4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit a of truth and the spirit of falsehood. (1 John 4:4-6)
Thoughts: The word "antiChrist" sums up the atheist movement. It is not really "for" anything- it is just against God and against Christ. It is a negative. But the positives of life are always more powerful than the negatives. Those for God are greater than those against Him. However, this does not mean that there are not many more for what we see than what we do not see.
We should not expect popularity. But we should expect God to be there when we are on His side, doing His will as He proscribes it. Whoever listens to us as we share God's Word, shows that God is at work in them. Those who refuse to listen have hard hearts showing that God is not at work in them. Those who listen to God's Word of truth show a desire for truth. Those who refuse to listen to scripture desire to make up their own idea of truth. When we make up our own truth and refuse to listen to God- then there is a spirit of falsehood. John is trying to say who can be assured of salvation (this is clear from verse that follow in chapter 4). People can be assured if they believe the truth of God- but they ought not be assured if they do not believe. God- the Creator of reality- is also the creator of all truth.
Prayer: Lord, help me to believe and hold forth the great love and truth that you have made.
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