Test the Spirits | 1 John 4:1-6

Have you ever got a scam email? Maybe it said, “Your package couldn’t be delivered,” or “Your bank account has been locked,” or “Congratulations! You’ve won a free vacation.” The goal is always the same, they want you to believe a lie so that they can steal from you. However, the scam only works if people don’t stop and test the message. 

In 1 John 4:1-6, John is writing to give us confidence that we truly know Jesus and have eternal life. A group of false teachers who had once been part of the church had abandoned the truth and left the church. They were now trying to pull others away by spreading a false gospel and a false view of Jesus. John calls them liars, false prophets, and even says they have the spirit of antichrist. 

Satan has always been a counterfeiter. Whenever God establishes the truth, Satan introduces a counterfeit. In a world full of deception, John warns us to be careful, be Christ-centered, and be confident.