Subject: dear ones, don't blindly trust every influence, instead discern their intentions to see if they align with YHWH will, for numerous misguided voices have emerged in the world.
Thought and question.
We are told not to trust every spirit my question is why are some people that’s naming the name of Christ trusting the wrong spirits ?
Testing a spirit involves comparing the message and influence against the Word of YHWH and the character of Jesus Christ. According to 1 John 4:1-5 the primary test is whether the spirit acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh; any spirit that denies this is not from YHWH.
Devine story time.
1 John 4:1-5 empowers early believers to discern the truth by testing teachers for the authentic spirit of truth, amidst a backdrop of emerging false teachings that try to undermine Jesus' humanity. John's message serves as a powerful reminder that Jesus is the Son of YHWH fully embodied in human form.
Key Background Context (1 John 4:1-5):The Threat of False Prophets: John warns that many false prophets have appeared.
These individuals claimed to speak for YHWH but spread misinformation.
The Specific Heresy (Proto-Docetism): The "spirit of antichrist" mentioned likely refers to early forms of Docetism (from Greek dokeo, "to seem"), which taught that Jesus only appeared to have a human body but was not actually human.
The Core Doctrine (The Incarnation): The test for a true spirit is whether they confess that "Jesus Christ has come in the flesh".
This emphasizes the importance of Jesus being fully YHWH and fully man.
Discernment Requirement: Believers are commanded not to trust every spirit but to test them, ensuring the teachings align with the truth of YHWH
.The Apostolic Context: John encourages the church with the assurance that they are from YHWH and have overcome the false teachers because "He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world".
This passage highlights the conflict between true doctrine and the false, seductive teachings that were starting to enter the early church.
1 John 4:1-5
Discerning False Prophets
Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.
This is how we know if they have the Spirit of God: If a person claiming to be a prophet[a] acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in a real body, that person has the Spirit of God.
But if someone claims to be a prophet and does not acknowledge the truth about Jesus, that person is not from God. Such a person has the spirit of the Antichrist, which you heard is coming into the world and indeed is already here.
But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.
Those people belong to this world, so they speak from the world’s viewpoint, and the world listens to them.
In my personal journey of faith, I've often wrestled with the challenge of discerning which spiritual teachings truly align with the Word of YHWH. This passage from 1 John 4:1-5 resonates deeply because it equips believers with a practical criterion: to test every spirit by comparing their messages against the core truth that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. What strikes me is how relevant this guidance remains today. In a world flooded with many voices—some sincere, others misleading—it can be easy to trust teachings just because they bear the name of Christ. However, I have learned that genuine discernment requires more than surface trust; it calls for an active, thoughtful evaluation of whether teachings hold true to Jesus’ humanity and divine nature, as outlined in Scripture. Testing the spirits involves careful examination of whether a prophet or teacher acknowledges Jesus not as a mere apparition or spirit but as fully human and fully divine. This has helped me avoid teachings that subtly deny Jesus' incarnation, which was a major concern even in the early church with heresies like Docetism. Another powerful aspect of this passage is the reassurance it offers—that the Spirit within believers is greater than any deceptive spirit in the world. This truth has personally strengthened my confidence when facing conflicting teachings. It has led me to rely more on prayerful study of the Scriptures and seek counsel within my faith community. Moreover, the call to discernment encourages a proactive faith stance. Instead of passively accepting every spiritual message, believers are empowered to critically engage and test influences, aligning them with the character of Jesus and God’s revealed truth. For those struggling to navigate modern spiritual complexities, 1 John 4:1-5 serves as a timeless compass reminding us to anchor our beliefs firmly in the reality of Jesus Christ’s incarnation. It calls us to be vigilant, so we don’t fall prey to the many false prophets that continue to emerge, but rather hold fast to the authentic Spirit of God.
