The Beloved Disciple's First Letter - Pt 15

 

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error. (1 John 4:1–6 ESV).

 

It cannot be denied that there are many false teachers in our culture. Many “churches” exist that are led by deceptive but convincing individuals whose knowledge of sound doctrine and biblical truth is at best dubious and often even dangerous. Add to that our tendency toward extreme emphasis on tolerance and pluralism that anyone who takes a stand against false teaching is labeled “bigoted” and “judgmental” and you may see the crisis as dangerous as I believe it to be. This shouldn’t be a great surprise, because the Adversary fuels its fire. Paul clearly warned that “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14). Therefore, it’s easy to see how up-to-date John’s command is today: “… test the spirits” (v. 1).

 

Our reading today addresses the vital necessity of spiritual discernment, instructing believers to evaluate the source behind any spiritual teaching. During the late first century, proto-Gnostic false prophets were spreading the heresy that Jesus did not actually possess a physical, human body. While few would adhere to that heresy today, the principles John details in this passage is very important. There are three core components that will help us distinguish between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

 

The first is the mandate to discern. The apostle says, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits..." (v. 1). Believers are commanded not to be spiritually gullible or easily swayed by supernatural displays or charismatic speakers. He goes on: "...because many false prophets have gone out into the world." The presence of deceptive teachers is not a rare exception but a widespread, ongoing reality that requires constant vigilance. In our world we tend to believe success is the test of truth. The bigger the church, the larger the membership, the more compelling the message must be a sign that this is of God. Nothing could be further from the truth!

 

Second, he gives us the Christological test, which is the Mark of God: "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God" (vv. 2-3).  A true, Holy Spirit-led teacher acknowledges both the full deity and the full, physical humanity of Jesus Christ. This is the mark of the antichrist: "Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist..." Any doctrine that denies, alters, or diminishes the true nature, incarnation, and sufficient work of Jesus Christ stems from demonic deception, an opposing force already active in the world. Often this denial of the nature of Christ is subtle. We should look at who is the one being glorified. If it is the individual speaking, then it is not of God.

 

Third, John points to sovereign assurance: "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" (vv. 4-6). Believers do not need to fear deception or spiritual warfare. The indwelling Holy Spirit provides the power and clarity to withstand and conquer worldly lies. We should take care to recognize two different audiences. There are those driven by worldly values who speak from a worldly perspective, and the secular culture embraces them ("therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them"); and, conversely, genuine believers align themselves with the foundational, apostolic teaching of Scripture ("he who knows God listens to us").

 

Take care in this world of ours that you discern the spirits! Measure everything by the truth of the Scripture!