Part 1 of my study on 1 John chapter 4

1John Chapter 4 (KJV)

1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.6We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.9In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.16And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.17Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.19We love him, because he first loved us.20If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

 Verse 1, John the beloved tells the brethren to try EVERY spirit to see whether they are of God. This is because many false prophets had gone out into the world. How about in these last days? Are there many fasle prophets in the world today?

Let's see what scripture says:

Mathew 24:3-4 (KJV)

4And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.5For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

Jesus is speaking of the time after His departure from the earth and also the very last days prior to His second advent.

Matthew 24:11 (KJV)

11And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.

Jesus doesn't say a few or some but He says many! In today's mainstream Christian world, it is not popular to expose false teachers and many professed Christians think that most of the Pastor's in the mainstream Churches couldn't possibly be the men that Jesus is warning about. They will say it's just the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons and groups like that are fasle teachers. Let's go to scripture and see what qualifies one as a false prophet:

Deuteronomy 13;1-10 (ASV)

1If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and he give thee a sign or a wonder,2and the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;3thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or unto that dreamer of dreams: for Jehovah your God proveth you, to know whether ye love Jehovah your God with all your heart and with all your soul.4Ye shall walk after Jehovah your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.5And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which Jehovah thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.6If thy brother, the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom, or thy friend, that is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying, Let us go and serve other gods, which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy fathers;7of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, nigh unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the other end of the earth;8thou shalt not consent unto him, nor hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare, neither shalt thou conceal him:9but thou shalt surely kill him; thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand of all the people.10And thou shalt stone him to death with stones, because he hath sought to draw thee away from Jehovah thy God, who brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.

One qualification of a false prophet is to entice people to serve other gods. You might say "Christian Pastor's don't do this", however more and more Christian leaders are telling people that Allah is the same God as the one of the bible. Basically, that Allah and Jehovah are one and the same.

Men like Rick Warren, Dwight Nelson of the SDA denomination promote this heresy. Quiet Hour which is a Seventh-day Adventist missions ministry also does this. They encourage new converts in  Muslim  strongholds to still attend mosques and worship Allah in the name of Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:1 (KJV)

1Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

The Holy Spirit speaking with urgency says that some shall depart from the faith in the latter times, giving heed to false doctrines and seducing spirits.

This is the reason why it is so important to test the spirits to see whether they be of God. In today's Churches of Christendom, many are told and encouraged to not test every spirit and that it is actually judgmental to do so. They are told that it is not loving to expose false doctrine and false teachers. You will even be given the label "legalistic". Yet, what does Jesus tell the Church at Ephesus?

Revelation 2:1-2 (KJV)

1Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks;2I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:

The Son of God praises the Congregation at Ephesus for their discernment and for testing those who said they were apostles and exposing them as liars. What a contrast to today's Denominational Churches who say that we are to just love everyone and pray for false apostles and that to test them and expose them is unloving and judgmental. Do you want to take Jesus word's or the modern day pulpit preachers word's?

According to Jesus, the Christian Congregation does a good work when they test those who say they are ministers of God and also expose them as liars once they have failed the test.

Back to 1 John verse 2, the first test of a right Spirit of God is if it confesses that Jesus came in the flesh. This could be directed at those who believed that Jesus only came as a spirit being or to those who don't believe he came to the earth at all.

Verse 3, it is the spirit of antichrist that says Jesus did not come in the flesh. This could be those who say that He only came in spirit form or those who say that He never existed. This spirit of antichrist was already around during John's time. It was also to come. Even though we know that there is a singular antichrist office (Papacy), this doesn't mean that others cannot have this spirit. Those who deny that Jesus ever existed also have this spirit of antichrist.

Verse 4, John tells the brethren that they have overcome these antichrist's because they belong to Jehovah God and have the Father in them. The one in the world is the devil and God is greater than him. With God living in us through His Spirit we have nothing to fear and we will overcome the wicked who are of the devil who is the prince of this world. Jehovah God is Sovereign over all the universe.

Verse 5, John says that these antichrist's who deny that Christ came in the flesh, such as spiritualistic teachers and those who deny that He (Jesus) existed are of the world. This means that they are not a child of God and that they have worldly principles and not born again. They are ruled by the vain imaginations of men. These false prophets belong to satan's kingdom whereas the saints belong to Jehovah's Kingdom. These false teachers promote the ideologies of the world such as pride, lust and deception.

The reason why many false prophets, pastors and teachers are popular with mainstream society is because they promote the same agenda that appeals to the worldly unbelievers. They teach the principles of self, the pride of life such as moving up the corporate ladder whatever it may cost or doing immoral things to move ahead in career. Esteeming career over the things of God. Seeking worldly gain. They teach sensuality in doing whatever makes you feel good such as lifestyles of fornication and homosexuality.

Verse 6, on the contrary to the false teachers who are of the devil, God's true saints are His precious possession. How can we know that we are of God? The answer is actually very simple, do we believe in the doctrine of the Apostles that was once delivered unto the saints? John the beloved says that He and the other Apostles are of God, meaning that what they teach is directly of divine inspiration from the Father through His Son Jesus Christ. Remember, the Apostles dwelt with Jesus for 3 and a half years and as the Son of God was directly instructed by the Father, John and the others were directly taught by Christ. If that wasn't enough, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit from the Father upon the Apostles with power on the day of Pentecost.

The Holy Spirit then guided the Apostolic Christian Congregation in their ministerial campaigns. Paul who didn't dwell with Christ here on the earth had an incredible life changing
   experience on the road to Damascus. The glory of the Son of God appeared to him and blinded him. Christ spoke directly to Paul in the Hebrew tongue. Following this amazing experience, Paul was taught directly by Christ.

The authority of the Apostles is rock solid and any deviation away from their teachings is heresy.

Jude 1 (KJV)

3Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.4For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jude, who could very well be the Lord's brother, says that we are to contend for the faith that was once delivered unto the saints. This contending is supposed to be done with vigor hence the word earnestly. We are to be on the offense in refuting false doctrine. We are not be passive about it. Jude says that the apostles doctrine was the common salvation of the saints. There was no 3,000 denominations, there was one singular faith (Ephesians 4:4-6).

Let's look at the definition of 3 key words used in Jude 3-4.

The word common comes from the Greek word "koinos" (Strongs 2839) and means "belonging to generality, common, ordinary".

The salvation taught by the apostles to the early Congregation was the same (generality) throughout the body of Christ.  It was generally the same salvation preached throughout the various Congregations.

How are to preserve this once andfor all faith taught by the apostles?  Let's go to our next word/s:

The word's "earnestly contend" come from the Greek word "epagonizomai" (Strongs 1864) and mean "earnestly contend, contend"

This definition is pretty straightforward however let's go a little deeper. The above word "epagonizomai" comes from two other greek word's, one of which is "epi" (Strongs 1909) and means "upon, on, in, at, by, before, over, against, of position."

Now let's go to second greek word that "earnestly contend" (epagonizomai) comes from. This word is "agonizomai" (Strongs 75) and means "strive, fight, labour, fervently, to contend, struggle with difficulties and dangers, to endeavor with strenuous zeal, to obtain something, to enter a contest, to contend with adversaries, fight."

Wow! What a powerful definition of "earnestly contend". Brethren, this is supposed to be how we are to fight in defense of the Apostolic doctrines that were laid out for the saints once and for all. We are to be like the prize fighters of old and have gritty determination when we stand for truth and expose error. Do you notice how the mainstream Churches, including the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference, try to tame bible believing Christians into being non passionate about the faith. Do you notice how they emphasize not offending people? Satan uses the denominations of Christendom, including the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference churches, to turn passionate bible believing Christians into waterer down versions of themselves.

They emphasize not offending people and just loving people. They discourage speaking out plainly and directly against false religions, false teachings and false Churches. They always stress on being gentle and accepting of others who promote false beliefs yet Jude says the exact opposite of these milquetoast limp wristed Pastor's and Church members. Jude says to fight vigorously as if you are entering an athletic contest. Have you ever seen a Champion athlete who wasn't super intensely motivated and fought with all his strength to win the prize? The answer is likely no.

True Christian's do not put up with false doctrine and readily call it out. True Christian's have a zeal for the faith and let no one try to water them down. In these last days, Jehovah is looking for Soldiers not sophisticated, theoretical theologians. Are you up for the call? Paul encourages us to be good Soldiers of Christ 2 Timothy 2:3-5 (KJV)

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

5 And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully.

Brethren, we are in a spiritual war with satan and his kingdom. God the Father has called us to be faithful Soldiers of His Son's army. We are warriors brethren, picking up the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. The Apostles doctrine is the Word of God. Even if an angel come and teach anything different we are not receive their words of it doesn't line up with what the apostles taught.

Galatians 1:8-10 (KJV)

8But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.9As we said before, so say I now again, If any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.10For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.

Paul's stern warning against those who try and pervert the once and for all unchanging gospel should reverberate throughout the Churches of Christendom. Not one single person who has ever lived has any right to move one pillar of the Apostles doctrine.

What was one of the pillars of their doctrine, likely the most important one?

1 John 1:3 (KJV)

3That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

The Apostles doctrine was about the Father and Son and their fellowship with each other and others was based in this truth of the Sonship of Christ.

1 John 2:24 (KJV)

24Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.

In context this passage in 1 John chapter 2 is regarding the Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jesus and the true begotten Sonship of Jesus.

If we continue in this doctrine of the Father-Son relationship between Jehovah and Jesus, then we will continue in them meaning to dwell in them as they also dwell in us through their Spirit. This doctrine of the Father-Son was the foundational doctrineof the Apostles. Jesus even said that it would be (Matthew 16:13-20).

2 John 9-11 (KJV)

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:11For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.

In context, this passage is talking about the commandments which are love and the Sonship of Christ which is a super prominent theme throughout all the epistles of John. Also, verse 3 in this passage refers to the Father-Sonrelationship between Jehovah and Jesus. How serious is this doctrine of the Father-Son to John the beloved? Anyone who contradicted this foundational truth was to be looked at as a heretic and not even to be welcomed into your home. You are not even to bless them by,saying God speed lest you be partakers of their evil deeds.

Acts 2:41-42 (KJV)

41Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.42And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

The early Congregation baptized believers right away after receiving the word and confessing that Jesus was the Son of God. After baptism, the continued in the apostles doctrine. They did not learn the traditions of man or the creeds of apostate Judaism but they learned the teaching of the apostles. They fellowshipped with another rooted in the Apostolic doctrine of the Father and Son.

Not convinced that the Apostles teaching has ultimate authority over what anyone else tries to teach? Read this scripture in the book of Revelation:

Revelation 21:14 (KJV)

14And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The Apostles doctrine is the foundation of the Christian Congregation and their doctrine is rooted in the literal begotten Sonship of Christ and in the Father-Son relationship.

Back now to verse 7 of 1 John chapter 4, again John reiterates the commandment of love as love is of God. We are to love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ. John's emphasis on love is about the brethren loving each other. Just as ministry starts at home for a believer, our love for people starts with our love for the household of faith. How can we love unbelievers when we are not loving each other as brethren? We would exhibit no power as Christians to those on the outside if we can't even love each other.

By loving each other as brothers and sisters first and then loving those outside the household of faith we show that we are born again and a child of Jehovah God.

Verse 8, those who don't love the brethren  don't know God for Jehovah is love. Love and God go hand in hand and you cannot seperate God from the concept of love.

Verse 9, Jehovah's love was clearly seen, appeared and declared (manifested) toward us in that He gave His only begotten Son to die for our sins. Where did this Son come from? The scripture tells us that "God sent His only begotten Son into the world". This Son came from heaven as God had a Son to send. And if Jesus was already God's Son in heaven hence the phrase "God sent" meaning He had a begotten Son to send, all the foolishness that Jesus only became the begotten Son of God at Bethlehem can be exposed for the heresy that it is.

Jesus was both begotten and God's Son before He ever came to this earth which is why the passage states "God sent His only begotten Son into the world". The sending of the only begotten Son preceded the arrival of Him on earth. This means that Jesus was begotten and God's Son prior to be born of the virgin Mary.

"God sent" indicates that what He sent was in His possession prior to the sending. Most Christians believe in the preexistence of Christ but vary on His identity in His pre-existent life. This scripture without controversy makes it clear that He was God's only begotten Son in identity before ever coming to this world.

God's purpose in sending His Son to die as a ransom sacrifice for us is so that we would have eternal life. Not only to have eternal life in the future but also now to live through His Son while we are here in this system of things.

1 John 5:13-14 (KJV)

13These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

Those who believe on the name of the Son of God have eternal life. I have already gone over how believering on the name of Jesus Christ isn't simply believing in the wording of His name or even believing on Him as the Saviour but it also includes believing on His identity as the literal begotten Son of God. It is His very Sonship that gives Him authority over all things and it is His very Sonship that gives Him His character as it is the essence of who He is. The scriptures over and over again identify Jesus as God’s Son. The meaning of the word name in the greek is "identity, authority and character".

Galatians 2:20 (KJV)

20I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

Paul knew that the only faith to have was the faith of the Son of God. Paul believed on the name i.e. character and authority and identity of Jesus being the Son of God. Paul didn't believe in someone called God the Son and he did not believe in Jesus being the Almighty God but clearly as he wrote over and over again Paul declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Today's General Conference Pastor's and theologians would be rebuked by Paul for teaching that Jesus isn't really God's begotten Son and that Jesus Sonship is just a metaphor or role play. Paul would chastise them for teaching that Jesus isn't the literal Son of God.

Paul says in this passage that he is crucified with Christ meaning he is dead to this world. Paul says that Christ lives in him which according to Colossians 1:27 is the hope of glory for every Christian. Paul says that he now lives for Christ and that his faith in Christ is based and rooted and founded in Him (Christ) being the Son of God. Without Jesus being God's Son our faith is in vain. Paul is saying here that everything about his life is geared towards preaching, teaching and believing that Jesus is the Son of God.  His life is dedicated in living like the Son of God and following His (Jesus) pattern and keeping the Son of God's commandments.

Paul obviously believed that Christ's identity was that He is the Son of God. It was Paul's faith in this Jesus that he lived by (preached, teached, followed, lived like worshipped and prayed in the name of). Paul's declaration of who Christ is in identity and that faith in this Christ is what we have faith in and live by should be taken as truth over and above all the Sonship deniers in the General Conference.

Why can we trust Paul's declaration of who Christ is in identity? Let's go to Acts 9:

Acts 9:3-6 (KJV)

 3And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:4And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?5And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.6And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

The Son of God's  Shekinah surrounded Paul and Jesus spoke directly to him. Unlike all the Sonship deniers in the General Conference, Paul had a direct encounter with Christ visibly via the light that shone from heaven and audibly as the Son of God spoke to Paul in the Hebrew tongue.

Acts 9;17-20 (KJV)

17And Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost.18And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized.19And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus.20And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.

After being blinded by the light that shined from the brightness of the Son of God, Ananias came to lay hands on Paul so that Paul could receive back his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. After the scales were removed from Paul's eyes and he received the Holy Ghost, immediately he was baptized. This shows that upon faith in the Son of God one can be baptized. The teaching that men have to go through a series of bible studies before baptism is a man made doctrine.

The scales from Paul's eyes were removed physically and also spiritually as before being blinded, he was a severe persecutor against the brethren. Paul not only, upon the scales being removed, could literally see again but he also had a new birth experience and could see the things of the Spirit.

With his physical sight restored and his new spiritual sight, it was time for Paul's first sermon. No seminary training for 2 years of 4 year bible college was needed for Paul to preach, the only qualification Paul needed was a personal encounter with Christ and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

So what was Paul's first sermon? Acts 9:20 tells us:

"And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God."

This is the faith Paul lives by, that Jesus is the Son of God. Do you think anyone in heaven is going to tell Paul that Jesus isn't the literal Son of God? Of all things for Paul to preach in his first sermon, it is the Sonship of Christ that he preaches. This comes right after his personal encounter with Christ where the Son of God audibly spoke to him. After being blinded by the brightness of Christ that appeared unto him, Paul was then visited by a man of God who laid hands on Paul so that he could regain his sight and be filled with the Holy Ghost. After all this, Paul delivers a sermon centered on the Sonship of Jesus. The progession that it takes for someone to acknowledge and believe and confess the Sonship of Christ is:

1) Personal encounter with Jesus
2) Obtaining Spiritual eyesight
3) being filled with the Holy Ghost

These three steps lead to the belief, confession and preaching that Jesus is the Son of God. Wasn't this the same progession that led Peter's apostolic confession that Jesus is the Son of the living God?

Peter had daily fellowship with Christ and it was the Father's Spirit that revealed to him who Jesus was:

Matthew 16:15-17 (KJV)

15He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?16And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.17And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.

Jesus affirms and commends Peter's statement of faith that He (Jesus) is the Son of the living God. Jesus tells Peter that His Father in heaven revealed this to him (Peter) and not flesh and blood.

The beautiful thing is that you don't even have to have a literal physical or audible encounter with Jesus to believe and confess that He is the Son of God. The Holy Spirit reveals this to men through the preaching work of the Christian Congregation and also through the word of God. Many times, God even reveals this beautiful truth to those who would otherwise not read the bible or come in contact with a witnessing Christian.

It's noteworthy that Paul's experience in Acts 9 comes right after the Ethiopian eunuch's conversion in Acts 8. Let's look at the conversion of the Ethiopian as this is an example of a preacher giving the gospel of Jesus Christ to someone who hadn't heard it before.

Acts 8:35-38 (KJV)

35Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.36And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?37And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

The result of Philip preaching the gospel is that the eunuch confesses and believes that Jesus is the Son of God. It's this confession and belief that qualifies the Ethiopian to be baptized. If preaching the gospel meant preaching Jesus and if preaching Jesus meant preaching that He is the Son of God, then this leaves no doubt that the Sonship of Christ is the very foundation of the gospel. It is not only the foundation but also the heart and soul of the gospel.

How do we know that the Sonship of Christ is the very core of the gospel, let's look at the beginning of the book of Mark:

Mark 1:1 (KJV)

1The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

The whole gospel revolves around the Sonship of Jesus.

1 John 4:15 (KJV)

15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

John's words confirm the truth that is all throughout the new testament, which is that when we confess that Jesus is the Son of God it was the Father in heaven that revealed it to us. When we confess that Jesus is the Son of God, the Father in heaven dwells in us by His Spirit. The Father will not dwell in someone who denies the Sonship of Jesus, what a sobering thought given that there are many Sonship deniers in the Seventh-day Adventist General Conference. When we confess that Jesus is indeed the literal Son of God we dwell in the Father's bosom. What a comforting realization for those who believe in the Father-Son. We may not be approved by the mainstream Churches and even in the SDA GC denomination but we are approved by the Almighty God Jehovah and we dwell in His heart as His children.

1 John 5;4-5 (KJV)

4For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.5Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

True born again believers overcome the world. Being born again means having the new birth experience where we die to this world and are risen again spiritually to newness of life in Christ. The victory that overcomes the world is our faith. But what specific faith overcomes the world? There are many types of faith and many different things that people have faith in, but verse 5 of the above passage says that the only faith that overcomes the world and proves that we are born of God is the faith that believes Jesus is the Son of God.

This is the faith that Peter, the Ethiopian eunuch, Martha , Mark, Paul, Philip, John, James and many others lived by. Do you want to be counted among these heroes of the faith? Well then have the same faith that Martha expressed to Jesus:

John 11:24-27 (KJV)

24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Martha believed that Jesus was the Son of God, do you?

So much depth in this verse it's beautiful. Jesus says that those who believe in Him shall live. Remember, that the verse we are breaking down (1 John 4:9) says:

"that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him"

Essential to believing in Jesus is believing who He is in identity. As we see from the above passage in 1 John 4:9, Jesus is the only begotten Son of God. Eternal life is promised to those who believe that God sent His only begotten Son to die for our sins. We see this promise in John 3:16, however, we also see the consequences of not believing that God sent His literal only begotten Son to die for our sins in verse 18 of John ch 3:

"18He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Remember, "name" means authority, character and identity. I have already shown that all three of these definitions of name are inherently connected to Jesus literal begotten Sonship. We must believe in the name of the only begotten Son of God to have everlasting life. There is no option here, we have to believe in the Jesus of the bible who is the literal begotten Son of God. This is why His identity of being God's Son is so emphasized throughout the new testament, so that people can believe in the right Jesus and not a "false Jesus".

John is not saying here to just believe in any Jesus for eternal life, but rather to believe in the Jesus that is the begotten of the Father who is the one true God (John 17:3).

Many people today say they believe in Jesus however their lives contradict this. Let's look at what the word "believe" really means and you will see that it is not merely a mental ascent in knowledge. After going through this definition of "believe", we will address the latter portion of John 3:18

The word "believe" comes from the Greek word "pisteuo" (Strongs 4100) and means "to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust  (especially one's spiritual well being to Christ): - believe (r), commit (to trust), put in trust with, to be persuaded of."

Wow! Most of today's Pastor's do not teach the real meaning of faith which means to be persuaded of the thing you say you believe in and to put your trust in that person and thing. In respect to verse 18 of John chapter 3, those who want eternal life must be persuaded of the truth that Jesus is God's only begotten Son and that He was sent by God to be propitiation for our sins. They are to commit their trust to the Son of God not another version of Jesus that is "God the Son" or the Almighty God.

Those who want eternal life are to entrust their spiritual well being to the only begotten Son of God and this trust that they are to have is tied into truly understanding who Christ is in identity. Knowing and believing who Christ is in identity is essential to our salvation and is essential in knowing that we are worshipping the true Jesus and not a Jesus made in man's image. We are to put our trust (believe) in the truth that God had a Son to send to the world and that this Son (Jesus) was begotten from Him (the Father).

Verse 18 of John ch 3 goes on to say:

"but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."

Why will be people be condemned including many professing Christian's?

Because they didn't believe (commit their trust to, they weren't persuaded of, commit their spiritual well being to) in the name (character, authority and identity) of the only begotten Son of God. This will be the number one reason for people being condemned at the judgment. For professing Christian's this will be in the pre advent judgment and for unbelievers during the thousand years when true Christian's will judge them along with the Son of God.

Again, just profesing belief in Christ does not make one a true Christian. It is being committed (belief) to Christ and His teachings that make one a true Christian. But even more than that, it is believing in Jesus identity as the only begotten Son of God that makes one a true Christian. John says that those who don't believe in the identity (name) of Jesus being the only begotten Son of God are condemned already!!

John 6:40 (KJV)

40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.

The will of the Father is that we believe on the Son of God not another version of Jesus. Believing on Jesus is believing on His identity, authority and character which are all inherently connected to His Sonship. The last part of this verse goes hand in hand with Martha's faith in who Jesus was and that those who believe in Him shall be resurrected at the last day. In order to be resurrected at the second advent, one must believe in Jesus as the literal begotten Son of God. Scripture declares this over and over again without controversy.

Jesus says that those who see the Son and believeth on Him may have everlasting life. The question is which Jesus do you see? The Son of God or another "Jesus"?

Let's revisit John 11:23-27 (KJV)

23Jesus saith unto her, Thy brother shall rise again.24Martha saith unto him, I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection at the last day.25Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:26And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?27She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.

Martha knew that the resurrection of the righteous was at the last day echoing Jesus statement in John 6:40. There was no such thing as a secret rapture in the teaching of Jesus or His disciples.

Jesus then declares that He himself is the resurrection and the life. All who want eternal life must find it in Jesus, as eternal life can be found no other way. Those who believe in the Jesus of the bible will live though they be dead meaning that they may fall asleep (death) but eventually they will be raised to everlasting life as death will only be a temporal situation for them. Even now in this life, those who believe in Jesus will live meaning they will be dead to this world and the old man. They will be alive in Christ filled with His Spirit and walk in newness of life.

The condition is that we must live and believe in Christ. Believing in the identity of Jesus is essential to believing in Him. Not only believing in Him as the only begotten Son of God but also living by Him meaning abiding in Him by reading His word, praying in His name as the literal Son of God and obeying His authority as God’s dearly beloved Son.

Jesus asks Martha if she believed that her brother Lazarus would live again, notice her response to Jesus. Remember, she already expressed belief in the last day resurrection. Her response to Jesus reveals something that her brother believed about Jesus as well as what she believed.

Jesus ask Martha "Believest thou this?"

Martha responds:

"I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world"

Both Lazarus and Martha believed that in order to rise at the last day one had to believe in Jesus. This is why Martha had confidence that Jesus could raise her brother to life and why she believed that Lazarus would rise at the last day even if Jesus didn't raise him to life. Her and her brother believed in Jesus. However, they believed in a specific truth about Jesus and It was believing in this truth that would give them assurance of being raised to life at the last day.

The truth about who Jesus was in identity was essential to having the resurrection hope. Martha makes the apostolic confession that Jesus is the Christ, Son of God which should come into the world.

This identifies three truths about Jesus:

1) He is the Christ (anointed) of Jehovah God.

2) He is the Son of Jehovah God in identity.

3) He was already the Son of God before He came into the world denoting His pre-existence and His true Sonship in identity even in His pre-existence. Martha expresses the Messianic hope that the Jewsof old time had which is that they knew their coming Messiah was going to be God's preexistent divine Son.

Believe in the Son of God and eternal life awaits you!