1 John 4:12

Summary of sermon by Erlo Stegen, 23 Mar 2014 1 John 4 1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is... Read More

INTRODUCTION TO 1 JOHN 4 In this chapter the apostle cautions against seducing spirits; advises to try them, and gives rules by which they may be known, and by which they are distinguished from others; and then returns to his favourite subject, brotherly love. He exhorts the saints not to believe ev... Read More

Ver. 17. Herein is our love made perfect,.... Or love with us; which some understand of the love of God towards his people, and which is shed abroad in them: this indeed removes all fear of an awful judgment, and renders that amiable and desirable; and such who are interested in it, shall stand in t... Read More

Ver. 20. If a man say I love God, and hateth his brother,.... Than which profession nothing can be more contradictory, not black and white, or hot and cold in the same degree: he is a liar; it is not truth he speaks, it is a contradiction, and a thing impossible: for he that loveth not his brother w... Read More

At the time appointed, the persons to be married, with their witnesses, assemble in the church or some other appropriate place. During their entrance, a hymn, psalm, or anthem may be sung, or instrumental music may be played. Then the Celebrant, facing the people and the persons to be married, with ... Read More

Gnosticism traces its roots back just after the beginning of the Christian Church. Some researchers state that evidence of its existence even predates Christianity. Whichever the case, the error of gnosticism had affected the culture and church of the time and possibly even a earned a mention in 1 J... Read More

Excerpts from 'Devotional Classics' edited by Richard Foster and James Bryan Smith Bernard of Clairvaux (1090-1153) Introduction to the Author Bernard of Clairvaux was one of the greatest leaders in the history of the Church. He was an eloquent speaker and considered by many to be one of the holiest... Read More

St Theodoros the Great Ascetic (? 9"' century) (J'olume 2, pp. 13-47) Introductory Note The two works that follow, A Century of Spiritual Texts and Theoretikon,^ are ascribed in the Greek Philokalia to St Theodoros the Great Ascetic, a monk of the monastery of St Sabas near Jerusalem, who subsequent... Read More

{Published as 'Extracts' in a 16 page pamphlet, some are in the Collected Writings but it is added here as helpfully bringing together teaching on this subject and some of it cannot be found in the Collected Writings.} The Epistle of John, that is to say, his first, shows us the life that comes from... Read More

(Words of Faith, Vol. 3, 1884, page 261.) John 1. In the first part of this chapter we get abstractedly what Christ was: the Word, the Word with God, and who was God - life and light. An important element is brought out here, and that is, that when divine light came into the world in grace, the worl... Read More