You must be in fellowship prior to your Bible study, so that the spiritual information you receive can become a source, of blessing to your soul and produce spiritual growth.
1 John 4:4-6
4 Ye [humeis] are [este] of [ek] God [theos], little children [teknion], and [kai] have overcome [nikao] them [autos]: because [hoti] greater [meizon] is he that is [esti] in [en] you [humin], than [e] he that is in [en] the world [kosmos]. 5 They [autos] are [eisi] of [ek] the world [kosmos]: therefore [dia] [touto] speak they [laleo] of [ek] the world [kosmos], and [kai] the world [kosmos] heareth [akouo] them [autos]. 6 We [hemeis] are [esmen] of [ek] God [theos]: he that knoweth [ginosko] God [theos] heareth [akouo] us [hemon]; he that [hos] is [esti] not [ou] of [ek] God [theos] heareth [akouo] not [ou] us [hemon]. Hereby [ek] [toutou] know we [ginosko] the spirit [pneuma] of truth [aletheia], and [kai] the spirit [pneuma] of error [plane]. KJV-Interlinear 4 You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. 5 They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. NASB
There are but two opinions in this world, or in the universe for that matter. That from God and that from Satan. Likewise, there are two sources of information. Again the first comes from God and the second comes from Satan. Satan's information is of his own interpretation of the facts in life. Satan does not originate any original information.
Gods information is of course from the correct interpretation of facts as they relate to truth. Facts which He (God) not only originated but invented. Facts and truth match up perfectly.
In Satan's view, facts and truth do not match up. Satan tries to create a new version of truth. One which is more compatible and convenient with what he wants out of life.
So a person can take from the world, in all of its correct or twisted interpretation of truth, and get nothing out of life, or a person can take the truth from God, and get a perfect orientation to life, to God, and to truth, and come out a winner in life.
God is the almighty, the one who holds the universe together, the eternal provider of all things, the one who provides for all of our needs.
The world on the other hand does none of these things. The world cannot create anything new. The world cannot originate any truth of any kind. The world cannot even sustain itself for even a minute, because the world has no resources or power with which to sustain anything.
It is God who sustains and holds together all things.
So now John pose's a question in the form of a comparison. Who is the greater, God or the world? Therefore, who will do you more good? Who will do you more harm? Which should you prefer to be associated with?
As a believer you are from God, in that you have believed in Christ and are now a part of Gods family. But as we have already seen just being a believer does not get you the blessings which come only to the mature. Being mature in ones spiritual life requires an acquisition of wisdom. And that comes only through learning and understanding do to a daily study program.
There are only two positions in life which one can maintain - you are either for God or against God. Being for God means spiritual growth, residence in fellowship, application of doctrinal principles to ones daily life and so forth as a normal pattern of ones life.
A neutral position, an indifferent position, or a defiant position are all the same in that they are against God through refusal to subscribe to the truth of life which God provides in the scriptures.
1 John 5:19
19 We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one. NASB
John 15:19
19 'If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. NASB
John 14:17
17 that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you, and will be in you. NASB
John 15:25-26
26 'When the Helper [the Holy Spirit] comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, He will bear witness of Me, NASB
John 16:13
13 'But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. NASB
God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are all on the same plan. None of them are operating from independent plans. They are the source of all power and they are all the reason that we even exist in this universe. The world did not create any of us. The biology of procreation is of the world, but the creation of human life as well as eternal life, is of God. The world has never created any human life nor eternal life just as it has never created any truth. The world did not originate physics for example, God invented that science.
Now the obvious question. Will you finally get with a program and rely on and learn from the only source of truth, power and provision? Or, will you ignore God in your life and rely on that which you can see, taste, smell, hear, and touch. Things which only give you physical access to reality, but will never give you insight or a destiny in all aspects of life - including the spiritual side of life.
Those who look to God will receive the insight (spirit of truth) of God, from God, and they will gain discernment between the truth of life, and the lies. Those who look to the world, will only see the insight of the world, from the world, and they will only see and accept the lies, distortions and deceptions (spirits of error) which the world has to offer.
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Study to show thyself approved (mature) unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing (studying/discerning), the Word of truth.
