Moving Toward Spiritual Discernment-1

MOVING TOWARD SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT-I—1John 3:10--4:21

Love is indispensable for spiritual discernment.

Love both granted & received is indispensable for spiritual discernment.

Spiritual discernment is completed thru love’s scrutiny.

Indispensable tools for Spiritual Discernment.

The apostle John sheds light on the need for Spiritual Discernment in the Church.

Spiritual Discernment is a necessity in the Church.

•How is Spiritual Discernment in the Church achieved/accomplished?

--OR--

•What must be recognized or acknowledged in moving the church toward spiritual discernment.

15 recognitions upon moving toward spiritual discernment.

I’ve chosen the word, ‘recognition’ here, because it goes beyond mere ‘acknowledgment’ or mental agreement. ‘Recognition’ of the things we’ll examine implies not only head knowledge, but heart knowledge which drives a person to performance or action.

1—Moving(yourself & the Church) toward spiritual discernment recognizes...

OPPOSING SIDES(3:10)

Explanation:(3:10)

3:10—“In this the children of God & the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.”

This verse sets the precedent for John’s discussions which take place thru 4:21ff.

“In This” is a phrase often used in 1John to garner attention to the statement he will make which immediately follows.

The Holy Spirit via John wants the Church to know that their ‘spiritual discernment’ quotient must be raised in order to recognize & qualitatively separate two kinds of “children.” Those the Church must be adept at separating are:

1)God’s “children” must be distinguished from those who are “children of the devil.”...

--AND--

2) Those who are “children of the devil” must be distinguished from God’s “children.”

Obviously the devil masquerades as an angel of light(2Cor. 11:12-13). And as such, both he & his deceitful workers often successfully make destructive inroads into the Church.

2Cor. 11:12-15—“But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.”

Thereby the Church must be on guard at all times because of the subtle ways attending Satan’s deceitful workers(“children of the devil”). Also consider the exhortation & warning of Eph. 6:10-18...

Eph. 6:10-18—“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord & in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh & blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, & having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, & having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. And take the helmet of salvation, & the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; praying always with all prayer & supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance & supplication for all the saints--”

John’s call to spiritual discernment focuses upon the Church’s examination of “righteousness” & “love” among themselves.

The concise boundary one must look for is the presence or absence of the “practice” or ‘doing’ of “righteousness.” It’s absence, in those claiming to know Christ, is definitive of those who are “not of God.”

Likewise, an absence of “love” for one’s “brother” is also definitive of those who are “not of God.”

Thus such people, viewed from a standpoint of lack or absence of an ongoing “righteousness” as well as lacking a “love” for one’s “brother”(in Christ), are simply “children of the devil.”

*“Righteousness” & “love” must therefore be measurable to some degree, & present some sort of accountability before God!

This does NOT mean that Christians are legalists in any form or fashion. Legalists set rules & exclusively rely upon those rules for determining “righteousness” &/or “love” in themselves & others. Whereas true Christians ultimately look to God for their direction & guidance.

The work of the Holy Spirit is necessary in such determinations without relying upon legalities.

•In fact, it is a sad fact that some Christians, upon reading John’s statement here, would immediately feel the need to employ such legalizing tactics prior to any other avenue.