Trying the Spirits

Although we are intellectual creatures with reasoning faculties, truth and error are not identifiable by this process alone. If this were the case (the actual state of things), truth would be accessible only to the intellectuals. Since the test of identification is the test of the Spirit, the test which believers are commanded to make is a spiritual test. John’s command comes out of the last statement of I John 3:24—“...And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us” (NASB). Since the Holy Spirit is invisible, Satan saw the opportunity to deceive and promote error.

John’s reference to the Holy Spirit of God and to those whom He inspires (I John 3:24) gives the reason for the instruction concerning the evil spirit and those whom he inspires (I John 4:1-6). Therefore, we have in these verses the Spirit of God and the spirit of evil and those to whom the truth of Christian assurance is followed by a warning of error. Since the test of identification is the test of the Holy Spirit, there are two great marks: (1) the Person of Christ and (2) the work of Christ. You do not begin with heresy, but you begin with Christ who is truth—“…I am the way, and the truth, and the life…” (John 14:6 NASB). “In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20 NASB).

Testing is to be counted as an opportunity for proving the genuineness of God-given faith. “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-4 NASB).

Wisdom is needed to behave properly in time of trial (James 1:5-12). God’s wisdom is needed on a collision course with enemies’ wisdom. There is a difference between outward trials and inward temptations (James 1:13-15). The confusion today over the “temptation of Christ” is not objective but subjective. Outward trials are from God, but inward temptations are from the evil passions of depraved men. The Christian endures outward trials; therefore, he must not be ensnared by his own sinful nature. Christ did not have a sinful nature.

Temptation suggests to inward depravity the advantage of succumbing to outward attractions. Trials are the means by which faith is proved, and testing produces steadfastness. In the lives of dedicated Christians, it all boils down to a very simple philosophical (rational investigation of the truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct) statement—“If some people can live with themselves believing and acting as they do, I can live without them.”

Wisdom endued with knowledge is not in itself a qualification for a teacher of Holy Scripture. James said, “For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment” (James 2:13 NASB). Such a person must give practical evidence that he possesses the wisdom of Christ. James went on to say, “What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?” (James 2:14 NASB). In the context, James said, “Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself” (James 2:17 NASB). Conduct is the proper criterion to judge wisdom, not the tongue. It is one thing to love controversy for the sake of controversy, but it is something entirely different to love truth for its own sake which causes controversy. Therefore, James went on to say, “But someone may well say, you have faith, and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works” (James 2:18 NASB).

Every true Christian has a testimony worth living for and dying for. A physical vision of God has never been seen, because one does not exist. Christ said to the grumbling Jews, “No one can come to Me, unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the prophets, AND THEY SHALL ALL BE TAUGHT OF GOD. Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me. Not that any man has seen the Father, except the One who is from God; He has seen the Father” (John 6:44-46 NASB). Therefore, it was the Person (Jesus Christ) who came from the Father who has made Him known. The One who came from the Father was the eternal Son of God, who was the Word of God (John 1:1). “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14 NASB).

The incarnation of Jesus Christ reveals the necessity of the Divine Triunity; and by the Agency of the Holy Spirit, the eternal Son of God became the only Mediator between God and man. John said, “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him” (John 1:18 NASB).

The Godhead became manhood, and the two natures were preserved without confusion and division. Christ must have two natures in order to redeem the elect. The regenerated person also has two natures. Both the Savior and the saved are two-natured, single personalities. Therefore, the chosen ones from among mankind gain from the One who became flesh without suffering loss. Furthermore, the “Word became flesh” in His new mode of existence; but He did not cease to be the Word, and “the Word was God” (John 1:1 NASB). Deity cannot be changed into something different, and Christians cannot be changed into something other than being the sheep for whom Christ died.

NOTE ON ELECTION: Does one first have to know of his election before he can consider himself the addressee of God’s promise? There is an Israel in the flesh, and an Israel in the Spirit. (See Romans 9:6, 7.) The threat is against a faithless claim, not a faithful listening to God’s promise.

Does God act arbitrarily? God’s law is above all other laws. All other laws are subject to God’s laws. God’s laws are not subject to any laws higher than His laws, because no laws will ever exceed God’s laws. God’s ways are not ours (Is. 55:7-9).