What does it mean to test the spirits.....it is not referring to the Holy Spirit as has sometimes been alleged. He is the Spirit of truth...not a false prophet or deceptive teacher. He indwells us, so if we have to test Him for fear He may not really be the Spirit of Truth...then we will forever be in doubt. 

In 1John 4:2-3 “By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of Antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.” 

This does not signify that we must take people by the collar and get them to confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh and keep a firm hold until they do. The verse before verses 2-3, ascribes this testing of spirits to deviousness, because “…many false prophets have gone out into the world.” So this is in context of being taught to believe particular doctrines or assumptions. This instruction was to protect us from any deception in Who Jesus Christ is and what He did.

To confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not to simply say yes, He was born of a virgin; it is to believe (with our hearts and minds) all that Jesus accomplished. These accomplishments include:

The Finished work of the Cross completed the work necessary to redeem mankind from sin and death

The law was made obsolete since Jesus fulfilled it

That His grace has saved us through faith not of works (of or by ourselves)

That we now are one with the Father

That the Holy Spirit (Person) dwells in us forever as manifestation of that oneness

So if we confess He came in the flesh, we believe the Cross of Christ crucified us and we were buried with Him and rose with Him (Romans 6:3-7). If we confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh we believe we are freed from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2); that grace is enough to take away our sins, and we don’t have to continually check our righteousness (Romans 6:18) , but instead be thankful for it and learn to live in it . If we confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh we believe the law is no longer over us and we are in a new covenant with God (Hebrews 8:13, 9:11-15).......If we confess He came in the flesh we are assured of eternal life (1John5:9-12). If we confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh we believe that the love of God has been poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). If we confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh, we agree that we are one Spirit with the Father and that One Spirit is Holy Spirit dwelling in us for eternity (Romans 8:15-17). And that greater is He (Holy Spirit) that is in us than he that is in the world. (1John 4:4) 

To Confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh is to catapult us into the liberty He paid such a high price to purchase. That it is no longer I that live but Christ lives in me…to confess He came in the flesh is to say I trust that God’s gift of His Son was enough to pay for my salvation. To confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh is to stop denying that the Cross of Christ is of no effect and we must add to it. To confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh is to add nothing to Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, but to now be His flesh and bones and body; to accept we are accepted as His Bride.  

To confess Jesus Christ came in the flesh is to admit and accept that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of truth living in us and we can trust Him to lead us into all truth. To confess that Jesus Christ came in the flesh is to believe that we have received the Spirit of God (Holy Spirit) to know what has been freely given to us; comparing spiritual with spiritual. Confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh is to say the indwelling Spirit (Holy Spirit) is worthy of my time and attention and I shall yield to His direction, teaching and correction. To confess Him coming in the flesh is to stop denying and relegating Holy Spirit to a second class status and relate to Him as the Person of God Almighty dwelling within us (Romans 8:8-11).  

Confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh is declaring His Holy Spirit is Holy and lives in us….

And declaring Holy Spirit lives in us and leads us into all truth and choosing to listen to that truth is confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh!

 Confessing Jesus Christ came in the flesh means we are holy, blameless and above reproach (Col 1:21-22)

 Bwana Asifiwe! (Praise the Lord)