How To Recognize The Spirit Of God

1 John 4:1-6 

Key Verse 2

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

We will study this passage in three parts.  

(1) What: Apostle John commanded us to test every spirit. (v1a) 

(2) Why: Reason: He gave us the reason to test every spirit. (v1b)

(3) How: He provided us the ways to test every spirit. (v2-6)

Through this passage, we will learn how we can recognize the Spirit of God. May God grant us the spirit of wisdom to recognize the Spirit of God. 

1. Read verse 1. What did Apostle John command us to do in regard to the spirits we hear? (1a) What do we need to discover about each spirit? (1b) Why must we test the spirits?  (1c)  

1-1)

Verse 1. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

1-2) What did Apostle John command us to do in regard to the spirits we hear? (1a) 

John commanded us not to believe every spirit but to test it first. 

a) Apostle John warned against believing spirits without proving that they are from God. 

At that time, false teachings (ex: Gnostics) are influential in church.  

In our time, there are many false teachings in the world even in church such as

Jehovah’s witness, Mormon, Seventh day Adventist, etc. 

b) There is a spirit behind every religious teaching (teacher). 

Every spirit comes either from the Spirit of God or a spirit of Satan. 

Every spirit needs to be tested before we believe it. 

1-3) What do we need to discover about each spirit? (1b)

We must test every spirit whether they are from God. 

We need to be skeptical about every spirit which is closely related to every religious

 teaching. 

We cannot believe everything we hear or everything we experience is from God. 

We cannot assume every spiritual power is from God. 

We cannot believe every so called ‘Christian teacher’ is from God. 

b) We need to have spiritual discernment. 

Discerning the spirit is every believer’s responsibility. (1Th 5:20-21)

Especially, it is spiritual leaders’ responsibility. (Titus 1:9)

The body of Christ (church) must be sensitive to the spirit and test the every spirit. 

c) How can we test every spirit: See V2-6 for detail. 

1-4) Why must we test the spirits? (1c) 

a) Because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 

i) False teaching is so common in this world

There are so many false religions/cults in the world. 

ii) Bible believing church and/or Bible obeying church is so rare in this world. 

In John’s time, many false teachings were prevalent among churches. 

In our time, false teachings are even more prevalent. 

Even many of those who claim to be Christians are false teachers. 

There are countless liberals (scholars, pastors and bible teachers) in USA who are false teachers. 

b) Because people have tendency to believe every spirit. 

Because spiritual world is attractive, awesome and powerful, and 

Even evil spirits have deceptive power. 

c) Because spirit is not neutral. 

It either comes from the Spirit of truth (the Holy Spirit) or a spirit of error (Satan) 

God speaks truth and reveals truth. 

Satan speaks lies and deceive people. 

 

d)  Because spirit is not benign. 

It is either life-giving or life-taking. 

Holy Spirit is life-giving, life-sustaining, and God-glorifying. 

Evil Spirit is life-taking, life-destroying, and God-blaspheming. 

2. Read verses 2 and 3. How can we recognize the Spirit of God? (2) What is the spirit of the antichrist? (3a) Why is it important to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? (Jn 1:14; 1Jn 1:1-3) Where is the spirit of the antichrist? (3b)

2-1)

Verse 2 and 3. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3. but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 

2-2) How can we recognize the Spirit of God? (2)

a) Based on their confession about Jesus. 

What do they acknowledge about Jesus? 

If any spirit acknowledges that Jesus is God in the flesh, it is from God. 

If any spirit does not acknowledge Jesus, it is not from God.

 

b) Sound doctrine matters. (1Tim 6:3-5)

People may think doctrines are not important or divide the church. 

Bible is full of teachings (doctrines) such as about God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Salvation, 

Sanctification, Kingdom of God. 

If we ignore the biblical doctrines, we will be deceived by antichrists. 

We must know the Biblical teachings especially about Jesus.  

2-3) What is the spirit of the antichrist? (3a) 

Verse 3. but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world. 

a) Any spirit denies Jesus as God in the flesh is the spirit of the antichrist. 

Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is God in the flesh is not from God. 

Because it reject Jesus as a perfect Substitute for sin.

Because it rejects Jesus as a Savior.

Because it reject God the Father. 

b) The spirit of antichrist is from Satan. 

Any religious system that denies the nature of Jesus comes from Satan. 

All demonic spirits deny the deity of Jesus Christ. 

c) The spirit of antichrist is not just wrong, it is against Christ. (1Jn2:22) 

2-4) Why is it important to acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh? (Jn 1:14; 1Jn 1:1-3)

 

a) It is the Biblical teaching about Jesus.

Jesus is God in the flesh. (Jn 1:14) 

b) It makes Jesus to be possible to save us. 

In order for Jesus to be substitute for sinful men

Jesus had to be man. (to be substitute for sinful men)

Jesus had to God to be sinless. 

If you deny Jesus as God in the flesh, you deny that Jesus saves sinners. 

 

c) It makes us to discern whether a teaching is from God. 

i) In John’s time. They denies Jesus’ incarnation (God in the flesh).

Gentile people believed that spirit is good but flesh is evil. 

Jesus could not be a flesh and blood (a real man) 

Therefore, Gentile people denied Jesus’ humanity. 

Jewish people believed God is one and there is no other. (Deut 4:35, 6:4)

If they accept Jesus is God, then they could not harmonize the OT. 

Therefore, Jewish people denied Jesus’ deity. 

ii) In present time, many deny Jesus’ incarnation such as Jehovah’s Witnesses, Mormons,

 and Muslims 

They all denied that Jesus is God in the flesh. 

They all believed Jesus was a created being, a failed prophet, etc. 

But ultimately they denied Jesus as God in the flesh. 

2-5) Where is the spirit of the antichrist? (3b)

The spirit of antichrist is already in the world. 

This spirit of antichrist is present with us today. 

This spirit of antichrist is found everywhere a false Jesus is proclaimed such as in

  colleges, work place, movies, music, cartoon, video games

Therefore, we must be alert and watchful. ( HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark+13:33&version=NIV" Mk 13:33,  HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians+6:18&version=NIV" Eph 6:18,  HYPERLINK "http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Peter+5:8&version=NIV" 1 Peter 5:8)

Read verses 4-6. Who are the “children” and where are they from? (4a, 5, 6) Who is John referring to in verse 5 and where are ‘they’ from? (1, 3b, 4a, 5, 6) What makes it possible for belivers to overcome them? (4b) 

3-1) Read verse 4.

Verse 4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 

 3-2) Who are the “children” and where are they from? (4a,5,6) 

a) We, believers, who are God’s children are from God. 

Believers’ Origin: From God through spiritual rebirth (Regeneration). 

We are born of God, not only physically but also spiritually. 

We have Spirit of God in us. 

We bear fruits to prove that we are from God.

 

b) It is important for us to know our spiritual origin? (4) 

i) It gives us assurance. 

All believers have Holy Spirit within them. (Regeneration has divine life) 

All believers are children of God and the are possessor of eternal life. 

All believers would not fall victim of false teachings. 

Holy Spirit lives in us and protects us from the evil one. 

ii) It gives us understanding of spiritual things. 

All believers understand the things of God. 

We have the mind of Christ. (1Cor 2:16) 

We have the Holy Spirit in us as a divine teacher. (1Jn2:27)

iii) It gives us the way to test the spirit. 

We need to test whether any religious teacher is born again through the Holy 

Spirit. 

We need to test whether they possess eternal and divine life in them. 

Then we can discern their origin. 

3-3) Who is John referring to in verse 5 and where are ‘they’ from?

a)  They are antichrists. 

b) They are from the world. 

Antichrists’ Origin: From Satan (the world)

They are not born of God. They are not born again spiritually. 

They are from Satan who is the invisible leader of all evil humans. 

They do not have Spirit of God in them. 

They do not have any fruit to prove their spiritual regeneration. 

3-4) What makes it possible for believers to overcome them? (4b) 

a) We must know the relationship between believers and Satan: Satan is our enemies

i) Satan fights against us to deceive us 

To deceive us to be slaves of sin.  

To deceive us to worship money, sex, pleasure, success, him (Satan) 

To deceive us not to worship God

ii) We, believers fight.  

Against our sinful nature to be holy, 

Against sinful cultures to be righteous,

Against Satan to worship God. 

b) We must know that we have guaranteed victory: We have overcome them. (Rom 8:37)

i) Through God the Spirit (Holy Spirit): 

The one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. 

God the Spirit is greater and stronger than Satan. 

Holy Spirit within us is more powerful than Satan and all of his allies.

 

ii) Through our dependence upon Him. 

We are not greater or stronger than Satan. 

If we rely on our wisdom, strength, experiences, we will lose battles. 

But, when we rely on the Holy Spirit, we have victories in war. 

So we do not need to fear failure or the spirit of Antichrist. 

Read verses 4-6 again. What point of view do they speak from? (5a) Who listens to them? (5b) Who listens to those from God? (6a) How do we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood? (6b)

4-1)

Verses 5-6. They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood. 

4-2) What point of view do they speak from? (5a) 

Antichrists speak from the viewpoint of the world. (v5)

They always speak about things of the world and for the world. 

They speak against God. 

They speak against God-centered way of thinking. 

They speak against God’s viewpoint.  

4-3) Who listens to them? (5b) 

a) The world listens to them. (v5)

They will be accepted in the world and they will be popular in the world.

They will not face the objection or rejection or persecution. 

They are friends of the world. 

Popular messages might not be from God but from antichrists. 

b) Antichrists do not listen to the Scripture. (v6)

i) They do not listen to the teaching of Apostles who wrote the NT (New Testament). 

Rather, they twist the word of God to justify their wicked ways. 

If someone does not listen to what God said in the Bible they are not from God.

 They are from the spirit of error (Satan).

ii) Every spirit must be tested by the Scripture. 

Every spirit from God will never contradict itself to the Scripture which is from

 God. 

4-4) Who listens to those from God? (6a) 

a) Believers speak from the viewpoint of God.

They speak things of God and for God. 

They speak according to God-centered and God-glorifying way of thinking. 

They speak the truth. 

They speak against lie. 

They will be against anything and anyone who wants to be center of the universe. 

b) Believers will experience rejection, persecution, and isolation. 

The world will not listen to the believers. 

The world will object and persecute the believers. (1 John 3:1)

c) Believers know God. 

They enjoy fellowship with Him. (1Jn2:13). 

They have strong desire to know God more and more.

They have strong desire to make Him known in the world.

d) Believers listen to the Scripture. 

Believers listen to what God says in the Bible. 

They will struggle to obey the Scripture. 

Conscious struggles to obey the word of God is the whole mark of the believers. 

They will be extremely uncomfortable to disobey the word of God. 

4-5) How can we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood? (6c)

a) By examining or testing their view of Jesus or  teaching about nature of Jesus (v2)

Do they believe Jesus as God in the flesh? 

b) By examining their spiritual origin and teaching about Regeneration (Salvation) (v5) 

Are they from God? (Did they experience Rebirth (Regeneration)?

Do they have Spirit of God in them? 

Do they have any fruits of Spirit of God? 

c) By examining their obedience to the Scripture and teaching about the Scripture (v6) 

Do they submit to the word of God?

In Conclusion, we must test every spirit. We need to recognize the Spirit of God. 

People who are from God acknowledge Jesus as God in the flesh. 

People who are from God have Spirit of God within them.  

People who are from God listen to the Scripture. 

May God anoint us with Spirit of wisdom so that we can discern the Spirit of God.  

PAGE  

PAGE  8