Posts with the tag “the-real-thing”

Not everything that sounds spiritual is actually from God. In a world overflowing with podcasts, social media theology, and spiritual influencers, knowing how to test what you hear is one of the most important skills a Christian can develop. First John chapter 4 gives us a clear and practical framework for doing exactly that. "Dear friends, do not believe every Spirit, but test the spirits to see ...  Read More

It is easy to say we love people. It is much harder to actually do it. In 1 John chapter 3, the apostle John cuts through the sentiment and gets to the heart of what genuine Christian love really looks like, and why it matters so much to our faith. John is writing to help believers recognize what authentic faith actually looks like in practice. One of his clearest points is this: you should not ne...  Read More

Deception is one of the greatest threats to genuine Christian faith, and it doesn't always look obviously false. In fact, the most dangerous lies are the ones that sound almost true. First John chapter 2 gives us a clear and practical warning about spiritual deception and shows us exactly how to guard against it. John opens this section with a sense of urgency: "Children, it is the last hour, and ...  Read More

It's easy to say the right things about faith. We can use the right language, attend church, carry a Bible, and still not truly know Christ. The question worth sitting with is this: does the way you live support what you say you believe? The apostle John gets right to the point in First John chapter 2. He writes, "This is how we know that we know him if we keep his commands. The one who says, 'I h...  Read More

It's easy to put on a religious face and pretend everything is fine. But what does genuine Christianity actually look like? Based on 1 John 1:5 through 2:2, real faith isn't about appearing perfect. It's about walking honestly before a holy God, confessing sin, and running to Jesus when we fall. Before addressing our brokenness, John establishes something foundational: the character of God. "This ...  Read More