Testing the Spirits 1 John 4:1-6

1, 2, 3 John (2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6))

John has already dealt with the conflict between truth and falsehood (2:18–28),

the conflict between the children of God and the children of Satan (2:29–3:12), and

the conflict between love and hatred (3:13–24).

Given this conflict between the two spiritual realms, John exhorts his readers to test all spirits to determine their truthfulness and then gives the criteria for making this determination.

Command to Test the Spirits Vs 1

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

His warning is clear: behind every statement is a spirit, a pneuma, but not every spirit is the Spirit of God

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

The verb “test” (dokimazete) means “to prove, to examine,” like coins that are being tested for genuineness and proper weight—something that should be done on a continual basis

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

This particular task of the people of God is not new. In Elijah’s day there were the prophets of Baal and the prophets of Asherah who were set in opposition to Elijah, who himself was a true prophet of God (1 Kgs 18:1–22).

Jesus

Matthew 7:15 NASB95

“Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 24:11 NASB95

“Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many.

Matthew 24:24 NASB95

“For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.

Paul

Acts 20:28–30 NASB95

“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. “I know that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves men will arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them.

Peter

2 Peter 2:1–3 NASB95

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will also be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction upon themselves. Many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of the truth will be maligned; and in their greed they will exploit you with false words; their judgment from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep.

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

Spiritual activity is not necessarily Godly activity. We must be discerning. We must listen and evaluate carefully the message and messenger against the infallible authority of Scripture

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

These false prophets have the world, that evil system under Satan’s control that opposes God, as their stage; and the scope of their influence and work includes all of humanity

How to test the Spirits Vs 2-3

What are you going to do with Jesus

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1, 2, 3 John (2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6))

The legitimacy of a prophet should be determined by the content of his message, his confession about Jesus.

The verb “acknowledges” (homologei) indicates an unwavering confession and “denotes not mere verbal acknowledgment but an open and forthright declaration of the message as one’s own position.”

It is the outward expression of inner faith.

The content of the expression is crucial, and it must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh (en sarki).

1 Corinthians 12:3 NASB95

Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

John 1:14 NASB95

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Vs. 3

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

By their refusal to confess the truth about Jesus, these false prophets now reveal their true colors. Theirs is a spirit that stands in hostile opposition to Jesus (cf. 2:18–28).

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1, 2, 3 John (2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6))

The spirit of the arch enemy of Christ is “now” in the world “already.” His presence was active in John’s day.

It remains active in our day. It will continue until this age ends with the revelation of God’s Christ, the true Christ (cf. 2:28–3:3).

Recognize the Spirit of Truth (Vs. 4)

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

He reminds them of the true source and secret of their victory. They are not necessarily more intelligent or more skilled than the false prophets, but they are possessed and indwelt by one who is, the Holy Spirit

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1, 2, 3 John (2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6))

No cosmic dualism is found here!

Their foe is one who is in the world, a reference to the one who is the prince of this world, the devil

Ephesians 2:2 NASB95

in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

The world is the devil’s domain, and its philosophy is an expression of his values and agenda.

He attempts to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10) but is rendered powerless by the greater Spirit of God who lives within the believer.

Satan, Antichrist, and the false prophets are no match for God.

Romans 8:31 NASB95

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?

Recognized the spirit of error (Vs. 5)

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1, 2, 3 John (2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6))

their message is attractive to those who think like the world.

Their words entice and capture those for whom the world is their home.

The world listens to those who speak its own language

John 15:19 NASB95

“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, because of this the world hates you.

False Spirituality i.e. wicca, etc.

Jeremiah 14:14 NASB95

Then the Lord said to me, “The prophets are prophesying falsehood in My name. I have neither sent them nor commanded them nor spoken to them; they are prophesying to you a false vision, divination, futility and the deception of their own minds.

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

The world “recognizes its own people and listens to their message, which originates in its own circle and reflects its own perspective.”

Know which Spirit Guides You (Vs. 6)

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1, 2, 3 John (2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6))

People will gravitate to and have an affinity for that confession and teaching with which they are like-minded.

ARC

John 8:47 NASB95

“He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God.”

1 Timothy 4:1–2 NASB95

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,

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Therefore one who affirms the world’s message is from the world, and, likewise, one who affirms the message that Christ came in the flesh is of God.

Whoever “knows God listens to us,” and he is attracted to the apostles’ message because of his abiding commitment and relationship to the true God.

This readiness to hear springs from a growing knowledge of the truth, which welcomes and appropriates the message of God’s prophets.

John 14:17 NASB95

that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not see Him or know Him, but you know Him because He abides with you and will be in you.

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1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)

The spirits may be tested by first examining their confession, which comes through human instruments, and then by examining the character of their audience, who would give them credence.