What do you think 1 John 4:1-3 means?

Question

" Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowleges that Jesus is Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

but every spirit that does not acknowlege Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming even now is already in the world. "

Answer 1

It is a warning about the false cults that claim to be "Christian". Any believer who is, “rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15), and who makes a careful study of the Bible, can identify false doctrine. For example, a believer who has read the activities of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in Matthew 3:16-17 will immediately question any doctrine that denies the Trinity. Therefore, “step one” is to study the Bible and judge all teaching by what the scripture says.
It is often difficult to spot a false teacher / false prophet. That is what a “wolf in sheep’s clothing” is all about. Satan and his demons masquerade as “angels of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14), and his ministers masquerade as servants of righteousness (2 Corinthians 11:15). Only by being thoroughly familiar with the truth will we be able to recognize a counterfeit.

Answer 2

Which statement is false; "Dr, James Naismith made the game of basketball what it is today." or "Michael Jordan made the game of basketball what it is today." Each refers to a different person having achieved the same feat. Which is incorrect? They are both true. Each man had a different role in the same feat at different times. John 1:3 says that "without him" nothing was made. It doesn't say that he did it alone or that he wasn't given direction, and it is obvious that he didn't make himself even though he is a created being (Colossians 1:15, Revelation 3:14), so it leaves the reader to understand that the statement "without him was not anything made that was made" to mean everything aside from himself, who is the only- begotten son of God. The angels are also sons of God, but they were created through Jesus and not directly by the Father, hence Jesus is correctly called "God's only- begotten". Now comes the argument that John 1:3, Colossians 1:15, and Revelation 3:14 cannot all be literal in what they say, else there is contradiction in the scriptures. So now we must determine, using the rest of the Bible, which one, if either, are literal and which one has a figurative or alternative meaning. This is where the argument that "It fits with the context of the entire Bible" comes in. Here are some points to think about; 1. Jesus never claims to be God, equal to God, or to be part of a trinity. He never attempts to explain or even mention the concept of the trinity, even to his chosen twelve, whom he instructed to teach others. In fact, all he did was draw similarities between himself and the Father, all the while stating that he is in subjection to the Father, doesn't have the knowledge that the Father has, and called the Father "my God". Evidently, either the trinity is not a vital teaching or it isn't true. 2. It is noteworthy that the second passage that you quoted, Colossians 1:16, 17, is directly AFTER the statement that Jesus is "the firstborn over ALL creation". Does it not make sense, then, that after having said that Jesus is created, that the next two verses describing the creation of "all things" is referring to "all things" OTHER than Jesus? 3. As bad as the JW's are and as bad as their translation of the Bible are, they still have some merit. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater! This question seems to be geared toward "proving" that Jesus is God. That theory simply does not hold water with the whole of the scriptures. Excellent attempt, though! =)

Answer 3

I believe it is referring to the great apostasy of the church now and to the apostasy that sprung up in the first century. We must be wary and test all questionable teachings with the written word of God to see if they be of the Spirit. Many cults like JW's say Jesus Christ was not God. False prophets are and have been everywhere lately,Joseph Smith, David Koresh, Jim Jones , Benny Hinn, and many others. ( Benny prophesied that all homosexuals would be dead by 1995) . God said that true prophets would be 100% accurate. Today more than ever you see people,and many right here at R&S , denying that Jesus was God and some even say Jesus never existed. Talk about deceived and not of the Spirit of God! We are in the last of the last days.Jesus is coming soon . We must be in constant prayer for revival, crying out to God to send Jesus back to earth, ministering to the Saints,helping the poor, feeding the hungry,witnessing to the lost. We must be watching for the coming of our Lord! Look up Nina , look up !!! Your redemption draweth nigh!!!
Merry Christmas!

Answer 4

Dear Nina,

Before answering I just have to ask you if you are reading The Daily Walk Bible as I am. First John is the reading for December 18 so I read it this morning.

This says to me that we are to test and test and to continue testing what we think the Word is saying. And when someone says "This is what it means" then test it even more diligently.

Many years ago when I just started studying the Bible I bought a devotional book that I enjoyed. Then I bought another one that was recommended by the first author. Then I bought yet another one that was recommended by the second author.

Everything I read seemed solid and biblical but then suddenly one little thing I read in the third book was very UN-biblical and I immediately stopped reading the book. My eyes were opened and I realized that I had been Moonwalking AWAY from the Lord.

It was a good lesson to learn and I think I learned it best by going through it rather than having some society say to me "Don't read this or this or this".

For His glory,
JOYfilled

Answer 5

Because there will come false teachings that Jesus Christ was not deity, but man; that Jesus was not the messiah; that Jesus is not the way, or there is more than one way to salvation. This is why I am a Protestant. Because I believe it is the responsibility of the lay members of the church to study and understand the scripture just as well as the clergy, and to hold the clergy responsible for their ministry. In his writings, the Apostle Paul would challenge the congregations he wrote to to study and compare what was being preached.

Answer 6

Although the 1st century historical context for these Johnannine verses was about how the false teaching of gnosticism (i.e., the belief that the material/corporeal world was inferior, if not evil, in comparison to the spiritual and spirit world) had been greatly challenging Biblical orthodox teaching in the early church on the personhood of the Lord Jesus Christ, the God-man, the warning in itself clearly indicates that this litmus test concerning the veracity and validity of any teaching about God even applies to us today, since we, just as they, are in the age of the church (in between His 1st and 2nd coming). Btw, this test concerning any view about the humanness of Jesus the Christ implies that He in fact is God, just as Jesus Himself implied that we must already love ourselves when He said, "Love your neighbor as yourself."(Matthew 19:19b) So it is not only the explicitly errant views about Jesus (about His humanity) that are to be rejected, but also the implicit ones as well (about His Deity). In other words, any teaching that denies, to whatever degree, the intent, purpose and sufficiency of God to save us via having becoming us in every way is to be rejected.

So, now let's apply this litmus test principle to the teachings of God today that may be in question. Notice that doctrinally both Russellite and Islamic teachings only recognize that Jesus spiritually rose from the dead, as well as that He is not God. This is quite clear that these are false religions then. This is a no brainer. But what about those who do recognize doctrinally Jesus as the God-man, but seem "way off", like the David Karesh community was in Waco, TX, or maybe even just "a tad off", like?

Answer 7

well, what its trying to say is that we as humans cannot beleive in every single religion or belief that comes about , we have to know for sure that jesus is the true way..
we have to test the spirits to see whether they are from god- is saying for exmaple that if there is a religion that believes you kill people if they leave the faith, you need to look into this matter closely and see if it is from and is of god.
lastly,people who do not accept the spirit of god are not of god ...

Answer 8

I agree with you to keep testing the spirit.Many who test the spirit that are members of a religion or church are deemed to be labeled trouble makers. Always test the scriptures and the spirits for many are not from God. You are wise in your view and sight like a eagle, let no one mislead you!

Answer 9

It means to be cautious. It is a warning for us. Not every spirit is that from God and we need to test to know.

We need to be cautious. Those that speak from the world point of view are not from God.

Every spirit that doesn't acknowledge Jesus is not from God. I believe we do have to test every spirit to see if it is from God or not.

Answer 10

You want the text book answer, or what I believe? If you would look at Luke 10 in (kjv), one might understand the 70 that went out 2x2, also, to let us know that victory over the flesh is possible and called forth to put on the incorruptible. You can also add to that understanding, any having a form of godliness but denying the power within, or that say that godliness is gain, from such withdraw thyself.