1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of G-d: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Never take anyone’s word for something, including me. Search the Scriptures, pray, and ask for guidance from G-d.
Chapter 3 ended with John telling us that Ruach HaKodesh dwells in the believer. Here we are told that there are other spirits (demons / fallen angels) that are in the world. These evil spirits produce false prophets who go out into the world to deceive as many people as possible.
test the spirits - test is a metallurgist’s term used for analyzing metals to determine their purity and value. We must be careful to compare any teaching to the scriptures and see if it is true or not.
1 John 4:2 Hereby we know Ruach HaKodesh (the Spirit of G-d): Every spirit that confesses that Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Christ) is come in the flesh is of G-d:
Again Yeshua came in the flesh. We are also created in His image.
This is the first test of a true teacher. Do they acknowledge that Yeshua was G-d incarnate: fully man and fully G-d?
There are many religions that claim to be followers of Yeshua (Jesus) but they do not believe that He is G-d.
1 John 4:3 And every spirit that confesses not that (Yeshua HaMashiach) Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of G-d: and this is that spirit of antichrist (anti-messiah), whereof you have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The spirit of anti-Messiah declares that Yeshua was never here in flesh. Or will say that He was just a good teacher, a prophet, but they deny He is G-d. They are of their father the devil we are told.
1 John 4:4 You are of G-d, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We do not fear false teachers because Ruach HaKodesh indwells us and He is greater than Satan. He guides us and directs us. With His help we can study the scriptures on our own and understand them.
Many cults and false religions, that error in the truth, tell their members not to read the Bible on their own. “You must read our books that explain the scriptures” they say…. “Only our teachers have the truth and no one else”…Some forbid the reading of the Bible or portions of the Bible…THESE TYPES OF COMMENTS ARE RED FLAGS. Run as fast as you can away from them!!!
1 John 4:5-6 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world hears them. We are of G-d: he that knows G-d hears us; he that is not of G-d hears not us. thereby we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
We listen to what Moshe and the prophets said and believed. We trust Yeshua HaMashiach and His word. We are also a testimony to others of the truth. The Father must lead them. Many believe their actions will bring them peace with the Father. The Father said look to my Son and what He did. It is nothing we did. This is the difference between truth and error. If we reject the Son, the Father also rejects us.
1 John 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of G-d; and every one that loves is born of G-d, and knows G-d.
We inherit certain characteristics from our natural parents height, eye color, hair color, etc. When we are born in to the family of G-d (Born Again) we inherit G-d’s characteristics.
Because G-d is love…those who are truly children of G-d (Born Again) love their fellow man too.