Tests of Assurance Continued

The Test of Error (1-6)

John told the Ephesians to take the initiative and test spirits, for some were plainly not from God (1). Those spirits who confessed Jesus as being God and man were hailing from God (2). Those spirits who did not confess Jesus as Lord were men crying the spirit of the antichrist (3). John wanted the Ephesians to take the time to really listen to what teachers were confessing, for the spirit of the antichrist would ultimately deny the plain truth about who Christ really was. John reminded them that they had overcome this false message and were greater than it (4). When the message about Jesus got messed up, then the world showed up in the message, and once again, the messenger appealed to the lust in those listening (5). The Spirit of truth and the spirit of error were quite clear: one put Jesus on center stage and the other ultimately put lust on center stage. The world could not stomach Jesus’ message, and the children of God fed on it (6).

The Test of Love Nature (7-12)

John now felt it necessary to review. He called on the Ephesian church to love, for love was what God-born people naturally did because they naturally knew God, and “God is love” (7-8). John reminded them how love was revealed: God loved by sending His Son, the Son loved by coming to us, and people love by loving through Him (9). John then made sure the Ephesians did not get things mixed up, as was so easy in the human heart. Love did not begin in them; it began in God when He sent Jesus to pay the price for their sin (propitiation) that they could not pay for themselves (10). As God had put love in their hearts, they, by nature, should love one another (11). John went on: love was essential, for no one could prove what God looked like by seeing Him. He took on the shape of love instead, and He made that love complete us by making it part of our new nature (12).

The Test of Truth (13-15)

John wrote again and again with the assurance that they were children of God because the same Spirit, the same Power motivating Jesus, was motivating them (13). John reminded them of the witness of the apostles concerning Jesus being God’s Son and reminded them that those who confessed Jesus as their King and Messiah were abiding in God and God in them (14-15). 

The Further Test of Love (16-21)

This was to lead them all to a conclusion: God was love, and as they abided in love, they were abiding in God; they were being driven by the same Spirit that drove Christ (16). Love found its ultimate goal (“perfection”) in making them confident to face judgment, knowing they were in the world but did not have the nature of the world (17).

John explained further that the goal (“perfection”) of love was to cast out fear, especially fear of punishment, because the one loved became loving and knew his or her nature had been changed (18). John reminded them again that love did not originate with them; God was always the first to love (19). This love He loved us with could not in turn love the invisible God and hate the visible brother (20). The command of Christ was clear: those who loved God would by nature also love their brother (21).