Dear friends, 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. 1 John 4:1 (NIV)
The apostle John warns us, “Do not believe every spirit, but to test the spirits to see whether they are from God.” False teachings frequently sound enticing and even close to the truth. Someone remarked, “Satan will use an ocean of truth to hide a teaspoon of poison.”
It may be true that some people will fall for anything, no matter how outrageous or outlandish it may seem, but most deception is subtle and nuanced. For example, John warns us that some teachers will not acknowledge that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. They may talk about him as a good man or teacher. They may subtly change a word implying that Jesus was “a son of God” rather than “the son of God.”
Here are some keys to discernment to distinguish the truth from lies and recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
Don’t be Gullible
The gullible believe anything they’re told; the prudent sift and weigh every word. Proverbs 14:15 (The Message)
I do not intend to offend anyone, but my first warning is, “Don’t be gullible.” Deception comes in many forms, from promised shortcuts for salvation to those who insinuate that God’s grace and Christ’s sacrifice are insufficient and, therefore, you must do good works to gain God’s approval.
Not everyone falls for the same deception. Some are predisposed to believe in salvation by works. In contrast, others seem naturally attracted to an equally false gospel that requires nothing or very little of us, including repentance. Regardless, when taken to an extreme, either option is not sound teaching and will not benefit those who listen and take it to heart.
In the book of Acts, Paul commends the Bereans because they did not take him at face value, but instead, they searched the Scriptures to determine if what Paul was saying was true.
Frequently, proponents of false teaching are self-deceived. They may sincerely believe what they teach, seeking followers to validate their intentions and motives. Others are simply enemies of Christ, but in either case, we must be careful and not be gullible.
One final word of counsel, friends. Keep a sharp eye out for those who take bits and pieces of the teaching that you learned and then use them to make trouble. Give these people a wide berth. They have no intention of living for our Master Christ. They’re only in this for what they can get out of it, and aren’t above using pious sweet talk to dupe unsuspecting innocents. Romans 16:17-18 (The Message)
Counterfeit Detection
God gave the fivefold ministries to warn and protect the body of Christ. Each of us has a responsibility to be in the business of counterfeit detection. When we are alert, trained, and vigilant, the enemy is much less likely to gain a foothold in the church.
The first requirement for being an excellent counterfeit detector is that we know the truth. It is vital that we are not just acquainted with the truth in our heads as knowledge but that we know the truth and live it as well.
Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” John 8:31-32 (The Message)
Training someone to detect counterfeit money may seem counterintuitive. It involves a thorough study of the genuine bills -- not the phonies -- so that fake currency stands out compared to the real thing.
Counterfeit spirits do not stand up well to scrutiny and examination. Suppose someone is attempting to pass off counterfeit money. In that case, mainly if it is a dubious quality, they will want to do so in the shadows and darkness where they may have the opportunity to avoid close examination.
As Christ-followers, we must be prepared and willing to live in the light to avoid deception and falsehood. Living in the light should be our objective. For you have rescued me from death; you have kept my feet from slipping. So now I can walk in your presence, O God, in your life-giving light. Psalm 56:13 (NLT)
Be an Overcomer
We can expect to be continually opposed and tested by false teachings and teachers. Sometimes, their methods are very subtle and enticing but, nevertheless, harmful. They stand in opposition to Christ, and in one way or another, they deny his rightful authority. They want to conduct life on their terms and validate themselves by convincing as many others as possible to follow the same course of life.
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but the end is destruction.” We do not need to fear false teachers who oppose the gospel of Jesus Christ, but we need to be aware of them and understand the foundation of our faith. But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world. 1 John 4:4 (NLT)
Our aim should not be to coexist in the world with the enemies of the gospel; instead, God calls us to overcome them. Every God-begotten person conquers the world’s ways. The conquering power that brings the world to its knees is our faith. The person who wins out over the world’s ways is simply the one who believes Jesus is the Son of God. 1 John 5:4-5 (The Message)
Victory is not complicated; we place our faith and hope in Jesus Christ, believing he is God’s Son. We live our lives so that we trust him and place our hope and confidence in his great salvation. There is a reward for those who are victorious and overcome the world. Jesus told them, “Don’t let anyone mislead you, Matthew 24:4 (NLT)
Steve Ekeroth