What Does the Bible Say About How To Test The Spirits?

1 John 4:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes

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.

1 John 4:1-21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ...

1 John 4:1-6 ESV / 5 helpful votes

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. ...

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes

But test everything; hold fast what is good.

1 John 4:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,

1 John 4:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

2 Timothy 2:1-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes

You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him. An athlete is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules. ...

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV / 3 helpful votes

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes

The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.

Acts 17:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. ...

1 John 4:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already.

1 John 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him;

1 John 2:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.

2 Peter 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.

James 2:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths.

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,

Ephesians 2:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience— among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— ...

Romans 10:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

John 15:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.

John 14:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

John 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Matthew 24:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For false christs and false prophets will arise and perform great signs and wonders, so as to lead astray, if possible, even the elect.

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold.

Matthew 24:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes

And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray.

Matthew 24:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and they will lead many astray.

Matthew 7:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Matthew 7:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Judge not, that you be not judged. For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you. Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is the log in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. ...

Matthew 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit.

Isaiah 7:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes

What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, ‘Let us go after other gods,’ which you have not known, ‘and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the Lord your God is testing you, to know whether you love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the Lord your God and fear him and keep his commandments and obey his voice, and you shall serve him and hold fast to him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the Lord your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst.

Leviticus 20:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“If a person turns to mediums and necromancers, whoring after them, I will set my face against that person and will cut him off from among his people.

Leviticus 19:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes

“Do not turn to mediums or necromancers; do not seek them out, and so make yourselves unclean by them: I am the Lord your God.

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes

Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God actually say, ‘You shall not eat of any tree in the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, ‘You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.’” But the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” ...

39 Bible Verses about How To Test The Spirits

1 John 4:1 ESV / 6 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1-21 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1-6 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Thessalonians 5:21 ESV / 5 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:2 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:1-3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 2:1-26 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 12:3 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Corinthians 2:14 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Acts 17:11 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 53:1-12 ESV / 3 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 4:2-3 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 3:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 John 2:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Peter 2:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

James 2:19 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

2 Timothy 4:3-4 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

1 Timothy 4:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ephesians 2:1-22 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Romans 10:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 15:26 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 14:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:17 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 3:16 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

John 1:1 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:12 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:11 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 24:5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:15 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 7:1-29 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Matthew 1:18 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Isaiah 7:14 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Ecclesiastes 1:9 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Deuteronomy 13:1-5 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 20:6 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Leviticus 19:31 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

Genesis 3:1-24 ESV / 2 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful

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