Exploring 1 John: They are of the World, You are of God
1 John 4:5-6; John 3:16-17 - What we listen to becomes what we consider as truth.
“They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”
1 John 4:5-6 NASB1995
John reiterates his teaching that the spirits of the antichrist are from the world, they speak as from the world and the world listens to them. The believers are from God, he who knows God listens to them and he who is not from God does not listen to the believers. Let’s look at a couple of the words:
“World” comes from the Greek word κόσμος or kósmos, which has the following Biblical usages; Strong’s G2889 is used 186 times in the New Testament:
an apt and harmonious arrangement or constitution, order, government
ornament, decoration, adornment, i.e. the arrangement of the stars, 'the heavenly hosts', as the ornament of the heavens. 1 Pet. 3:3
the world, the universe
the circle of the earth, the earth
the inhabitants of the earth, men, the human family
the ungodly multitude; the whole mass of men alienated from God, and therefore hostile to the cause of Christ
world affairs, the aggregate of things earthly
the whole circle of earthly goods, endowments riches, advantages, pleasures, etc, which although hollow and frail and fleeting, stir desire, seduce from God and are obstacles to the cause of Christ
any aggregate or general collection of particulars of any sort
the Gentiles as contrasted to the Jews (Rom. 11:12 etc)
You will note the many different ways this word is used. Kosmos is the origin of the word cosmos for the universe. God loves the world. He called the creation of the world “good” in Genesis. We know that he loves the world from the famous verses in the Gospel of John:
““For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
John 3:16-17 NASB1995
But in this case in 1 John, John is talking about the world as the ungodly multitudes that are hostile to God and of the worldly things that seduce us and are obstacles to the cause of Christ.
“Listen” comes from the Greek word ἀκούω or akoúō, which has the following Biblical usages; Strong’s G191 is used 498 times in the New Testament:
to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf
to hear
to attend to, consider what is or has been said
to understand, perceive the sense of what is said
to hear something
to perceive by the ear what is announced in one's presence
to get by hearing learn
a thing comes to one's ears, to find out, learn
to give ear to a teaching or a teacher
to comprehend, to understand
What we listen to with our full attention inevitably leads to consideration of what is or has been said. The world is full of slick salespeople who are disguised as ministers, politicians, bosses, HR departments, advertisers and other influencers. When we were still at the ELCA, the first subtle drips of spiritual corrosion became, over a few years, a torrent of antichrist thinking disguised as human rights and reconciliation and grace and caring and compassion and love for others. We saw the spirit of error and left; many stayed who believe that this is the right path now, regardless of what God’s Word says. It is truly ironic that I am writing this on June 1, the first day of a month that is now devoted to the propaganda of taking pride in sin. Those propagandists are in full force for the causes of the world. Just like the book being touted below, there is a relentless effort at work to “change the way we think”.
Propaganda is indeed a powerful tool. According to an on-line dictionary definition, propaganda is: “The systematic propagation of a doctrine or cause or of information reflecting the views and interests of those advocating such a doctrine or cause.” He or she that is not from God does not listen to those who believe in the spirit of truth. I suppose those who do not listen think that believers are full of the worst propaganda (I used to think that way), but the Holy Spirit continues to convict me daily of the fundamental truth of the word and spirit of God.
Here’s what Enduring Word says about the world not listening or hearing:
He who is not of God does not hear us: Understanding just who hears what God has taught us through the apostles, as recorded in the New Testament, helps us to know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. If someone hears what God has said in the Bible, we know he has the spirit of truth. If he does not hear it, he has the spirit of error.
John makes it clear that error has a spiritual dynamic to it; it isn’t just about being educated or smart. Some very educated, very smart people can still be influenced mightily by the spirit of error. Since error has a spiritual dynamic to it, keeping in the spirit of truth is a spiritual issue.
We keep in the spirit of truth by clinging to Jesus, the One who said I am the truth (John 14:6).
I thought I would end this with a meme that I saw today, quoting Charles Spurgeon:
Wise words! What do you love more? Living in the world or living for Him?
My next devotional examines 1 John 4:7-8 - The call to love.
Heaven on Wheels Daily Prayer:
Dear Lord - Please help me filter out the world’s noise and concentrate on the spirit of Truth that comes from You. Amen.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
The Blue Letter Bible was accessed on 6/1/2024 to review the lexicon for world and listen.
Commentary from Enduring Word by David Guzik is used with written permission.
I feel the same way that Spurgeon does. The confusing mixture of Christ's people and the world is sad and sickening. We cry out, 'How long Oh Lord'. I don't understand His decision to grow the wheat and the tares together. I don't like it and I don't understand it.