“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” (1 John 4:1).
This warning from the apostle John is for us not to believe everyone who claims to be bringing a message from God. There are “many false prophets” – many who teach things that are wrong and lead to damnation. So we are to “test the spirits” and identify false teachers among us. It is important that we know how to identify such individuals.
Wrongs Ways to Identify a False Teacher
Sincerity – The fact that one may be sincere does not mean he cannot be a false teacher. Many people do and say things that are wrong, but genuinely believe they are right. Paul had a “perfectly good conscience” (Acts 23:1), even while he was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” (1 Timothy 1:13). One may be sincere and still be a false teacher.
Motive – Motives are irrelevant when it comes to determining whether one is a false teacher or a truth teacher. Paul spoke of two types of truth teachers – those who preach “from envy and strife” and those who preach “from good will” (Philippians 1:15). While those who preached from evil motives would have to answer for themselves before God (Ecclesiastes 12:14), Paul rejoiced because the gospel was preached (Philippians 1:18). If one’s being a truth teacher is not determined by their motives, one’s being a false teacher is not determined by motives either.
Appearance – Much of Paul’s work was to “cut off opportunity” from those who were “false apostles” (2 Corinthians 11:12-13). He said that the servants of Satan “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Someone may appear to be a follower of God and still be a false teacher.
Zeal – Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for their many faults (Matthew 23:1-33). In this discourse, He mentioned their zeal in converting the Gentiles. He said they “travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte” (Matthew 23:15); but He did not commend them. Despite their zeal, once they converted someone, Jesus told them, “You make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Matthew 23:15).
How to Identify a False Teacher
One may be sincere, zealous, possess good motives, appear to be a servant of Christ, and still be a false teacher. If these things cannot be used to identify a false teacher, how do we identify one?
The only way to determine whether or not one is a false teacher is by his message. When John gave the instruction to “test the spirits” (1 John 4:1), he also provided the test we are to use to distinguish “the spirit of truth” from “the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6). He said, “We are from God; he who knows God listens to us; he who is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error” (1 John 4:6).
While all Christians are children of God (1 John 3:1-2), the apostles were the ones that were from God. They were “ambassadors for Christ,” speaking “on behalf of Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). John was included in this group so he could say, “We are from God.” The spirits of truth and error are distinguished by whether they heeded the message of the apostles or not. A truth teacher is one who speaks “as the oracles of God” (1 Peter 4:11, KJV). A false teacher is one that does not.
When we test the spirits, the standard by which we test them must be the word of God. The Bereans were called “noble-minded” because they examined the Scriptures to see whether the things Paul taught them were true (Acts 17:11). They did not accept his message because of his sincerity or zeal. They did not believe Paul because they judged his motives to be right or because they thought he appeared to be righteous. Many false teachers could pass that test. But no false teacher can endure the unprejudiced scrutiny of those who test him on the basis of the word of God.
Conclusion
While we are responsible to fulfill the command to “test the spirits,” it is sometimes tempting to let personalities distract us from our duty. One may appear to be a likable, sincere, zealous servant of Christ, and still teach soul-damning error. We must examine one’s message, not his personality. If, upon examination, his message is true, we can accept and support him. If his message is false, John said, “Do not receive him” (2 John 10). As Paul told the Thessalonians, “Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22).
