freeborn | ἐλεύθερος | 8r0gwg on Nostr: Good question. I'm sure there's a more comprehensive answer, but here are a few ...

Good question. I'm sure there's a more comprehensive answer, but here are a few thoughts off the top of my head:

First, we are told to 'test the spirits' because not everyone who claims to be coming from the Lord actually is:

> Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. ereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that [spirit] of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

[1 John 4:1-3](https://blb.sc/002Tct), KJV

Jesus himself warned that, in the last days, there would be many false prophets/messengers (Matt. 7:15; Matt. 24); Paul also warned of false teachers (2 Cor. 11:13), wolves inside the church and wolves outside the church (Acts 20). So we must be diligent to "prove all things; hold fast [to] that which is good" [1 Thess. 5:21](https://blb.sc/003Dxc), KJV; we should be like the Bereans who "received the message with all readiness of mind, but searched the Scriptures daily to see whether those things were true." [Acts 17:11](https://blb.sc/002edu). We don't just gullibly believe any person who claims to be from God.

Second, we're told not to listen to "another gospel" than the one which we have received:

> I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel: Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, If any [man] preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed.

[Gal 1:6-9](https://blb.sc/002RuZ), KJV

So: their message must align with the already-revealed word of God. It's not continuity of office (like with Rome) but continuity of message. As the Westminster Confession puts it, "All synods or councils, since the Apostles’ times, whether general or particular, may err; and many have erred. Therefore they are not to be made the rule of faith, or practice; but to be used as a help in both." [WCF XXXI.3](https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_31) -- which is why Protestants follow the doctrine of "sola Scriptura" -- Scripture is the alone authority in all questions of faith and practice (see [WCF I: On Holy Scripture](https://opc.org/wcf.html#Chapter_01)).

Perhaps lastly:

> When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that [is] the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, [but] the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

[Deu 18:22](https://blb.sc/004liK), KJV

Thank you for the question -- hope this answer helps a bit.