1 John 4:2
The sermon explains how to know the Spirit of God by examining the confession of Jesus Christ and the doctrine preached.
John Gill emphasizes the importance of discerning the Spirit of God through the confession of Jesus Christ's incarnation. He explains that true doctrine acknowledges Christ's divine sonship, humanity, and his roles as prophet, priest, and king. This confession is essential for identifying those who are aligned with God and His truth, as it encompasses the core tenets of the Gospel. However, Gill warns that mere intellectual assent to these truths is not sufficient for salvation, as even demons acknowledge Christ's identity without possessing God's grace. Ultimately, those who preach and uphold this doctrine are recognized as being on God's side.
Text
Ver. 2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God,.... This is a rule by which believers may know whether a man professing to have the Spirit of God, and to be called and sent by him, and whether the, doctrine he preaches, is of him or not:
every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh,
is of God; or of the Spirit of God; that is, every doctrine which carries this truth in it; or every man that owns, and professes, and publishes this doctrine concerning Christ, is on the side of God and truth; and which contains several articles in it, respecting the person and office of Christ; as that he existed before he came in the flesh, not in the human nature, or as man, or as an angel, but as the Son of God, as a divine person, being truly and properly God; so that this confession takes in his divine sonship, and proper deity, and also his true and real humanity; that the Messiah was incarnate, against the Jews, and was God and man in one person; and that he was really man, and not in appearance only, against the heretics of those times: and it also includes his offices, as that Jesus of Nazareth was the Christ, the Messiah, which the Jews denied, and that he was the anointed prophet, priest, and King; and so is a confession or acknowledgment of all the doctrines of the Gospel, which came by him, as a prophet; and of his satisfaction, sacrifice, and intercession, as a priest; and of all his ordinances and commands as a King; and that he is the only Saviour and Redeemer of men. Now, whoever owns and declares this system of truth, "is of God"; not that everyone that assents unto this, or preaches it, is born of God; a man may believe, and confess all this, as the devils themselves do, and yet be destitute of the grace of God; but the spirit, or doctrine, which contains these things in it, is certainly of God, or comes from him; or whoever brings these truths with him, and preaches them, he is, so far as he does so, on the side of God and truth, and to be regarded.
Sermon Outline
- The Spirit of God
- The confession of Jesus Christ
- The implications of this confession
- The doctrine is of God
- The man who brings this doctrine is on the side of God and truth
Key Quotes
“every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is of God;” — John Gill
Application Points
- We must examine the doctrine preached to determine if it is of God.
- A man may believe and confess the truth, but still be destitute of the grace of God.
- The confession of Jesus Christ is a fundamental aspect of the doctrine of God.