Discernment

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:” (1John 1:6)

John was very direct in his message to the church against false teachers and liars. “These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you.” (1John 2:26) Gnosticism, Docetism and Antichrist teachings had infiltrated the church. Gnosticism is intellectualism void of love for the brethren. We could say they were legalistic, following the letter of the law but failing to love the brethren. Their high-minded claims to fellowship with God are shown false in their disobedience (1 John 2:6) and lack of love for the brethren which are the proof that marks them as false Christians. “By this shall all men know that ye are My disciples, if ye have love one to another.” (John 13:35) Docetism, a denial of the incarnation and the resurrection of Jesus, also crept into the church. It’s the demonic attempt to further bring man to deny that Jesus even lived. Antichrist rationalism is the natural following of Gnosticism and Docetism, denying the very existence of Christ. “Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father: (but) he that acknowledgeth the Son hath the Father also.” (1John 2:22-23)

It would be very hard to lie to the church that loves Jesus and seeks to know the Lord through the Truth of the Word. But it may be possible to deceive man unless the gift of discernment reveals the truth. A person may say many things about his fellowship with God, about things in that secret place and other sacred activities of which we know nothing of and accept them as truth, unless we have the gift of discernment. Why do people lie? Is it for inclusion, for self-elevation or in order to have an advantage over someone? In our minds we can’t conceive of the wicked actually creeping into the church to destroy it. But wickedness is evil and it wouldn’t be beyond the devil’s tactics as it was in the early church.

In chapter 4, John continues to warn the church against false teachers. “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” (1John 4:1) One way to do that is to see if it’s in line with the Word of God, the Scriptures, the Bible. Paul and Silas encountered true seekers of God in Berea, who would search the Scriptures to see if what they were teaching was true. (Acts 17:11) If we are faithful to read the Word of God daily, our minds are renewed, we will know Truth and identify lies immediately. (Romans 12:2)

Discernment of spirits is one of the nine gifts given by the Holy Spirit mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:7-11. Jesus had the Spirit in fulness. “For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.” (Colossians 2:9) And therefore He had all the gifts of the Spirit. There is an incident with Peter when Jesus is telling His disciples about His coming death and resurrection. Peter spouts immediately what appears to be concern for the Lord. But Jesus discerns the antichrist spirit behind his protests. It’s the devil tempting Jesus not to fulfill God’s Will and not to redeem man. “From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto His disciples, how that He must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day. Then Peter took Him, and began to rebuke Him, saying, Be it far from Thee, Lord: this shall not be unto Thee. But He turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind Me, Satan: Thou art an offence unto Me: for Thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” (Matthew 16:21-23)

There is a danger that our personal preferences may askew the discernment, but there are checks and balances in God’s Word. A discernment by the Holy Spirit will not be unscriptural. It will always be founded on love for the brethren, love for the Word of God and love for the will of God to be done. And although we may not know the motivation in one’s heart, the Holy Spirit will not allow a true child of God to be destroyed by a false discernment. Yes, even the discernment has to be judged to see if it’s Scriptural. “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” (1Peter 4:10)