get right with Him.
Do we only love those who love us?
Do we wait for them to say sorry first?
Love for others must begin with us.
Do you love the God you cannot see?
Do you hate the brother you can see?
Love for the brethren is real proof that God is in us.
Believers have the "inward witness".
The Holy Spirit confirms that we are God's children.
This is maintained through obedience to His leading.
A piece of paper is not your witness.
The Witness assures us that Jesus is Saviour.
The apostles had this witness and proclaimed the Good News.
They had no reason to lie.
The Witness moves us to tell others.
He enables us to declare Christ's divinity.
We say He is Messiah, Redeemer and Lord.
Only someone filled with the Holy Spirit can say Jesus is Lord - equal with the Father.
What evidence do we have to show the Witness is in us?
1. We know that Christ is our Saviour.
2. We have biblical faith in God.
3. We believe that God loves us.
4. We believe that God is love.
5. We love God and live in Him.
6. We love others.