I John 4:1 commands, “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.” We are not to simply accept a speakers claim tha their message comes from God, but to test them. John then proceeds to list several things to check to identify whether it is of God or not.
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” (I John 4:2-3)
The first test is what they say about Jesus Christ. Do they believe that he is God come in the flesh? If not, they are not of God, but are inspired of Satan. Unfortunately most people stop with this test.
The second test is found in verse 4. “Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” Examine their lifestyle. If the Holy Spirit is present, they will not be controlled by sin. I John 3:3-6 states, “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.”
What is their message about? I John 4:5 says, “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world,…” If it is just about things here on earth, raising healthy kids, or managing your finances, or taking political action, for example, it is of the world. That doesn’t mean it is bad, just that it is not from God.
Who listens to them? This fourth test is also found in verse 5. “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them." What kind of people find their message attractive. As the old saying goes, “Birds of a feather flock together.” They attract people like themselves.
What is their doctrine based on? Is it solidly based on what the apostles taught or on some other man’s writing’s? I John 4:6 declares, “We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.” If it is not based on the Bible, there is no real commitment to the truth. It is the surest way of identifying the spirit behind the teacher.
What is their attitude toward other people, and especially other Christians. I John 4:7-8 advises, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” A Person who hates other Christians cannot be a Christian himself according to I John 2:9. “He that saith he is in the light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness even until now.”
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