Scripture
I John 4: 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.
“Don’t believe everything that your hear.” This is pretty common advice. And it is good advice, especially when it comes to your faith in God and the real threat of false prophets.
What is a false prophet? A false prophet is someone who presents himself as one speaking God’s Word, but is actually speaking his own ideas. Why would anyone do that? There are many reasons. But, in the end, whether the reasons are intentional or delusional, the false prophet has a different god in his heart rather than the one true God. The false prophet’s idolatry results in the ruin of many people
I John chapter 4 teaches us how to “test” the spirits. The test begins with who God is, and in particular, that God has come in the flesh in Jesus. Why would this be such a big deal?
Jesus is the heart of God’s saving work in the world. Without Jesus, there is nothing left of the Gospel. Once Jesus is removed, the empty shell of that religion can then be filled with anything. False prophets have used this tactic to turn congregations into nothing more than promoters of political movements, or cults of personalities. Where Jesus once was, they have inserted the idol of their own hearts. Where God’s Gospel once brought eternal life, the false prophet has placed a false god that has nothing to offer. To distract people from the emptiness, the false prophet must promote one crisis of the moment after another.
This has actually happened among people and is happening around the world today. How can you tell? One simple thing I have found helpful is just to listen for the name of Jesus. Is the name of Jesus used often? Is the name of Jesus heard at all? If not, why not? What other name has taken His place? The first thing that a false prophet does is remove the name of Jesus.
The next thing I listen for is what is mentioned about Jesus. When Jesus came, God in the flesh, He came to offer Himself as the perfect Lamb of God. Jesus is the one sacrifice for the Sins of the world. God removes guilt through the cross of Jesus, and frees people to live their lives restored in faith towards God and love towards their neighbor. Through Jesus, God gives the resurrection of the dead, confidence on judgement day, and the joy of eternal life. A false prophet not only avoids the use of the name of Jesus, but attached to it, replaces the work of Jesus with something else. Instead of receiving an eternal gift from God’s grace, people are driven to focus on their own actions through the use of guilt as a tactic. Here again, look for cults of personality, political agendas, and a recycling of every false doctrine from history. In the end, the false prophet has no Jesus, no cross, no forgiveness of sins, no resurrection from the dead, no confidence on judgement day, and no hope in eternal life. In changing the message, the false prophet has no Gospel, no good news, no peace, only an unending harangue and burden of guilt.
“Many false prophets have gone out into the world.” God has not left us without defense. In the clear warnings of the scripture and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Jesus our Good Shepherd watches over His flock. Therefore, we will remember this instruction from God’s Word. We will test the spirits. We will listen for the name of Jesus and the clear confession of what Jesus has done to save us, and with us, all the world.
Let Us Pray
I thank you Lord Jesus for coming into the world in the flesh to save me. Guard and protect your church throughout the world from false prophets who deny your name. Grant me your understanding to test the spirits, recognize your voice, and rejoice in your true Gospel. AMEN