🌿Testing the Spirits
First, let's look at the scripture.
“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)
The first thing we notice is that
John
does not say,
“Spirits don't exist.”
It's the opposite.
“Spiritual things really do exist. But they are not all from God.”
He is saying.
—
What does it mean to “test the spirits”?
The word “spirit” here is the Greek word πνεῦμα (pneuma).
It means
* The Holy Spirit
* A human spirit
* An evil spirit
* The spiritual source moving a person
and so on.
In other words,
“what is working behind that person”
is also included in the meaning.
Therefore,
not
“This person has psychic abilities,”
but
“Where does that power come from?”
is what you should look at.
—
Why is testing necessary?
The reason is written in the second half.“For many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
In other words,
the problem is not the spirit, butfalse prophets.
They use God's name.
They use the Bible, too.
They talk about love.They talk about peace.
But
they shift the gospel just a little bit.This is what is scary.
—
So, what is the standard for testing?
John answers in the next verse.
“Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.”(1 John 4:2)
If you read this superficially,
you might think,
“It's okay if they just say 'Jesus'.”
But that's not it.
The people John was fighting against
were Gnostics.
They taught,
“God does not have a physical body.”
“Jesus is not God.”
“The cross is not real.”
That is why John says,
“If you deny that God truly came as a human,”
then it is not from God.
—
What about today?
Now,
it's not Gnosticism,
but there is a lot of spirituality.
For example,
“Jesus is also an ascended master.”
“Jesus is also one who attained enlightenment.”
“The soul grows through reincarnation.”
“It is cosmic energy.”
“It is the God within you.”
At first glance,
it looks like they acknowledge Jesus.
But
it is not the Jesus of the Bible.
In other words,
John would say,
“That is a different spirit.”
—
For example
Mr. O-hara, who was the reason
I got into spirituality,
talks about wonderful things like
loving people,
gratitude,
and forgiveness.
So,
I cannot say,
“It is all wrong.”
But
at the root,
there is a worldview different from the Bible,
such as
reincarnation,
guardian spirits,
and spirit world communication.
Therefore,
I think John would say,
“Do not judge by whether the words are good or bad, but test their source.”
—
Jesus said the same thing
Jesus said,
“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.”
(Matthew 7:15)
What is interesting here is thatwolves
are dressed in sheep's clothing.
In other words,
they don't come looking like demons from the start.
That is why you need to discern.
—
I used to have a strong perspective of, “What is this person teaching?”
But now, I was taught that my perspective has changed to, “What does the Bible say? What would Jesus say?”
I was also told that “testing” in 1 John 4:1 is exactly that attitude.
It is not judging by feelings or experiences alone, but measuring with the yardstick of Christ.
And I was taught that throughout his entire letter, John shows many standards for discernment.
To summarize, it is as follows:
1. What do they teach about Jesus Christ? (4:2–3)
2. Does that teaching align with the testimony of the apostles, that is, the Bible? (4:6)
3. Does the fruit produce the love of God? (4:7–21)
4. Do they make light of obedience to God? (1 John 2:3–6)
Therefore, John never once said, “It is genuine because there is a mysterious experience” or “It is from God because there is a miracle.”
Rather,“Keep Christ at the center and discern in light of the Word.”He teaches repeatedly.
I feel that one of the most important testaments that John, who wrote this letter, left to the church in his later years was this exhortation to “test.”
Amen