“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 Jn. 4:1). This is a warning given by the apostle John. The warning for us is to not believe everyone who claims to be bringing a message from God. There are “many false prophets,” many who teach things that are wrong and lead to damnation. So we are to “test the spirits” and identify false teachers among us. It is important that we know how to identify such individuals.

Wrongs Ways to Identify a False Teacher

Sincerity — The fact that one may be sincere does not mean they cannot be a false teacher. Many people do and say things that are wrong, but genuinely believe they are right. Paul had a “perfectly good conscience” (Acts 23:1), even while he was “a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor” (1 Tim. 1:13). One may be sincere and still be a false teacher.

Motive — Motives are irrelevant when it comes to determining whether one is a false teacher or a truth teacher. Paul spoke of two types of truth teachers — those who preach “from envy and strife” and those who preach “from good will” (Phil. 1:15). While those who preached from evil motives would have to answer for themselves before God (Eccl. 12:14), Paul rejoiced because the gospel was preached (Phil. 1:18). If one’s being a truth teacher is not determined by their motives, one’s being a false teacher is not determined by motives either.

Appearance — Much of Paul’s work was to “cut off opportunity” from those who were “false apostles” (2 Cor. 11:12-13). He said that the servants of Satan “disguise themselves as servants of righteousness” (2 Cor. 11:15). Someone may appear to be a follower of God and still be a false teacher.

Zeal — Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees for their many faults in Matthew 23. In this discourse, He mentioned their zeal in converting the Gentiles. He said they “travel around on sea and land to make one proselyte” (Mt. 23:15). But He did not commend them here. Despite their zeal, once this one is converted, Jesus told them, “you make him twice as much a son of hell as yourselves” (Mt. 23:15).

How to Identify a False Teacher

One may be sincere, zealous, possess good motives, and appear to be a servant of Christ, and still be a false teacher. If these things cannot be used to identify a false teacher, how do we identify one?

The only way to determine whether or not one is a false teacher is by his message. When John gave the instruction, “test the spirits” (1 Jn. 4:1), he also provided the test we are to use to distinguish “the spirit of truth” from “the spirit of error” (1 Jn. 4:6). In that verse he said, “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.”

While all Christians are children of God (1 Jn. 3:1-2), the apostles were the ones that were from God. They were “ambassadors for Christ,” speaking “on behalf of Christ” (2 Cor. 5:20). John was included in this group so he could say, “We are from God.” The spirits of truth and error and distinguished by whether they heeded to the message of the apostles or not. A truth teacher is one who speaks “as the oracles of God” (1 Pet. 4:11). A false teacher is one that does not.

When we test the spirits, the standard by which we test them is the word of God. The Bereans were called “noble-minded” because they examined the Scriptures to see whether the things Paul taught them were true (Acts 17:11). They didn’t accept his message because of his sincerity or zeal. They didn’t believe Paul because they judged his motives to be right or because they thought he appeared to be righteous. Many false teachers could pass that test. But no false teacher can endure the unprejudiced scrutiny of those who test him on the basis of the word of God.

Conclusion

While we are responsible to fulfill the command to “test the spirits,” it is sometimes tempting to let personalities distract us from our duty. One may appear to be a likable, sincere, zealous servant of Christ, and still teach soul damning error. We must examine their message, not their personality. If upon examination their message is true, accept and support them. If their message is false, “do not receive him” (2 Jn. 10). As Paul told the Thessalonians, “examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil” (1 Th. 5:21-22).