Test the Spirits
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Central Theme
Because many false prophets have gone out into the world, every Christian must test each message by Jesus Christ and the apostles' word before accepting it as from God.
INTRODUCTION
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.
What John means by "spirit"
What John means by "spirit"
pneuma = spirit, breath, or wind
pneuma = spirit, breath, or wind
"spirit" does not mean a ghost, a feeling, or a person's mood.
It means the power behind a message: the spiritual source that moves a prophet or teacher to speak.
John links "spirits" with "false prophets":
Testing the spirits means testing the people who claim to speak for God, and the message they bring.
The word "test"
The word "test"
dokimazō was used for testing metals to see if they were real.
John gives us three tests for every message that claims to be from God.
I. The Confession Test
I. The Confession Test
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.
but test everything; hold fast what is good.
Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.
For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
This test still applies today. Is Jesus just a good teacher? A motivational speaker? Or Lord, Savior, and the only way to the Father (John 14:6; Acts 4:12)
Practical Action Item: Check at least one sermon, book, podcast, or post you take in by opening your Bible and asking, "What does this say about Jesus, and does Scripture agree?"
II. The Source Test
II. The Source Test
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.
For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.
You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Practical Action Item: List the voices you hear most often, such as media, influencers, and entertainment. Replace at least one worldly voice with regular time in God's Word and prayer (Psalm 1:1-2).
III. The Scripture Test
III. The Scripture Test
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.
"Us" means the apostles, the eyewitnesses Christ chose and sent (1 John 1:1-3).
Jesus promised that the Holy Spirit would teach the apostles "all things" and guide them "into all the truth" (John 14:26; 16:13).
People who belong to God listen to that apostolic message (John 8:47; 10:27).
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,
Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.
We learn "not to go beyond what is written" (1 Corinthians 4:6), and we must not add to or take away from God's Word (Revelation 22:18-19).
Feelings, traditions, and personal experiences must all yield to Scripture (Proverbs 3:5-6; Matthew 15:9; Isaiah 8:20).
Jesus warned that some who call Him "Lord, Lord" will be rejected because they did not do the Father's will (Matthew 7:21-23).
Practical Action Item: Commit to a daily Bible reading plan. Start by reading all five chapters of 1 John this week so you know God's truth well enough to recognize error.
CONCLUSION
CONCLUSION
• The Confession Test: What does it say about Jesus? (vv. 1-3)
• The Source Test: Whose voice does it echo? (vv. 4-5)
• The Scripture Test: Does it agree with the apostles' word? (v. 6)
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
