The Acid Test

[phareztamar]

The Acid Test

If my Lord gave Peter the keys, then He surely gave John the acid test…of true Christianity. In five simple sentences, the Apostle builds a foundation for the ages…timeless words…as true then as now.

And this is his commandment, that we should believe on the name of his son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

He that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him.

And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God: and every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

Since Pentecost; this has always been, and remains to this day, the acid test of who’s got the goods…who has the truth…and what are the perimeters and boundaries of the true church.

This is that church that he gave his very young life for. It is the candlesticks he walks amongst in heaven, and the stars in his right hand. That church born in an upper room in Jerusalem; with the promise that the gates of hell will not prevail against them. That church…nearly 2,000 years later.

John seems to speak with some urgency in presenting this acid test. In his day…1900 years ago…the spirit of antichrist was already afoot. Many false prophets had already gone out into the world. It can only be worse today. This invasion was launched in John’s day, shortly after the ascension and glorification of my Lord. The church of Pentecost and Acts has survived and grown. But so equally has this spirit of antichrist grown. In fact; here at the close of the sixth thousand years, it is now fully grown.

But John’s timeless and beautiful words remain…and stand as the word of God. It can be painful…even tearful, to read those who trivialize this acid test.

The Lord speaks not of his own flesh in these five verses, but of your flesh. It is John’s theme here, and remains true throughout these verses. Not his flesh, but your flesh.

Before one can confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh…in your flesh…you must first experience his arrival. You must have experienced the baptism of the Holy Ghost…initially evidenced by speaking in unknown tongues. Like it or not, that is your only avenue to confessing that Jesus Christ has come in your flesh.

To receive this promise of the fathers, you must hear and obey the gospel of Jesus Christ. That gospel first preached and believed. The one…as John Baptist had said…where Jesus Christ alone baptizes each one with the Holy Ghost. He will not leave us comfortless…he will come to us.

Only those who have been born again…born of the Spirit; like Mary and the apostles and 108 others…can truly confess that Jesus Christ has come in their flesh. Those who keep his commandments, and dwell in him, and he in them.

So whatever name you want to put on the shingle…it really doesn’t matter. The acid test applies to all. Through 2,000 years of antichrist’s onslaught, bitterness and falsehood, John’s test stands as a shield. We would do well not to stray far from this original blueprint. After all, it is given to us by those who walked with my Lord. It is a strong tower, and a sure foundation…laid there before us from the very start.

If Jesus Christ has not baptized you with the Holy Ghost; then I’m sorry, but you’ve not yet been born again. Settle for nothing less…press if you must…because our Lord has bade us, you must be born again.

This is that same spiritual birth documented throughout the book of Acts. This is that promise of the fathers; for which his own mother tarried seven days in an upper room. And only those who have this experience, can confess that Jesus Christ has come in their flesh. From there; the diversity of fruit and flower are as broad as his beautiful creation…his valleys and orchards and vineyards. But at the core of every spirit of man…those reborn by the Spirit of God…baptized in the Holy Ghost by my Lord himself…is this sure foundation: Jesus Christ himself has come in my flesh.

With the maturing of the spirit of antichrist in our day, may we remember that it was so, even back in John’s day. And now this spirit has had 2,000 years to grow and mature. It becomes prudent then, to put all who cross our path to this test.

For that same apostle did warn us only a chapter ago:

Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son.