Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

1 John 4:1-3

John exhorts us not to believe every spirit but to test the spirits. Paul also warns about what spirit motivates certain teachers when he writes, “…some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons…” These same exhortations or warnings are necessary today. These same spirits are well and active in the world today. These spirits are not discerned broadly today because our culture has bought into the enlightenment mentality that all is material. There are no spirits, including God.

This materialistic worldview is being overcome by a new-pagan religion that does recognize spirit as reality, but it is not Christian. This is why religious neutrality is no longer possible. Paganism and Christianity cannot coexist. They each require loyalty and pursue opposing goals.

Be aware that these demon spirits Paul referred to are not human and do not die. If they lose a community to the gospel, they will move on to another community that will welcome them. They are not limited to time, so they re-emerge in the same place in a later era. Jonathan Cahn puts forth a sound argument for the “Return of the Gods” in his recent book of the same name. The same demon/gods who prevailed in Mesopotamia, Greece, Egypt, and Rome (among other empires) have returned to control the culture of the United States in the twenty-first century. Discerning the spirits who control the culture is necessary for those called to extend the Kingdom of God in their midst. What spirits motivate the sexual revolution that has matured into the LGBTQ+ revolution of today? Not the Holy Spirit. What spirit drives the radical climate change fear? These spirits promote the worship of created things and not the creator of all things. There are demon spirits behind the evil actions of governments in the United States, Canada, and other parts of the world.

John commands us to test the spirits in regard to a particular doctrinal error dealing with the nature of Jesus Christ. John was adamant about his nature. What he was defending in his writings became a major topic of the first four church councils, Nicea (AD 325), Constantinople (AD 381), Ephesus (AD 431), and Chalcedon (AD 451). Jesus Christ is fully man and fully God at the same time. The Chalcedonian council came up with the language that Jesus Christ has two natures (fully God and fully man) without confusion or change, separation or division.

Applied to today, this requires us to apply this truth to the teachings of both individuals and organizations. Some who fail John’s test include the Mormons or Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and Christian Science. These are classically referred to as “Christian Cults” in that they claim to be Christian but fail John’s test for the spirit of the antichrist.

This test is important for those of us who believe in the continuation of the gifts of the Spirit. Paul introduces his section of 1 Corinthians on the gifts of the Spirit with this warning or test: “…I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.” Just as John, Paul is protecting our understanding of the nature of Christ. Paul also taught discernment of the prophetic gift in I Thessalonians 5:19-21 “Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good.” Test everything that is spoken. This is good advice when listening to preachers as well as when someone prophesies. Hold fast to what is good. An obvious corollary is to throw out that which is not good, implying that not all words of prophecy will be valid. Neither will all words of preaching. Do not despise prophetic utterances but be consciously discerning as you listen. The canonized Scriptures are the standard by which we judge or weigh revelation. If what is “revealed” violates the clear teaching of Scripture, reject that word.

There are two thoughts from these Scriptures I hope to communicate today:

  1. Christians need to be more discerning about what is behind the flow of our culture. A lot of it is purely demonic. This discerning of spirits applies to our church life as well. Consider the teaching we hear and the prophetic ministry we experience. Does it fail the standard of the Scriptures? Or, is it healthy and edifying to all who hear?
  2. The Antichrist is already here. He’s not just a future boogeyman. John was dealing with the spirit of the Antichrist during his lifetime. Most scholars believe he died before the year AD 100. Let us not be pollyanaish about what is driving things around us. While Jesus is King now, he has allowed our enemy to function in certain ways until the end.