1 John 4:3
The sermon emphasizes the critical importance of confessing the true nature of Christ to safeguard against the spirit of antichrist and false teachings.
John Gill emphasizes the critical importance of acknowledging the true nature of Christ, including His deity, humanity, and roles as Savior and Messiah. He warns that any spirit or doctrine that denies these truths is not from God and is aligned with the spirit of antichrist. Gill highlights that such false teachings are already present in the world, serving as forerunners to the ultimate antichrist. The sermon calls believers to remain steadfast in their faith and understanding of who Jesus is to avoid being led astray by deceptive doctrines.
Text
Ver. 3. And every spirit that confesseth not,.... The proper deity and sonship of Christ, his true and real humanity, and his Messiahship; or any of his offices, doctrines, and ordinances; or his satisfaction and righteousness; or that peace, pardon, justification, life, and salvation, are by him; all which are meant by what follows,
that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh: this clause is left out in the Ethiopic version, and that without hurting the sense, since it is easily supplied from the preceding verse; and the Alexandrian copy, and the Vulgate Latin version, only read "Jesus": and the latter reads the whole thus, "and every spirit that dissolves Jesus"; that separates the two natures, human and divine, in him, and makes two persons of them; or denies either of them, either that he is truly God, or really man, or denies him to be Jesus, the Saviour; who, as much as in him lies, destroys his person, office, and work, and makes void his obedience, sufferings, and death:
is not of God; neither he nor his doctrine are of God; his doctrine cannot come from God, being contrary to the word of God; and he himself is neither born of God, nor on his side.
And this is that [spirit] of antichrist: who is against Christ, or opposes himself to him; as he who denies his sonship, his deity, his humanity, his offices, and his grace, manifestly does; every doctrine that is calculated against these truths is the spirit and doctrine of antichrist:
whereof you have heard that it should come, and even now already is it the world; in the false teachers, the forerunners of antichrist;
See Gill on "1Jo 2:18".
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Understanding the nature of Christ - The importance of His deity and humanity - The implications of denying Christ's nature
- II points: - The role of confession in faith - What it means to confess Christ - The consequences of false confessions
- III points: - Identifying the spirit of antichrist - Characteristics of false teachings - The presence of antichrist in the world today
- IV points: - The significance of Christ's offices - Understanding salvation through Christ - The relationship between doctrine and practice
Key Quotes
“Every spirit that confesseth not... is not of God.” — John Gill
“This is that [spirit] of antichrist: who is against Christ.” — John Gill
“Every doctrine that is calculated against these truths is the spirit and doctrine of antichrist.” — John Gill
Application Points
- Regularly examine your beliefs to ensure they align with the true nature of Christ.
- Be vigilant against teachings that undermine the core truths of the gospel.
- Encourage others to confess and uphold the true identity of Jesus in their faith.