Test Every Spirit

Outlines on the Gospel of John and First John 13. Sonship Tested on Christological Grounds (1 John 4:1–6)

I. The Command (v. 1).

A. Two sides to the command:

1. Negative—“believe not every spirit.”

2. Positive—“try the spirits.”

B. Its purpose—“whether they are of God.”

C. Its need—“many false prophets.”

II. The Contrast (vv. 4, 5).

A. The readers themselves (v. 4):

1. Their divine origin—they are “of God.”

2. Their victory—they have overcome the world.

3. The reason for their victory—the spirit in them is greater.

B. The false prophets (v. 5):

1. Their worldly character—“they are of the world.”

2. Their worldly speech—they speak “of the world.”

3. The result—“the world heareth them.”

III. The Confirmation (vv. 2, 3, 6).

A. The first means of confirming is the person’s attitude toward the truth concerning the person of Christ (vv. 2, 3a). Their creed is to be examined in the light of:

1. The personal source.

a. The spirit of God (v. 2a).

b. The spirit of the antichrist (v. 3b).

2. The resulting confession, derived from the personal source.

a. The spirit which is of God “confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh” (v. 2b).

b. The spirit which is not of God does not confess Jesus (v. 3a).

B. The second means of confirming is by a person’s attitude toward the teaching of the apostles:

1. The spirit of truth—he who knows God accepts their teaching.

2. The spirit of error—he who is not of God does not accept their teaching.

1 John 4:1–6 ESV

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.

Spirit of Truth Vs. Spirit of Falsehood

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.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 7:15 ESV

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

Matthew 24:11 ESV

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Matthew 24:24 ESV

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

A true and False Prophet - Moses tells us in the OT

Deuteronomy 18:22 ESV

when a prophet speaks in the name of the Lord, if the word does not come to pass or come true, that is a word that the Lord has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously. You need not be afraid of him.

Deuteronomy 13:1–5 ESV

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Do not mistaken miracles or signs as always coming from God.

Mark 13:22–23 ESV

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform signs and wonders, to lead astray, if possible, the elect. But be on guard; I have told you all things beforehand.

v2-3

Q: What is the test for the spirit?

Confess, acknowledge etc.

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

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.”78 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 Thessalonians 5:19–21 ESV

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good.