Beloved, 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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Yeshua HaMashiach has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Yeshua is not from God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming, and now it is already in the world. 1 John 4:1-3

There are some who are using the above scripture as a litmus test to see if a person can mechanically repeat the words “Yeshua came in the flesh”. If their chosen individual refuses to this then they are judged as not of God and operating with a spirit of Anti-Christ.

But is this really the proper application of this scripture?
Let’s go to the scripture to determine this.

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” Luke 4:33-34

While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ. Luke 4:40-41

Seeing Yeshua from a distance, he ran up and bowed down before Him; and shouting with a loud voice, he said, “What business do we have with each other, Yeshua, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God, do not torment me!”
Mark 5:6-7

These scriptures clearly show us that demons know and recognize who Yeshua is and do confess Him as the Son of God, the Messiah.

So how is this test properly applied?

First of all the context is talking about false prophets.

A scriptural  definition of a “prophet of God” is someone speaking under the influence of the Holy Spirit. This includes teaching and preaching and not just forth telling or telling of future events.

The scripture in 1 John 4:2-3 is in reference to “teachers”who are preaching and teaching against the Messiah as having come in the flesh..fully God and fully man.

You are to discern those who are actuated by the Spirit of God.

The apostle uses the word "spirit" here with reference to the person professing to be a religious teacher. If the Spirit of God influenced them, they would confess that Messiah Yeshua had come in the flesh; if some other spirit, the spirit of error and deceit, they would deny this.

It cannot be supposed that a mere statement or non statement of these words would show that they were or were not of God. But the sense is, that if their core doctrine, which they held and taught, is Yeshua has come in the flesh, fully God and fully man and  He has died for our sins, was buried and resurrected, it would show that they were advocates of truth, and not of error. If they did not do this, it would be decisive in regard to their character and claims.

Conclusion: This scripture is not telling us to test people to see if they can parrot the words “Yeshua has come in the flesh” but rather it is cautioning us to discern  whether someone is teaching the truth or a lie. If they are teaching against the Gospel of Yeshua’s Deity and His death, burial and resurrection then they are teaching with a spirit of Anti-Christ..or against Christ.

Remind the believers of these things, charging them before God to avoid quarreling over words; this is in no way profitable, and leads its listeners to ruin. Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth. 2 Tim 2:14-15