1 John 4:5-6, “They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.”
We will start with the remark that the “spirit of error” is clearly not a being, not an individual demon, just as the “spirit of truth” and the “spirit of a sound mind” are obviously not beings. Today, we often use terms like “that’s the spirit” and we can have the “Christmas spirit” or “team spirit.”
John 4:23-24, “But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” If we worship God and have His spirit—we are of God. God hears those who are His. God is a spirit and wants to be worshipped in Spirit and Truth.
The “spirit of error” is the opposite of the “spirit of truth” which is of God. Whether it is false doctrines or false professions of discipleship (like the Scribes and Pharisees). No error, lies, or deceptions can be of God, but are rather of UN-godly origin (the world, flesh, or devil). This is why the Truth is valued supremely. Any error(s) we have are injurious.
We must be ever ready to correct any and every error, whether in understanding, doctrine, thought, or conduct the very moment we realize it. To “cling” to errors, which we know are wrong, shows a “spirit” of worldliness. This can only damage our Christian walk, as we are in danger of succumbing to the “spirit of error”. When we are wrong, we must change once we are shown the error. This is NOT the “spirit” of error. Failure to quickly and willingly flee from error, in any form, indicates that we are caught up in the spirit of error.
