I will now show positively what are the sure, distinguishing scriptural evidences and marks of a work of the Spirit of God. By these marks we may judge any operation we find in ourselves or see among people without danger of being misled. In this I shall confine myself wholly to those marks that are given us by the apostle John in the fourth chapter of his first epistle.

1. Jesus Is Exalted

When the operation raises people's esteem of Jesus, it is a sure sign that it is from the Spirit of God. This work of the Spirit of God confirms and establishes people's minds in the truth of what the Gospel declares to us about Jesus being the Son of God and the Savior of men. The apostle gives us this sign in the second and third verses: "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" (NIV).

2. Satan's Interests Are Attacked

Satan's kingdom lies in encouraging and establishing sin and cherishing men's worldly lusts. This sign we have given us in the fourth verse: "You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world." What the apostle means by the world, we learn by his own words in the second chapter of this epistle, verses 15-16: "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world." Therefore, we may certainly conclude that the work is from the Spirit of God when the following conditions exist:

• People are sensitive to the dreadful nature of sin.
• People understand God's displeasure against sin.
• People are aware of their own miserable, sinful condition.
• People are earnestly concerned for their eternal salvation, and they are sensitive to their need of God's pity and help.

3. The Bible Is Honored

The Spirit who causes men to have greater regard for the Holy Scriptures and establishes them more in their truth and divine inspiration is certainly the Spirit of God. The apostle gives us this rule in the sixth verse: "We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of Truth and the spirit of falsehood." The devil never would attempt to produce in persons a regard for that divine word. And accordingly, we see commonly in enthusiasts who oppose Christ that they depreciate this written rule and set up the light within their souls or some other rule above it.

4. Sound Doctrine Is Established

Another rule to judge the spirits may be drawn from those words used in addressing opposite spirits in the last words of the sixth verse: The Spirit operates as "the Spirit of truth." He represents things as they truly are. He brings men to the light, for whatever makes truth manifest is light. And therefore we may conclude that it is not the spirit of darkness who discovers and makes manifest the truth.

5. Love Is Advanced

If the spirit who is at work among people operates as a spirit of love to God and man, it is a sure sign that it is the Spirit of God. This sign the apostle insists upon from the sixth verse to the end of the chapter: "Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love." Love and humility are the two things more contrary to the devil than anything in the world.

Adapted from the complete, modernized text of Jonathan Edwards' The Distinguishing Marks of a Work of the Spirit of God, made easy to read by Archie Parrish and R. C. Sproul in The Spirit of Revival: Discovering the Wisdom of Jonathan Edwards, copyright © 2000. Published by Crossway Books.