Test the Spirits: Discern Truth About Jesus Christ

Jul 12, 2026

Devotional

Day 1: When Jumping at 9:47 AM Feels Spiritual

The world brims with claims that sound wise, profound, or even supernatural. Yet not every "expert" speaks truth, and not every spiritual-sounding idea aligns with God’s Word. Like those who believed a false astronomer’s gravitational hoax, we can be swayed by authority or intrigue. Testing teachings against Scripture isn’t skepticism—it’s wisdom. Truth isn’t determined by crowds, sensations, or eloquence but by alignment with Christ. [26:42]

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, NASB)

Reflection: What teaching or trend have you recently encountered that “feels” spiritual but hasn’t been tested against Scripture? How might you intentionally examine it this week?

Day 2: Confessing the God Who Bumped His Head

The core of truth hinges on Jesus’ full humanity and divinity. If He wasn’t fully God, His sacrifice lacks power. If He wasn’t fully man, He couldn’t bear human sin. False teachings often distort Christ’s nature, offering a “clean” gospel that requires no bloody cross. Like testing counterfeit money, we scrutinize doctrines by this question: Does it confess Christ came in flesh? [44:54]

Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. (1 John 4:2–3, NASB)

Reflection: How does Jesus’ physical suffering on the cross deepen your gratitude for His sacrifice? Where have you seen His humanity overlooked in modern faith discussions?

Day 3: Dirty Water Can’t Clean Dirty Clothes

Sin demands a perfect sacrifice. A flawed savior—or self-salvation—is as useless as washing mud with mud. Only Christ, the sinless God-man, could pay the debt we couldn’t. His blood isn’t a metaphor; it’s the only cleansing agent strong enough to purify rebellion. This truth humbles pride and silences bargaining with God. [48:14]

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 3:23–24, ESV)

Reflection: Where have you subtly relied on your own “goodness” instead of Christ’s sacrifice? How might you daily remind yourself of your dependence on His perfection?

Day 4: Why the World Cheers Oprah’s Gospel

Messages that cost nothing attract crowds. A grace without repentance, a God without lordship, or a faith without transformation appeals to our desire for comfort. Yet popularity often signals danger—truth confronts as much as it comforts. The world listens to what flatters it; God’s people cling to what transforms it. [01:03:33]

They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God; whoever knows God listens to us. (1 John 4:5–6, NASB)

Reflection: What cultural “truth” have you unknowingly embraced because it felt gracious? How does Scripture challenge that assumption?

Day 5: Salt Doesn’t Circle Wagons

Faith isn’t a bunker but a beacon. Testing spirits isn’t just personal protection—it’s preparation to engage a deceived world. Like salt preserving and illuminating, believers infiltrate darkness with grace and truth. Complacency aids the enemy; courage disrupts his lies. The same Word that guards your heart equips you to reclaim others’. [01:08:55]

You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:13–14, ESV)

Reflection: Who in your life needs the clarity of Christ’s truth amid cultural confusion? What step will you take this week to lovingly share it?

Sermon Summary

John opens 1 John 4 by saying, “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits.” The text presses the point that just because something sounds spiritual does not mean it is spiritually sound. John has already been giving tests all through the letter, because there can be a difference between professing Christ and possessing Christ. The Spirit’s presence in a believer’s life matters, but John also says not every spirit, voice, source, or influence is from God.

John calls the church to scrutinize what comes in, like a counterfeit bill that looks real at a casual glance but fails under closer examination. Satan is active, and one of his main tools is not always an obvious lie, but a lie that closely resembles the truth. The truth makes people free, so the enemy muddies the water with half-truths, distortions, and spiritual-sounding ideas that keep people confused.

John gives the first major test as theological accuracy. Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. Christology 101 matters because Jesus is not merely a spirit, not merely a borrowed body, and not merely a good man. Jesus is God in the flesh, fully God and fully man.

Soteriology 101 shows why that matters so much. Sin requires a sinless sacrifice, and fallen human beings cannot pay the debt because all have sinned. God alone is sinless, but God is spirit and eternal, so God would have to become flesh and blood in order to die. Jesus came in a real body so that sinless blood could be shed for the sin of the world.

The Old Testament sacrifices never removed sin by themselves. They covered sin, exposed the seriousness of sin, and pointed forward to the One whose body would be offered once for all. God hates sin because it wrecks lives, destroys futures, and keeps people from the relationship with Him they were created to have. Yet the gospel turns on that powerful truth, “But God being rich in mercy.”

John also warns against worldly popularity. The world listens to messages that require no repentance, no change, and no exclusive trust in Christ. The believer must evaluate every spiritual source, from books and posts to music and famous voices, by the truth of God’s Word. The kingdom of God is not called to circle the wagons, but to be salt and light behind enemy lines.

Key Takeaways

1. Test spiritual-sounding claims carefully. John does not command suspicion for its own sake, but careful examination because falsehood can dress itself in religious clothes. A counterfeit does its damage precisely because it looks close enough to the real thing at first glance. Spiritual maturity learns to ask not only, “Does this sound good?” but “Is this from God?” [38:34]
2. Near-truth still muddies the water. Satan’s strategy often works through distortion, not just denial. A half-truth can keep a soul from freedom because the truth is what sets people free. Confusion becomes dangerous when it makes error feel reasonable and truth feel unknowable. [40:02]
3. Christ’s flesh matters for salvation. John’s test of the spirits centers on Jesus Christ coming in the flesh because salvation depends on it. If sin requires a sinless sacrifice, then only God can save, and if blood must be shed, then God must truly become man. The incarnation is not a side doctrine, but the very way mercy reaches sinners. [59:09]
4. Sin requires a clean sacrifice. Dirty water cannot wash clothes clean, and sinful humanity cannot cleanse sinful humanity. The sacrifice must be pure, spotless, and without blemish, or the debt remains unpaid. The blood of Jesus is not religious decoration, but the only perfect cleansing agent available. [48:14]
5. Popularity does not prove truth. The world gladly listens to a spirituality that asks for no repentance and leaves a person unchanged. John says that worldly applause can be a warning sign, not a seal of approval. A voice must be measured by the Word of God, not by the size of its platform.

## [64:16]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[26:42] - The Pluto And Jupiter Hoax
[29:25] - Spiritual Does Not Mean Sound
[30:06] - Reading 1 John 4:1-6
[31:36] - Profession Versus Possession
[35:10] - Test The Spirits
[36:10] - Counterfeit Bills And Discernment
[39:27] - Satan’s Near-Truth Lies
[42:13] - Look For Theological Accuracy
[46:51] - Why Christology Matters
[52:19] - God Hates What Sin Does
[55:16] - Sacrifices Point To Christ
[57:09] - But God Rich In Mercy
[60:00] - The Word Guards The Church
[61:57] - Beware Worldly Popularity
[66:12] - Establish, Evaluate, Expand

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
1 John 4:1-6 (NASB)
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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now it is already in the world. You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak as from the world, and the world listens to them. 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.

Observation questions

What specific command does John give believers in 1 John 4:1, and what reason does he provide for it?
In the sermon, counterfeit bills were used as an analogy. What details make a counterfeit dangerous, and how does this relate to testing spiritual messages? [36:10]
According to the sermon, why is Jesus’ physical humanity (“coming in the flesh”) critical for salvation? [59:09]

Interpretation questions

Why might Satan use “near-truths” (half-truths or distortions) instead of outright lies to deceive people? How does this strategy create confusion? [40:02]
How does the Old Testament sacrificial system (e.g., animal sacrifices) both expose the seriousness of sin and point forward to Jesus’ sacrifice? [55:16]
The sermon states, “Popularity does not prove truth.” Why might messages that avoid repentance or exclusivity of Christ gain widespread acceptance? [01:04:16]

Application questions

What are some modern examples of “spiritual-sounding” ideas or teachings that might seem true but conflict with Scripture (e.g., “all paths lead to God”)? How can you test these against 1 John 4:1-6?
The enemy often uses half-truths to create doubt. When have you encountered a “near-truth” that caused confusion in your faith? How did you discern what was true? [40:02]
Salvation depends on Jesus being fully God and fully human. How does this truth deepen your gratitude for His sacrifice, and how might you explain it to someone who sees Jesus as just a “good teacher”? [59:09]
The sermon warns against uncritically accepting popular messages. What steps can you take to evaluate the books, podcasts, or influencers you engage with? [01:06:12]
How can you balance being “salt and light” in a broken world while avoiding compromise with ideas that contradict God’s Word? [01:08:55]
The sacrificial system reminded people of sin’s cost. What daily habits or reminders could help you stay aware of sin’s seriousness and Christ’s sufficient sacrifice? [54:16]

Sermon Clips

61s

#GodBecameMan

“I know I kinda got off on that, but now coming back to the question. Coming back to this question of why this is so important. It looks like this. If god wants to save us from our sins, but our sins have to be paid for by sinless innocent dying, but only god is sinless and innocent and therefore able to pay for our sins. But if god is spirit, he is eternal. How can he die to pay for our sins? You already know the answer, don't you? would have to become a man. look like a man, not just borrow a body like you might borrow a suit of clothes. God would have to become a physical flesh and blood so that a sinless flesh and blood could be shed on behalf of the sin of the world.”

77s

#SinlessSacrifice

“In order for sins to be atoned or paid for, it requires a perfect sacrifice without spot or blemish, a sinless sacrifice. Exodus 29, Deuteronomy Ezekiel 43, 45, Malachi one, Hebrews nine. The the removal of of sin required a sinless sacrifice. Think of it this way. This might be an overly simplistic analogy, but think of it this way. If you have to wash your clothes, you're not gonna wash your clothes with dirty water Because when you finish, you know that the clothes are actually not clean. Right? If you use dirty water to start with to wash your clothes or wash your dishes or wash yourself, if if if the water itself is dirty, then then you know that you're not clean. You know that your clothes are not clean. No. Your dishes are not clean. No. In order to be clean, spiritually speaking, it requires a pure, a sinless, a clean cleansing agent. You understand?”

46s

#KnowWhoJesusIs

“Do you see? Do you understand? A proper theological understanding of the person of Jesus Christ is a big deal. That's why it matters to you because were were it not for his willingness to go to the cross even even as a sinless son of God, if he if he was unwilling to do that, if he didn't wanna do it, if he it had nothing to do with us deserving it, but if he didn't, there's no hope for us because we're all sinners. We cannot save ourselves. And there was a lot of teaching there was and is a lot of teaching out there that is contrary to that. And John is saying to us, just because something sounds spiritual doesn't mean that it's spiritually sound.”

55s

#TestWhatYouHear

“And John says, you you better test it. You better check it. You better make sure that the information you're receiving, which may not even seem to you that's sometimes we receive information. We think, well, that's that's not part of my spiritual life. It may be more than you realize that it is. And you have to test it. You have to check. You have to examine. You have to scrutinize and say, is this the truth of God's word? Is this is this coming from the spirit of God or is this coming from some other force? Now that tells us a couple things. One, it tells us that the enemy is active. is working. He is moving. You see, Satan knows that one of the most effective ways to keep people from the truth is to put out lies that closely examine or that that closely resemble the truth.”

57s

#BewareHalfTruths

“You see, Satan knows that one of the most effective ways to keep people from the truth is to put out lies that closely examine or that that closely resemble the truth. That that's one of the primary tools that he used to to put out something that's kinda like the truth but not quite the truth. It's sort of like it, but not quite like it that that muddies up the waters, so to speak, distorts the truth to some degree. It just confuses people so they're not sure exactly what to believe or what not to believe, what they can trust, what they can't trust. I I I've had those conversations with people. You probably have too. Why? How do you know? There's a lot of religions out there. How do you know which one is true? You say this, they say that, this guy says that, you're saying this, but but how do you really understand? It's it's just muddying up the waters enough.”

52s

#JesusFullyGodAndMan

“And John makes it clear, and I'll explain it this. John makes it clear that if someone is teaching or saying that Jesus Christ was both fully god and fully man, that god actually became a man, that is theologically true. On the other hand, if someone is teaching or saying that god didn't actually become a man, if they say that he was just a spirit or or god just borrowed a body or it wasn't really god in the flesh or some other idea like that, don't believe it. That is theologically untrue. So John says, here's here's a primary. It deals with the the nature of Jesus Christ. That's one of the main ideas that they're struggling with. He said, here's how you can know it. If they say that Christ came, that Jesus came, and he was actually a physical body, that's the truth.”

40s

#FilterYourMedia

“John said, well, you you better examine. You better test it. You better scrutinize. And and listen, it's not just the preachers that we hear, the books that we read, the Twitter posts, the blogs that we follow, the friends that we have, the the music that we all of it needs to be examined, needs to be tested, and needs to be when it deals an area is this is this aligning up with the truth of God's word? And if it's not, John says, you you better you better get away from it.”

65s

#TruthSetsYouFree

“And and we have to take this seriously, ladies and because although we tend to not think about it on a daily basis, every day, every day, ladies and gentlemen, Satan and his demonic forces are doing all that they can to keep people from the truth. That's right. Every day to keep people from the truth. Why? John chapter eight. Because the truth will make you free. The truth will set you free. The truth the truth brings victory. The truth removes brings clarity. The truth brings power to your life. The truth can lead people into a relationship with Jesus Christ. The truth is what sets people free, and the enemy wants to to use distortion and and fabrications and half truths and all this kind of stuff. The enemy is active, Which means then that you and I have to be proactive. We have to we have to be proactive.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Gateway Community Church Titusville This sermon · AI assistant

What criteria determine whether a spirit is from God?

Why does Christ's incarnation matter for salvation?

How should Christians evaluate popular spiritual teachings?

Test the Spirits: Discern Truth About Jesus Christ

Devotional

Day 1: When Jumping at 9:47 AM Feels Spiritual

Day 2: Confessing the God Who Bumped His Head

Day 3: Dirty Water Can’t Clean Dirty Clothes

Day 4: Why the World Cheers Oprah’s Gospel

Day 5: Salt Doesn’t Circle Wagons

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Test the Spirits: Discern Truth About Jesus Christ

Share