1 John 4:6 KJV
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Albert Barnes says
John here, doubtless, refers to himself, and to those who taught the same doctrines which he did. He takes it for granted that those to whom he wrote would admit this, and argues from it as an indisputable truth. He had given them such evidence of this, as to establish his character and claims beyond a doubt; and he often refers to the fact that he was what he claimed to be, as a point which was so well established that no one would call it in question.
What has happened in our day when so few are willing to believe a preacher is "of God" and there is such uproar when a preacher would claim to be?
It seems to me that the people of the church want to believe that a pastor is just guessing about
right and wrong
good and evil
righteousness and wickedness
And they are therefore under no real obligation to hear him. The preachers of the past would not have tolerated such. Apostle Paul's authority was questioned, but he refused to be still about it. He expected, as does Apostle John here, that his position before the Lord be acknowledged.
A pastor today is not all powerful nor is he infallible. But neither were the Apostles of so long ago. But they were "of God." And while there are false teachers today just as there were in those days, there are preachers today who are just as much "of God" as were those of Bible days.
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Albert Barnes says
John here, doubtless, refers to himself, and to those who taught the same doctrines which he did. He takes it for granted that those to whom he wrote would admit this, and argues from it as an indisputable truth. He had given them such evidence of this, as to establish his character and claims beyond a doubt; and he often refers to the fact that he was what he claimed to be, as a point which was so well established that no one would call it in question.
What has happened in our day when so few are willing to believe a preacher is "of God" and there is such uproar when a preacher would claim to be?
It seems to me that the people of the church want to believe that a pastor is just guessing about
right and wrong
good and evil
righteousness and wickedness
And they are therefore under no real obligation to hear him. The preachers of the past would not have tolerated such. Apostle Paul's authority was questioned, but he refused to be still about it. He expected, as does Apostle John here, that his position before the Lord be acknowledged.
A pastor today is not all powerful nor is he infallible. But neither were the Apostles of so long ago. But they were "of God." And while there are false teachers today just as there were in those days, there are preachers today who are just as much "of God" as were those of Bible days.
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