Who’s Who?
YAFI 2025 • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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How do you know when someone is telling the truth? What standard do you work off of to determine that truth?
YAFI
How do we discern false prophets in the last days?
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.
Big Idea: Teachers/prophets from God affirm the truth of Scripture.
Scripture testifies to who Jesus is. Scripture is our final authority for belief and practice. Therefore, if someone comes along teaching anything that denies the authenticity of Christ or the truth of Scripture, they are a false teacher and should not be listened to. Today we’re going to look at three lessons that John teaches us about identifying false teaching/teachers.
1-3 - Spiritual Litmus Test
1-3 - Spiritual Litmus Test
Let’s get some context as we dive into this book:
In the epistle of 1 John, John writes to hellenistic Christians (or greek-speaking Jews-turned-Christians) probably in the church in Ephesus, where he was an elder. In his book he uses terms like beloved, and little children, showing how much he cared for these people. John writes about who these Christians are supposed to be in Jesus. How they should live, act, etc. Basically, John shows who Jesus is, and who Christians ought to be in light of this reality. By the time we get to 1 John 4, it is not the first time John has warned about false teaching that will try to derail the church. In chapter 2 he talks about how these false teachers have the spirit of the antichrist, and come denying the reality of who Jesus Christ is. John calls on the church to live as children of God, because God is our Father:
John transitions to our section by noting something very important:
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
This idea - that the Spirit lives in us - is all important. It is those who confess the full deity and humanity of Christ Jesus that have the Holy Spirit within them.
So we come to chapter 4:
Anyone here ever conducted a litmus test?
Litmus is a term from chemistry, where litmus paper is used to measure how acidic or alkaline something is. But, in its most basic definition, a litmus test is…
A simple indicator that helps in assessing a specific condition or quality. - Clarify.ai\
We see that John provides such a spiritual litmus test in1 Jn 4:1-3 for determining the origin of what a prophet says.
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.
John makes something very clear: don’t believe every spirit. Why? Because there are many false teachers that have gone out into the world.
Interestingly, John is not picturing a multitude of spirits here, but rather a multitude of people all influenced by either the Spirit of Truth, or the spirit of evil - the antichrist. (Word Biblical; Cornerstone).
It seems that within the church that John is writing to, there are many prophets that are rising up, but not all are good. Jesus himself warned about false prophets coming and trying to deceive:
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Similarly Paul said in Romans 16:17-18
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them.
For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive.
Many other places throughout the NT note the presence of false prophets or teachers. John warns that they will come and indeed as we read early in chapter 2, have already come out of the church. How then do we know who’s who? We need to perform a spiritual litmus test:
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.
The litmus test John gives centers around the identity of Jesus Christ and His incarnation. John says, “here’s how you determine who to trust: Anyone who confesses that Jesus Christ was actually incarnated “fully man” is from God. If they don’t confess this, they are not from God, but from the antichrist. We know he’s already in the world.”
This is a simple indicator of the origin of a prophet’s message.
Why this test?
Because those who deny the identity of Christ are from the spirit of the antichrist.
Scripture talks about antichrist, and shows that whether or not there is 1 antichrist to end them all at the end, there are certainly many who have and will come in his spirit. Indeed, many will walk in the spirit of antichrist. They will be enabled by Satan:
Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
It seems that one of the characteristics of antichrists is that they deny Jesus.
In John’s day, many tried to deny Jesus’ full humanity. “Perhaps Jesus just descended from heaven into an already existent human.” The problem with this of course is that Christ’s coming in the flesh, born of a virgin, born under the law as Paul says in Gal 4:4 is totally essential to the gospel. Without both the full humanity and full deity of Jesus Christ, we have no salvation. It is central to the gospel. Jesus had to be fully human in order to pay the price for our sin. He had to be…
But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
Little wonder than that Satan has tried to persuade people that Jesus is not really both God and man. To deny either one of course stamps out the validity of who He was, His sacrifice, and His coming glory. It is absolutely essential to our faith that Jesus is God, come in human flesh.
Today, the heresy seems to swing the other way: Many so-called churches have come in the name of the church, but teaching blatant heresy. An example of this is a group started in the Philippines called Iglesia ni Cristo. This group has spread over the world and appears to be Christian. But they are not. Among other issues is that they deny Jesus as fully God. Without Jesus’ full God-ness, how could He be fully perfect to atone for the sin of mankind. Moreover, this heresy is in direct contrast to Jesus’ claims to be God, as we’ll see later.
John tells us that in the last days - as we wait for Christ to return - there are going to be many who deny Jesus in some way.
John, 1 John, 2 John, & 3 John Commentary
In John’s day, many rejected Jesus’ humanity; in our day, many reject Jesus’ deity.
So test the spirits.
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.
Remember our big idea:
Big Idea: Teachers/prophets from God affirm the truth of Scripture.
If a teacher or prophet comes to you with some message, John supplies this litmus test as a way of validating the truth: “Do you confess Jesus as the Christ, come in the flesh?” If someone has to put a caveat on that, cannot subscribe to that, or somehow messes with it, you can be sure they are not from God and should not be listened to. This is our first lesson.
4 - Greater is He in You
4 - Greater is He in You
John now encourages the church, starting with the phrase little children:
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.
John gives an assurance that it is more than possible to overcome false teaching, teachers and prophets. Why? Because the One in us is greater than the one in the world.
Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
How do we know we are from God; that we are God’s people? Because the Holy Spirit abides in us! And it is He who is greater than the enemy!
We should not be surprised when we see evil teaching rampant both inside and outside of the church. Does this mean we like it or accept it? Certainly not! But the spirit of the antichrist is roaming about, using some to deceive and tear away. However, we are assured as we look at Scripture that He who is within us is greater than he who is in the world.
As Romans says:
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
So what does this mean for us? That as we live yielded to the Holy Spirit, we are equipped to overcome. For the spirit of antichrist is no match for the Holy Spirit.
I appreciated this quote from the cornerstone commentary:
1, 2, 3 John 2. Test the Spirits (4:1–6)
As believers yield themselves to the one who lives within them, they experience continual victory in their daily battles with the forces of evil.
Paul tells us in Gal 5 25:
If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Remember that it is the Spirit that guides us in the truth:
Jesus assures us in John 16:13,
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Similarly John says 1 Jn 2 20
But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge.
The Spirit of truth, living inside of the believer, is greater than the spirit of evil in this world. Therefore, it’s not that we are smarter, better, or greater than this world. But God in His grace gifts us with knowledge and discernment through the Holy Spirit. Lest we fear, this statement gives us our second lesson, Greater is He in You. You can overcome and should not fear because you serve God who is greater and who teaches us truth. So, listen to the Holy Spirit, who is in you. If something doesn’t sit right in you about something you read, heard, or saw, listen to that and double check. If it is false, do not follow their teachings. Recognize (through the Holy Spirit and Scripture) that they are wrong and do not follow them.
Big Idea: Teachers/prophets from God affirm the truth of Scripture.
The Holy Spirit is greater than that which is in the world. So church, do not fear. Instead, live yielded to the Spirit and heed His voice. Remember whose you are.
5-6 - Examine Their Fruit
5-6 - Examine Their Fruit
Now John goes to a final lesson:
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.
The last lesson John presents to us has to do with who false teachers attract, and what they preach.
John builds off of verse 4. You are of God, you have overcome because the Spirit of truth in us is greater than the spirit of evil. Meanwhile, those who have the spirit of antichrist will be influenced to speak things that will make the world happy. Here, world is referred to in the negative. Not the earth itself, but rather the world in terms of the carnal, sin-filled societies we live in. Those who do not have the spirit of truth will speak things that will tickle the world’s fancy. They may attract a following or a crowd, but that doesn’t make them trustworthy. It only makes them popular. Jesus warns in Matthew 24:24,
For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.
Meanwhile, John says that whoever knows God listens to right teaching. While those of this world have little to do with right teaching, those of God will embrace the truth of Scripture and uphold it. This is how we know the difference between the Spirit of truth and the spirit of evil.
In fact those who are from God and have the Holy Spirit will sound different.
When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
Those of God will present teaching that squares with Scripture. The people of God will listen to the things of God, and should be able to identify false teaching. So, examine what it is they are teaching and preaching. John makes it clear: false teachers will teach something different then what true prophets will teach. It might sound good, it might look good, but it will not square with Scripture and will prick the heart attuned to the Holy Spirit.
Let’s take two examples:
Many cults of pseudo-christian knock-offs will play at being a church. But, one of the classic things they do is somehow deny the deity or the humanity of Jesus Christ.
Last week we had two very nice Jehovah’s Witness ladies come to the door. They were kind, and caring, and addressed a subject that is probably on many minds right now: will there ever be an end to war? They came equipped with literature and no doubt minds full of their doctrines. We made clear our position on this: that it would not be until Christ returns in glory that we will see a complete end to war. That put and end to the conversation. But it got me thinking: how many people are sucked into this?
JW’s believe in Jesus, but not that He is God. They say He never claimed to actually be God, despite verses such as John 10 30
I and the Father are one.”
Or Col 1 15
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
They fail the Litmus test John gives us. They tamper with the reality of Jesus Christ, trying to drain His deity out of the story. Why? Because masquerading behind the JW nice front is false lies from the spirit of antichrist, who is directly against our Lord. Are we surprised? No! But my prayer became, God, protect our neighbors and friends from those lies. Because only when we have the Spirit, and know the Scripture are we equipped to stand.
Here’s the crazy thing of JW’s, Mormons, or other such cults: Many people equate them with the church. Many say that it’s the same as going to this church, just some different practices. Yet look at their fruit. If you leave Jehovah’s Witnesses, your family is no longer permitted to speak to you. If you leave the Mormon church, same thing. In both cults, people are ruled by fear and taught lies about who Jesus is.
Here’s another example of a false teaching that looks good:
Planned Parenthood. This organization is known as the institutional standard for sexual education, family planning, etc. Even its name sounds fairly innocuous: planned parenthood. Helping people plan for families. Great!
Yet consider their fruit. They are some of the first to offer abortion. They actively teach against Scripture’s understand of two genders (male and female). They actively promote that it’s ok to have sex outside of marriage, to have homosexual relationships, and to “explore.”
Consider Scripture’s perspective:
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
God created both Adam and Eve with intention: One male, one female. He didn’t do it by accident, and He doesn’t make mistakes. Now consider Romans:
and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Paul writes about homosexuality not as something to explore, embrace, or even consider. It is wrong.
So while Planned Parenthood do not openly deny Jesus, they are certainly happy to promote things that are in direct contrast to the Bible. When sin is lauded as something good, you can be sure there is a wolf in sheep’s clothing lurking about.
Friends, the world will want to hear false-hoods that sound good and tickle their fancy. They will be sucked in. Yet when God’s people are reading their Bibles consistently, learning to hear the voice of the Spirit, and firmly grounded in the truth that Scripture is our final authority for belief and practice, they are equipped to stand for real truth, and resist false teaching, however it may come. Remember:
Big Idea: Teachers/prophets from God affirm the truth of Scripture.
So look at their fruit. Is what their teaching affirming Scripture? Does it produce that which is pleasing to God in keeping with Scripture, for God’s glory? If so good. If not, do not follow it.
Conclusion
Conclusion
Big Idea: Teachers/prophets from God affirm the truth of Scripture.
Three lessons:
Spiritual Litmus Test
Greater is He in You
Examine the Fruit
John gives a Litmus test: Do you confess Jesus Christ as come in the flesh? If people fail that test, either by denying Jesus’ deity or humanity, they are not of God.
Remember that the One in you - the Spirit of truth is greater than the spirit of evil. When you have the Spirit, you can properly identify false teaching. So don’t be afraid!
Examine the fruit - the content and produce of what is being taught. Does it align with Scripture? Does the Spirit agree? If so, they are trustworthy. If not, tread with caution and walk away.
This world seeks to rip apart families, the church, and bring as many people as possible away from the truth of Scripture. If someone comes along seeking to teach something other than what is written in this book, DON’T LISTEN TO THEM! They are not preaching the gospel, they are not teaching correctly, they simply are dangerous.
Some practical application steps:
If you get a check in your spirit about some teaching or teacher, listen to it.
Know your Bible!
Use John’s Litmus test.
Tune into the voice of the Holy Spirit.
Have a few trusted resources that can help you know your Bible and find answers
If you get a check in your spirit about some teaching or teacher, listen to it. Do your research. Have conversations. This goes for your pastor too. If you hear something come from me that tweaks your spirit, we need to talk. Or at the very least, you should double check what I have said. I’m a human, I mess up.
Most importantly: know your Bible! How are you supposed to combat something without a weapon? The more you know the Word and how to apply it, the better equipped you will be to discern and defend against false teachers.
Tune into the voice of the Holy Spirit. Allow Him to speak to you and cultivate a listening heart. Ask even for a gift of discernment - to be able to see. Some have this spiritual gift, and it is important in the church!
Make sure you research. We live in a world where we have access to more information immediately then many pervious generations ever dreamed of! Use it to your advantage. Prayerfully have 2-3 go-to webpages or authors that you can trust. Seek advice from trusted Biblically sound sources. But remember, they are written by humans and are not infallibly inspired by the Holy Spirit. Even these can make mistakes, so know your Bible!
Communion:
For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread,
and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”
In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.”
For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.
