“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 is now in the world already.”
1 John 4:1-3
One of the signs of the end times is that false teaching will abound in the societies of men. Jesus taught (Mt 24:11), “And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.” He further added (Mt 24:24), “For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.” The Bible teaches that such people and the heresies they promote will arise from within the church. This is why Jesus describes them as “wolves in sheep’s clothing.”
Likewise, Paul also taught (2 Cor 11:13-15), “…such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. (14) And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. (15) So it is no surprise if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.” Their primary mode of operation is to imitate their father (the devil) by distorting the Scriptures and teaching them contrary to sound doctrine for their own earthly gain.
In the focus passage (1 John 4:1-6), the Apostle John addresses men who promoted false teaching within the church, claiming there was no incarnation of Christ. In other words, they denied that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh (cf. Jn 1:14). In this letter to the church, John provides two primary ways to combat false teaching. He exhorts:
- Discern the spirit. Any person who denies that (a) Jesus Christ had come in the flesh and (b) that he was not from God is under the power and influence of Satan (the anti-Christ spirit).
- Test the spirit. We are to examine all teachings against the Word of God. Simply reading the Bible is not enough; we must also understand the proper context and meaning of Scripture to discern if what we hear contradicts sound doctrine. This is how we know if the “Spirit of Truth” or the “spirit of error” is in operation.
Satan’s Primary Weapon: Deception
Remember, Satan (the deceiver) knows the Bible. His (and his servants’) goal is to mislead us by twisting the Scriptures in a way that ultimately seduces people away from God. In Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness, the devil deployed the same strategy. He used Scriptures to attempt to manipulate Jesus into worshipping him. Notice that in our Lord’s responses, he used the same Scriptures (with proper understanding and application) to discern and shield himself against the deceptive attacks of the devil (Mt 4:1-11). Jesus’ answers always started with, “It is written….”
In the life of a believer, we have been given the power to withstand and prevail over such deceptions. John offers the following encouragement (1 Jn 4:4): “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.”
Identifying True Teachers of the Gospel
With these spiritual realities highlighted in Scripture, here are some helpful tips to discern between faithful ministers of the Gospel and false teachers:
- Seek and find God-led people who study the Scriptures and teach you accurately according to sound doctrine (2 Tim 2:15), so you may grow into spiritual maturity.
- Seek and find God-led people who endeavor to live out what they teach.
- Seek and find a God-led church with a plurality of Pastors/Elders/Deacons who meet the biblical qualifications as ministers of the Gospel (1 Tim 3:1-13; 4:6-16; Titus 1:5-16).
Important: Examine your own heart. The Bible teaches that our desires influence the types of teachers we are drawn to. For example, if we harbor unhealthy desires for wealth and social status in this life, we will seek out and accumulate teachers (e.g., prosperity gospel, Word of Faith) who interpret the Scriptures in ways that focus on material profit of gold, goods, and human glory in the world (2 Tim 4:3-4). Following these charlatans (hirelings) end in destruction. Flee from them.
Further, ask yourself this question: “Would you love and serve God if he did not give you what your heart desired most in this life?” The answer will reveal the spiritual conditions of our hearts and what we truly desire. We either choose God or his stuff. We cannot serve two masters: both God and money (Mt 6:24).
I encourage us all to think carefully and pray about the issues addressed here. Embracing false teaching is injurious to our souls. In seeking God, he promises to give us the proper understanding of his Word. This frees us to live out his will…a life that glorifies him…while avoiding the traps of false teachers, which often arise from our own hearts.
(Other suggested scripture readings for further study and reflection: 1 Tim 6:3-10, Jude 1:10-13, 2 Pt 2)
Dr. Jason S. Price, Th.D
www.springoflivingwaters.com
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