“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” (1 John 4:1).

John’s urgent warning to first-century believers rings just as true today. Writing to combat early Gnostic heresies that denied Christ’s full humanity, the apostle gives us a timeless command: test every spirit. But what does this actually mean, and how do we obey this crucial instruction?

 

‘TEST EVERY SPIRIT’: WHY MUST WE?

False Teaching Is Everywhere: Scripture repeatedly warns us false teaching will plague the church. Peter warned “false teachers among you” would “secretly bring in destructive heresies” (2 Peter 2:1). Paul told Timothy “in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons” (1 Timothy 4:1).

Church history confirms this biblical warning. From ancient Arianism denying Christ’s deity to modern prosperity gospel distortions, false teaching has consistently threatened God’s people. Today, we face the Word-Faith movement’s health-and-wealth promises, progressive Christianity’s denial of biblical authority, and the New Apostolic Reformation’s claims of ongoing apostolic revelation.

Deception Is Subtle: False teachers don’t typically announce their error openly. Paul warns “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” and “his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:14-15). Jesus described false prophets as wolves “in sheep’s clothing” (Matthew 7:15).

This subtlety makes discernment essential. False teachers often use biblical language while denying core truths. They may speak of Jesus while redefining His nature, or proclaim grace while adding works to salvation.

The Stakes Are Eternal: Paul declared that even if “an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Galatians 1:8). False teaching doesn’t just confuse—it condemns. When the gospel is corrupted, souls are at stake. The church’s purity and witness depend on our commitment to doctrinal truth.

 

HOW TO TEST THE SPIRITS: A BIBLICAL FRAMEWORK

The Christological Test

John immediately provides the primary test: “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” (1 John 4:2-3).

This isn’t merely acknowledging Jesus existed. It’s confessing His full deity and complete humanity—what theologians call the hypostatic union. Any teaching that diminishes Christ’s divine nature (like Jehovah’s Witnesses) or denies His true humanity (like ancient Docetism) fails this fundamental test.

The Reformed tradition has consistently upheld Chalcedonian orthodoxy: Jesus is truly God and truly man, two natures in one person forever. Every spiritual claim must align with this biblical Christology.

The Scripture Test

The Bereans were commended because they “examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so” (Acts 17:11). Isaiah declared, “To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn” (Isaiah 8:20).

Reformed theology’s principle of sola Scriptura provides our ultimate standard. Scripture interprets Scripture, and “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness” (2 Timothy 3:16).

Any spirit or teacher that contradicts, adds to, or diminishes Bible truth must be rejected, regardless of accompanying signs or wonders.

The Gospel Test

Paul was astonished the Galatians were “turning to a different gospel—not that there is another one” (Galatians 1:6-7). The gospel’s core elements—Christ’s death for our sins, His burial, and His resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:3-4)—form an essential test.

Reformed soteriology insists on salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Any teaching that adds human works, minimises sin’s severity, or compromises justification by faith must be rejected as “another gospel.”

The Fruit Test

Jesus taught “you will recognise them by their fruits” (Matthew 7:16). While gifting and charisma can deceive, sustained godly character and sound doctrine reveal true spiritual authority.

Examine teachers’ lives, their disciples’ spiritual health, and their churches’ long-term fruit. Do they produce mature believers or spiritual dependents? Do they build up the body of Christ or create personality cults?

The Historical Test

Jude urges us to “contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 3). Christianity has essential continuity with apostolic teaching, faithfully preserved through centuries.

Reformed confessions like Westminster, Belgic, and Heidelberg provide faithful summaries of Bible truth. While not infallible like Scripture, they represent careful theological work by godly scholars. Teachers whose innovations contradict this historic consensus bear the burden of extraordinary proof.

 

STANDING FIRM IN TRUTH: PRACTICAL APPLICATION

Every believer—not just pastors—must develop discernment. Paul commanded, “Test everything; hold fast what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). This requires biblical literacy, doctrinal education, and spiritual maturity.

Churches must take this seriously too. Elders are called to “give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). When necessary, church discipline protects the flock from false teaching (Matthew 18:15-17).

In our age of spiritual confusion, John’s command remains urgent: test every spirit. With Scripture as our standard, Christ as our foundation, and the Spirit as our guide, we can discern truth from error. The eternal stakes demand nothing less than complete faithfulness to God’s revealed Word.

 

TEST EVERY SPIRIT: RELATED FAQs

Can ordinary Christians really test prophecies and spiritual claims, or is this just for church leaders? John Calvin emphasised every believer has both the right and responsibility to test spiritual claims against Scripture. The Reformation principle of the priesthood of all believers means ordinary Christians, equipped with God’s Word and the Holy Spirit, can and must exercise discernment. While pastors and elders have special teaching authority, they’re not infallible interpreters—even apostolic claims must be tested (Acts 17:11). Every Christian should develop biblical literacy to protect themselves and their families from deception.

• What did John mean by “spirits” in this passage? Is he talking about demons or human teachers? John Stott explained “spirits” refers to the spiritual forces behind human teachers—whether divine or demonic inspiration. The context suggests John is addressing false prophets (4:1) who claimed divine revelation but were actually influenced by “the spirit of the antichrist” (4:3). Matthew Henry notes this includes both the supernatural realm and its human agents. Modern applications include testing both charismatic claims of divine revelation and sophisticated theological systems that deny biblical truth.
• Does testing spirits contradict the biblical command not to judge others? Reformed theologians distinguish between righteous judgment of doctrine and sinful judgment of hearts. John Murray taught Christians must judge teaching, behaviour, and spiritual claims while leaving ultimate heart-judgement to God. Jesus commanded us not to judge hypocritically (Matthew 7:1-5) but also told us to judge “with right judgement” (John 7:24). Testing spirits is actually loving—it protects others from spiritual harm. We judge the message and its fruits, not the person’s eternal destiny.

How should we handle situations where godly teachers disagree on secondary doctrinal issues? The Westminster Confession acknowledges “all things in Scripture are not alike plain” and distinguishes between essential doctrines and secondary matters. JI Packer taught core gospel truths demand unity, while secondary issues allow for charitable disagreement among orthodox believers. The key is maintaining the “hierarchy of truths”—salvation doctrines are non-negotiable, while issues like baptism mode or eschatological timing permit disagreement within biblical bounds. Unity in essentials, liberty in non-essentials, charity in all things.

• What about miraculous signs and wonders accompanying false teaching—don’t they prove divine approval? Reformed theology has always emphasised signs and wonders can be counterfeited (2 Thessalonians 2:9-12; Revelation 13:13-14). Charles Spurgeon warned Satan’s miracles often accompany his lies to make them more believable. Deuteronomy 13:1-5 explicitly states even miraculous signs cannot validate teaching that contradicts God’s revealed Word. Scripture must always trump experience—the Bereans tested Paul’s apostolic claims despite his obvious divine calling. Truth determines authenticity, not the other way around.
• How do we apply the “incarnation test” to modern false teachings that seem to affirm Jesus came in the flesh? John Owen and other Reformed theologians note that the test goes beyond mere acknowledgment of Jesus’ historical existence—it requires confessing His true divine-human nature. Many modern cults technically say “Jesus came in the flesh” while denying His eternal deity or substitutionary atonement. The test includes affirming that the eternal Son of God assumed complete humanity without ceasing to be fully God, and that this incarnate Christ alone provides salvation. Jehovah’s Witnesses fail this test by making Jesus a created being, despite claiming He had flesh.

Should we completely separate from churches or Christians who fail certain doctrinal tests? Reformed theology teaches a nuanced approach based on the severity of error and its impact on the gospel. The Westminster standards distinguish between errors that destroy the foundation of faith versus those that damage but don’t destroy it. John Owen argued for different levels of separation: avoiding false teachers entirely, limiting fellowship with those holding serious but non-damning errors, and maintaining brotherhood despite secondary disagreements. The goal is always restoration when possible (Galatians 6:1), but protecting gospel truth takes priority over unity when core doctrines are compromised.

 

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