John 4:1–6

Explore the Bible 
Assistant Professor of Christian Ministries, University of Mobile

Is This of God?

John 4:1–6

Be Discerning (1)

John begins this section with another command: “Do not believe every spirit.” Not every so-called “spiritual” teaching is from God. John has already said that some believe Jesus is not the Christ (1 John 2:22).

The Holy Spirit does not lead anyone to impart heresy. Too often false teachers use the words, “The Spirit told me” or “God said” to justify their heterodox statements.

Christians should not be fooled. Since the days of John, believers have rejected the deceitful instruction of false teachers who enter churches to cause division and lead people astray.

Test the Message (2–3)

Some are crafty in disguising their heretical views of Jesus, couching their beliefs in phrases like “Jesus is our moral example,” and “Jesus rose in our hearts.” On the surface such language seems pious.

So how can one know the theology concealed in such statements? John provides the litmus test: “Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God” (v. 2).

This cuts to the heart of the matter — either one believes Jesus became a man or they don’t. If the latter, then Jesus did not suffer for sins and humans are without hope.

Believers also must be aware of early letters and false gospels that teach Christ’s humanity was either an illusion or altogether absent (Docetism). Among such are the gospel of Judas, gospel of Peter and the Acts of John.

One of the reasons these books are not in the canon is because they deny the full humanity of Jesus.

Neither the words of noncanonical books nor persons who deny the incarnation of Jesus are inspired by the Holy Spirit — for Scripture, and centuries of Christian tradition, testifies that Jesus is both fully man and fully God (John 1:1, 14).

The Nicene Creed affirms the Bible’s view of Jesus and confesses what Christians are to believe: “We believe in … one Lord Jesus Christ … God of God, light of light, true God of true God … for us and for our salvation He came down from heaven, and was incarnate by the Holy Spirit of the Virgin Mary and was made man.”

Observe the Audience (4–6)

False teachers attract followers who love the world’s value system (1 John 4:4–5) and care nothing for the Jesus of the Bible, so “they accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions” (2 Tim. 4:3).

Being the fruit of false teachers, they are an ominous sign warning believers to keep away.

Rightly does Jesus say, “Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will recognize them by their fruits” (Matt. 7:16).

Though false teachers may try to disguise their language and blend with Christians, their worldly followers bear witness to their heterodoxy.

Genuine believers do not follow false teachers (1 John 4:6). Instead they listen to people like John, who believe Jesus came in the flesh.

Christians should not expect this will make them popular with the world. They should instead expect hostility from a world that hates what God loves (1 John 2:15–17).

In short Christians are to avoid false teachers and hold fast to an orthodox view of Jesus.

Though the world cares little for Jesus, the Spirit will use faithful teaching to bring many to the faith “once for all delivered to the saints” (Jude 1:3).