Independent investigation of truth in the Bible

Christians must test the spirits to see if they are God’s teachings

“But test the spirits to see whether they are of God...”

(1 John 4:1)

Note

• Therefore a Christian is commanded to test the spirit of Bahá’u’lláh’s teachings.

Jesus gives the test instructions to see whether spirits are of God

“My teaching is not mine, but His who sent me; if any man’s will is to do His will, he shall know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking from my own authority. He who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but he who seeks the glory of Him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood.”

(John 7:16-18)

Note

• Bahá’u’lláh’s Teachings and life clearly show He did not seek His own glory but only God’s glory as among other things Bahá’u’lláh gave up all His earthly wealth and position of power to serve God.

Jesus says every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God

“By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”

(1 John 4:2-3)

Bahá’u’lláh refers to Jesus as the Spirit of God

“Reflect how Jesus, the Spirit of God, was, notwithstanding His extreme meekness and perfect tender-heartedness, treated by His enemies. So fierce was the opposition which He, the Essence of Being and Lord of the visible and invisible, had to face, that He had nowhere to lay His head.”

(Bahá'u'lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá'u'lláh, p. 57)

Despite not prophesying and prove all things

“Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.”

(1 Thessalonians 5:19-21)

Note

• Christians are instructed to “prove all things” so as not to quench the spirit or miss the fulfillment of prophecy.

Pray that you may stand before the Son of Man

“Watch at all times, praying that you may ... stand before the Son of Man.”

(Luke 21:36)

Note

• The word “may” implies that Christians must prayerfully consider the claim of Bahá’u’lláh and that recognition of the “Return” is not automatic.

Not everyone who says "Lord, Lord" shall enter the kingdom

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ shall enter the kingdom, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”

(Matthew 7:21)

Note

• Therefore, if Christians are not watching at all times, testing the spirits, proving all things, then they are not doing the will of the Father and are in jeopardy of not entering the kingdom.

See also

• Independent investigation of truth