Test the Spirits!

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because 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 of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3.

We are exhorted to test the spirits, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. Since John exhorts us to this, he must believe that we are capable of doing so. He gives us clear instructions: “By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God . . . .”

Why is it that every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God?

It is because such a person has been so God-fearing that, by the cross, they have been able to learn something about the sufferings of Christ in the flesh. Therefore they are able to confess with confidence that Christ has come in the flesh.

The mysteries of godliness are not revealed to the enemies of the cross of Christ. But those who get a taste for the cross can testify that He has come in the flesh. We know with certainty that such spirits are of God.

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 7.

These deceivers are not the world in a general sense, because the world does not deceive anyone regarding the question of whether or not Christ has come in the flesh. These are people who have a specific interest in denying that Christ has come in the flesh. They thereby lead impressionable souls away from the cross and the word of the cross, which is the power of God. That is why they preach a Jesus who has not come in the flesh, who did not become like His brothers in all things, and who did not take on Himself the seed of Abraham. They preach a Jesus with the flesh of an angel or something like that, a Jesus who has not been tempted in all points as we are. The reason that people want this kind of Jesus is so they can avoid partaking of Jesus’ sufferings.

The one who opposes the fact that Christ has come in the flesh is the deceiver and Antichrist. Enmity against the cross and sufferings of Christ is the main reason why people deny that Christ has come in the flesh.

Jesus was born of the seed of David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness. Rom. 1:3-4.

People deny that Jesus was born of the seed of David and that He is the son of David. In other words, they deny that He came in the flesh. It is common knowledge that Abraham, Judah, and David—from whom Jesus was descended according to the flesh—did not have the flesh of an angel or the nature of an angel. Since His forefathers according to the flesh did not have the nature of angels, then neither did Jesus. He was made a little lower than the angels and was found in appearance as a man. Phil. 2:8.

It was as a man that He humbled Himself and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Verse 8. It shouldn’t surprise us that these deceivers don’t want to accept the fact that Jesus, as a man, humbled Himself and was obedient, because that would immediately lead them to the doctrine that He, as the Master, had to humble Himself and be obedient in order to attain the glory, and they, therefore, would have to do the same.

Some believe that they make Jesus great by proclaiming that He had the nature of an angel, even though it expressly says: He does not give aid to angels. Heb. 2:16. But when we believe that He gives aid to the seed of Abraham, we declare Him to be who He truly is. It was as the Son of Man that He said, “Not as I will.”

If we want to know the doctrine of Christ, we need to learn the practical meaning of these four words: Not as I will.

Once a person has learned these words, it will become a tremendous comfort that Jesus was manifested in the flesh and justified in the Spirit.

Yet these truths belong to the mysteries of godliness, and these false prophets are as far away from these mysteries as the east is from the west.

It is not at all surprising that they become outraged and travel long distances to eradicate this doctrine of Christ. The mindset of Herod and the fear of losing a good, religious reputation have long since taken control of their hearts. Saul was able to keep up an outward, religious appearance long after he had been dethroned; yet it was and always will be David who is king.

“Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come, by which we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us.” 1 John 2:18-19.

If the spirit of the Antichrist were the same as the spirit of the world in general, the apostle would not have been able to say, “They went out from us.” For that matter, the spirit of the Antichrist is more bitter than the spirit of the world. These people had been among the believers but had hardened themselves because of the teaching of the cross. As a result, they became the believers’ greatest enemies. No one hated David more than Saul; he was consumed with envy. When a person has attained to the exalted pinnacles of religious honor and then discovers that he has been undermined by the doctrine of Christ, which teaches us to go down, then the fire of enmity is ignited, and they rage against the spirit that confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh. David, according to the flesh, is once again being persecuted by the envious Saul.

We find it only right to say, together with John: “Therefore let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. . . . These things I have written to you concerning those who try to deceive you. But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you.” Verses 24-27.

He who believes that Jesus is the Son of God overcomes the world. This is He who came by water and blood; therefore there are three that witness: the Spirit, the water, and the blood, and these three are one. 1 John 5:7-8.

As long as the Spirit just pours grace over people, and they feel as though they have been seated in heavenly places, everything is fine, and they can be among us. However, when the Spirit requires them to embrace the other two witnesses—the water and the blood—then they meet the sufferings and the cross of Christ, and that causes enmity. Everything seemed so wonderful as long as they were being showered in the grace of the Spirit, but as soon as the Spirit brings the requirement of righteousness, they are no longer interested.

We have seen examples of men who have attained great religious stature as long as the rejoicing of grace rested over the assembly. Nonetheless, these same men became the greatest enemies when that same Spirit required them to sacrifice themselves in obedience.

The baptism of the Spirit is the glorious result of Christ’s sufferings and death, and people can rejoice in it. Yet, when they are required to personally suffer with Him in order to partake of His glory, a Saul is born.

People gladly revel in the testimony of the Spirit, yet they hate the water and the blood. In other words, they deny that Christ has come in the flesh. They only want to experience Him in glory so that they can share the glory with Him without partaking of His sufferings.

Devilish spirits can easily agree with what is said, as long as there is only talk about the Spirit; but if the other witnesses are included—the water and the blood—these spirits are quickly exposed for what they truly are. They can even speak much about the cross of Christ and the sufferings of Christ, about His water and His blood, as long as there is no personal requirement for them to be united with the water and the blood.

If you have a spirit that hates the idea of personally partaking of the sufferings of Christ, together with the water and blood, then you are an enemy of Christ. It doesn’t matter if you rejoiced in the grace that was given to you years ago—it was in vain for you.

It is on account of these truths that religious leaders oppose us so vehemently, and they find support from a multitude of enemies of the cross of Christ. However, their folly will be revealed. We can say with Luther, “That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth.”

God has confirmed His own doctrine, and many are now rejoicing because they are counted worthy to suffer for Christ and with Christ. Those who go out from us and become opposers complain to their religious guides. Yet the truth is that these leaders have never guided them at all; as always, they just seek their own personal advantage. And now they come and present themselves as worthy defenders, and they weigh in with their words. Yet it will be revealed that they themselves, and their words, have long ago been weighed and found wanting.

God has no use for servants who serve themselves, and neither does the church of God.

Test the spirits whether or not they are of God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.