1John 4:4-6 - You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
It is very important to have fellowship with like-minded people, especially among believers. A good, Bible-believing church is an excellent start. The church I attend is just that and considers itself a safe place! Safe in that any trouble, concern or sin confession is looked upon not in disgust or shock but with compassion. Some great testimonies of God’s greatness are revealed in the lives of our congregation! It is evident at our baptisms.
When one receives Christ, is born again according to scripture, has confessed Jesus as Lord and taken Him seriously, turned from old ways (though forever in a process of change), he has become that child of God.
We are all created by God but we cannot call ourselves His children until we have become born again. These are not MY words. It is then that Christ lives in us spiritually. That Spirit of God is constantly teaching, admonishing, convicting, encouraging, strengthening. It is He who lives in us that is greater than those who have not received Him.
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27)
Receiving Christ brings a change in one’s mind. Jesus is not an offense anymore. His name is not difficult to hear or speak because He is like a brother, yet God! He is someone we want to talk about, love, worship and praise!
So there is a difference between believers and non-believers, those who are born again and those who are not. Those who do not believe find discussing or hearing anything about God difficult. It doesn’t compute. It’s like hearing, “blah, blah, blah!”
THIS is why it is important for believers to be in fellowship with like-minded people. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. Blah, blah, blah.
As the verses above also state, with the Spirit of God in us, we know the difference between godly truth and worldly error. Those who do not know Jesus do not know the absolute truth that only Jesus saves. The world, even some (false) religions, teach all go to heaven based on their kindness or good works. It’s not about what we can do to please God and enter heaven but only what Jesus did on the cross. It’s faith alone in Jesus. He is the only One who died for you. He is the only One who can save you. You cannot save yourself.
I urge you to call on the Lord for His forgiveness of your sins and yes, you have sin. I still sin, but He is faithful and just to forgive me when I repent and turn from that sin...even if it has to be multiple times. I am not perfect and neither are you. But I am forgiven because I have received Christ.
John 1:12 - But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name...
