1 John 4:1-6
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. (ESV)
1. The Command: Test the Spirits (v. 1)
2.1 The Spirit of Truth is from God (vv. 1, 2, 4)
What marks the Spirit of truth?
• He is “from God” (v. 1, 4).
• He “confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (v. 2).
• He “has overcome” the spirit of error (v. 4).
• He “is greater” than the spirit of error (v. 4).
• He “is listened to” by those who are from God (v. 6).
2.2 The Spirit of Error is from the World (vv. 1, 3, 5, 6)
By contrast, the spirit of error:
• Is spread by “false prophets”, who are “many” in the world (v. 1).
• “Does not confess” – indeed denies – that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (v. 3).
• “Is the spirit of the antichrist”, whose coming was foretold and who is already present (v. 3).
• “Is from the world” (v. 5).
• “Speaks from the world”- its content, its concerns, its values are drawn from worldly wisdom rather than divine revelation (v. 5).
• “Is listened to by the world”, because the world recognises its own voice (v. 5).
• “Does not listen” to the apostolic witness (v. 6).
Application:
The Contrast Examined
• Doctrinal Examination.
• Fruit Examination.
• Origin Examination.