孰是孰非？
约翰一书三章24节至四章6节
24遵守神命令的，就住在神里面；神也住在他里面。我们所以知道神住在我们里面是因他所赐给我们的圣灵。
1亲爱的弟兄阿，一切的灵，你们不可都信，总要试验那些灵是出于神的不是，因为世上有许多假先知已经出来了。
2凡灵认耶稣基督是成了肉身来，就是出于神的；从此你们可以认出神的灵来。
3凡灵不认耶稣，就不是出于神；这是那敌基督者的灵。你们从前听见他要来，现在已经在世上了。
4小子们哪，你们是属神的，并且胜了他们；因为那在你们里面的，比那在世界上的更大。
5他们是属世界的，所以论世界的事，世人也听从他们。
6我们是属神的，认识神的就听从我们；不属神的就不听从我们。从此我们可以认出真理的灵和谬妄的灵来。
信息分享
约翰在三章24节首先提到圣灵住在我们里面。因此，我们首先要向那位传讲真理的人问一个问题：「你怎样看圣灵？」有些人可能不承认圣灵是神的其中一个位格；而很多基督徒不是很少谈及圣灵，就是过分高举圣灵。然而，圣灵本该是荣耀基督而不是祂自己。
约翰提出的第二个验证准则，是那人是否相信耶稣基督是曾经降世为人的神的儿子。这不仅是相信历史中曾经有一个名叫「耶稣」的人，而是相信这个耶稣乃是神的儿子降世为人。不少人承认耶稣基督是一个历史伟人，但这是不够的，祂乃是神自己。因此，我们要问明对方：「你怎样看耶稣基督？」如此，你便可以知道他究竟相信耶稣是甚么。
第三项验证是在第5至6节──圣经。约翰没有直接提到圣经，不过，他说要认识神的话语，圣经就是神所默示的话语；因此，我们应该问明那人：「你怎样看圣经？除了圣经之外，你认为是否还需要另一本书才能认识神？」
当然，对信徒而言，除了持守这三项真理之外，还要将所相信的真理实践出来。我们是否相耶稣基督是神的儿子？相信的话，就应凡事尊主为大。我们是否相信圣灵住在我们里面？相信的话，就当容让圣灵在我们心中工作。我们是否相信圣经就是神的话语？那么，我们是否爱慕和勤读神的话语，并且决心遵从它？
祷告：
主啊，求你教导我懂得按照你的话语来判别是非真伪。
WHO IS RIGHT?
1 John 3:24 to 4:6
24 Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
3 and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6 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.
Message
People often ask the question 'How do we know one religion is right and not the others?' In these verses John gives us three answers which will always help us to see if a group or a person is teaching the truth as it is in the Word of God.
In verse 24 of chapter three, John speaks about the indwelling Spirit. So first ask the one who is teaching some particular truth, 'What place do you give to the Holy Spirit?' Many groups will not recognise the Holy Spirit as a person. Many Christians either do not speak very much about the Holy Spirit or they over-emphasise teaching about him. When he has his rightful place he will glorify Jesus Christ, not himself.
The second test John gives is this-does this group or person believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God who came in human flesh? It is not just that a person named Jesus lived a long time ago-but was he the Son of God in human form? Many will speak about Jesus Christ being a wonderful man but he was more than that. He was God himself. Ask the person teaching you 'What do you think of Jesus Christ?' Then you will know what his group believes about Christ.
Thirdly in verses 5 and 6, John speaks of the Bible, the inspired Word of God. He does not mention the Bible, but he speaks about knowing what God has said and that is found in the Bible. Again ask the group or person this question 'What do you think about the Bible? Do you say I need another book as well as the Bible to tell me about God?'
Of course we need to do more than just believe in these three truths. We need to practise what we believe. Do we believe that Jesus Christ is God's Son? Then he should be Lord of our lives in everything. Do we believe in the indwelling Holy Spirit? Then we should allow him to work in our lives. Do we believe in the written Word of God? How much do we read it and how much do we obey what we read?
A PRAYER:
Lord help me to recognise right teaching and wrong teaching according to your Word.