If you’re a Christian, how do you know if you’re saved? Can you tell if other people are saved? When you tell others about Jesus, how do you know if the person is saved after you talk to them?
In John’s first letter, he has this to say about spirits in the world.
Dear friends, 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 John 4:1 (NIV)
John’s concern is false teachers and people believing their false teaching. Therefore, John gives us this insight into testing the spirits.
This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
1 John 4:2-3 (NIV)
Again, in verse 15, John says, “If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God” (1 John 4:15 NIV).
What does John mean by acknowledging “Jesus is the Son of God.”? Is John saying anyone who says, “Jesus is the Son of God” is saved? Conversely, if they deny that Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 4:3), they aren’t saved?
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