Randy Forrester :: Authentic Faith

Bible Study Don't just take our word for it . . . take His! We would encourage you to spend time examining the following Scriptures that shaped this sermon: . Big Idea: How do we discern authentic Christian faith from deception? John gives us three exhortations. 1. Don’t Be Surprised (vv. 18–19) We are living in the “last hour”—the climax of God’s great story in Christ. Spiritual conflict and false teaching are to be expected. The goal isn’t fascination with the Antichrist, but heightened spiritual awareness. Application: Wake up to the spiritual realities of the age in which we live. 2. Don’t Be Deceived (vv. 20–23, 26) False teaching ultimately centers on denying, distorting, or diminishing Jesus. Jesus is fully God and fully man; to deny the Son is to lose the Father. Sincerity and strong feelings are no guarantee of truth. Four ways we distort Jesus today:Relativize him: Jesus is one way to God, but not the only way. Reduce him: Embrace his socially acceptable moral teaching while ignoring his claims about himself. Ignore his lordship: Claim Jesus as Savior without submitting to his teaching. Separate spirituality from Christ: Seek spiritual experiences while sidelining Jesus. Application: Receive Jesus as the apostles proclaim him in Scripture—not a version we have fashioned for ourselves. 3. Don’t Be Discouraged (vv. 20, 24–27) The believers already possess the authentic apostolic gospel. “Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you” (v. 24). God has given us both his Word and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit teaches us the truth and empowers us to live it. Application: Abide in the Word and the Spirit rather than chasing supposedly superior or novel spiritual knowledge. Discussion Questions 1. Have you ever been confused about what to believe in your Christian walk? How did you resolve it? 2. How did the sermon explain John's point about "the last hour"? Why is it important to realize we're living in a spiritually climactic time? 3. Which of the four ways Jesus is denied, distorted, or diminished seems most prevalent to you in the wider church today? 4. Is it possible to claim that Jesus is the only way to God without being arrogant? How? 5. How can Word and Spirit together help us stay grounded in authentic Christian faith? Questions? Do you have a question about today's sermon? Email Randy Forrester ( ).