Brief Thoughts on the Holy Spirit
TESTING THE SPIRITS
The New Testament is filled with warnings about false teachers and the need to exercise spiritual discernment. For instance, Matthew 7:15, Acts 20:29-30 and 2 Peter 2:1. From the beginning, false teachers posed a serious threat to the health and unity of the Lord’s church. We often think of the early church as pure and pristine, but heresy infested the body of Christ from the start. Jesus wanted believers to carefully evaluate any spiritual message or self-appointed messenger claiming to work for God. In Matthew 7:16 He said, “You will know them by their fruits.” A careful reading of 2 Peter and Jude will delineate what those fruits are.
The apostle John outlined a strategy by which believers can become skilled at differentiating between true work of the Holy Spirit and the counterfeit ministries of false prophets (1 John 4:1-8). Verses 2-8 reveal five tests:
Does It Exalt the True Christ?
A true work of the Spirit shines the spotlight on the Savior, pointing to Him in an accurate, exalting and preeminent manner. By contrast, false teachers diminish and distort the truth about Him (John 14:26; 16:14). The Spirit’s work is always centered on Jesus Christ. Any ministry or movement He empowers will share that same priority and clarity.
Does It Oppose Worldliness?
In Romans 8:5-11, the apostle Paul divided all people into two fundamental categories: those who walk according to the flesh and those who walk according to the Spirit. Those who live according to the flesh pursue the passing pleasures of this world (Rom. 8:5; cf. 1 John 2:16-17). They are characterized by a carnal mind that “cannot please God” (Rom. 8:8). By contrast, those who live by the Spirit set their minds on things above, where Christ is (Col. 3:1-2). Their joy is found in serving the Lord Jesus, and their love for Him is seen in their obedience to Him (cf. John 14:15). They are led by the Spirit and as a result the fruit of the Spirit is manifested in their lives (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:22-23). The Spirit’s ministry is utterly opposed to the worldly desires of the flesh (Gal. 5:16-17).
Does It Point People To the Scriptures?
The Bible is the Holy Spirit’s book; He inspired it and He empowers it. It is the primary instrument He uses to convict the world of sin (John16-8-11; Acts 2:37); to point sinners to the Savior (John 5:39; 1 John 5:6); and to conform believers into the image of their Lord (2 Cor. 3:18; 1 Pet. 2:2). Accordingly, the Scriptures are described as “the sword of the Spirit”. For believers, that sword is a Spirit-empowered means of defense against temptation (Eph. 6:17); for unbelievers, it is an implement of precision used by the Holy Spirit to pierce hearts of unbelief (Heb. 4:12). A comparison of Ephesians 5:18 with Colossians 3:16 demonstrates that the command to “be filled with the Spirit” is parallel to the command to “let the word of Christ dwell in you richly,” since they both produce the same results (cf. Eph. 5:18-6:9; Col. 3:16-4:1).
Does It Elevate the Truth?
In 1 John 4:6, the apostle John wrote simply, “We know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.” The Holy Spirit, who is defined by truth, stands in stark contrast to the false spirits of delusion who are characterized by error and falsehood. When a spiritual movement is known for defending sound theology, denouncing false teaching, and detesting superficial unity – these are strong indications that it is a genuine work of the Holy Spirit. Conversely, believers should be wary of any religious system that ignores sound doctrine, propagates falsehood, or happily endorses ecumenical compromise.
Does It Produce Love for God and Others?
A true work of the Spirit causes people to increase in their love for God and others (1 John 4:7-8). A primary fruit of the Spirit is love (Gal. 5:21), and where true love exists, it is evidence of the Spirit’s genuine work. A true work of the Spirit produces a love for God that expresses itself in sober-minded adoration and praise. This is the definition of biblical worship. Worship is an expression of love for God and therefore by its nature engages the soul’s passions. Most Christians understand that, at least in a rudimentary way.
So what are we to conclude, based on the above biblical tests? The answer seems self-evident. The New Testament repeatedly warns against those who would introduce error into the church for the sake of dishonest gain. The quest for extra-biblical revelation, ecstatic experiences, subjective guidance, unrestrained emotionalism, attendance, and material prosperity represent a massive danger. In the same way a child should avoid matches, believers should stay away from unacceptable worship and practice, as the Holy Scripture warns in Philippians 3:18-19. True believers should avoid such spiritual frauds at all costs (2 John 7-11).
