Bible Study on 1John 4, verses 4 to 6, greater is he that is in you

 

1John 4:4 ¶  Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5  They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. 6  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.

Again, John uses the phrase little children which, as I said previously, may be a reference to how new the converts are or simply an affectionate title for the disciples of Christ and students of John, under his care.

We have the Holy Spirit indwelling each of us, the very power that raised Christ from the dead. The world system is not stronger than He, the Holy Ghost, the very mind of God who is also God. Note what Paul said.

Romans 8:37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

Romans 8:11  But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

We should have this confidence when we are facing the world system, its oppressions, and its temptations. God is stronger than all. I am also reminded of this Psalm.

Psalm 124:1 ¶  «A Song of degrees of David.» If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say; 2  If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us: 3  Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us: 4  Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul: 5  Then the proud waters had gone over our soul. 6 ¶  Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth. 7  Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped. 8  Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Those who are antichrist are of the world and cannot and do not know the God who created them. There are a bunch of verses that would applicable to this sentiment but here are some that stand out to me as an inspiration.

1Corinthians 2:12  Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

James 4:4  Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

John 14:17  Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

Those who hear and believe the doctrines put forth by Christ and His apostles know the truth and those who reject the truth are in error and as an old time preacher once said, “It is impossible to pursue righteousness when one is zealously clinging to error.”

John 17:14  I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.