AM I OF US

"They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us they would have continued with us. But they went out that it might become plain that they were not of us" (1John 2.19).

Some Christians have a hard time when people leave their fellowship. "What did we do wrong? Is our Bible study too hard? Are our songs too traditional? Does my breath stink?" John puts it very simply, they left because they were not "of us." In context, John is writing about antichrist, or false teachers and prophets, who came from the fellowship of true believers but left when their messages mutated the true Gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem is that most Christians can't tell the difference between those who are "of us" and those who are not. But there is one simple indicator.

"Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (1John 4.6). This is obviously a very dangerous verse when repeated by those who are not "of us" but a very true statement when announced by those who are "of us." The question must then first be asked is this: am I "from God?"

"By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit" (1John 4.13). Those who are from God will bear the fruits of the Spirit (Gal 5). They will know and understand the Word of God (1Cor 2). And they will testify to the Truth (John 15).

 

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