The statement from 1 John 4:1, “Beloved, 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,” instructs Christians to exercise discernment regarding the influences they encounter.

For more on this, we recommend listening to the Christian Questions Podcast, specifically Episode #1006: “Has the Gospel Been Corrupted? (Part I)” and Episode #993: “Should We Be Worried About Witchcraft?”

In this context, the word “spirit” (the Greek word is pneuma, which is also translated as “wind”) refers to powers and influences. Just as wind is an unseen power that can move things, God’s spirit is described as an unseen influence and power that works within believers to change hearts and lives.

The warning against believing every spirit is given because many false prophets have gone out into the world. These false prophets and their teachings can sometimes look godly but are not.

Christians are obligated to be on guard and must carefully choose which spirits (influences, powers, motivations) they listen to. The core purpose of testing is to test the influences and powers in your life to see whether they are from God.

There are specific methods for testing these influences to ensure they align with Christian truth:

1. The Confession of Jesus Christ:

? The primary method is provided immediately after the instruction: “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” (1 John 4:2-3, NASB).

? To “confess” something means to truly believe it and own it. Confessing or owning that Jesus is from God is more than simply lip service; it requires heart service to a life-changing core belief and following Jesus with every step.

2. The Fulcrum Doctrine (The Ransom):

? One way to test the spirits is to use the fulcrum doctrine of Jesus dying as a ransom for all men. If a teaching or influence does not line up with the ransom, it must be questioned. The importance of this ransom is considered the centerpiece of Christian footing.

3. Using Scripture:

? Testing the spirits is done by using God’s word, specifically quoting it over and over again.

? Believers need to prove all things through God’s word to see if what they are contemplating is in harmony with His plan.

? This responsibility to test the spirits against the truth of Scripture is crucial for finding firm footing.

In general, the test involves being intellectually honest in studying the Scriptures. When encountering a teaching or influence that seems questionable, one should ask if it matches the character of God and the narrative of God, exhausting all possibilities to find the truth.