The Book of
1 John 4
21 verses≈ 4 minBSB
Images are artistic interpretations.
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Where we are
- 1–2:27In the lightGod is light; confess and obey
- 2:28–4:6Children of GodBorn of Him, doing what is rightChapter 4
- 4:7–5:12God is loveLoved by Him, we love each other
- 5:13–21Knowing for sureEternal life in the Son
Testing the Spirits
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
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The test
Whiteboard
John gives one plain test for any teacher who claims to speak by the Spirit: what does he say about Jesus? The Spirit of God always confesses “that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh”: truly God’s Son, truly human, really here. A message that won’t say that is “not from God,” however spiritual it sounds.
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Question
Quick question
John tells his readers not to believe every spirit, but to test them. Then he gives the test.
By what does John say “you will know the Spirit of God”?
Love Comes from God
Beloved, let us love one another, because 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.
1 John 4:7–8
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
1 John 4:12
By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
Pray
He loved us first
Thank God that love began with Him: “not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Thank Him by name for what Jesus did for you. Then ask Him to fill you with that same love for the people around you, because “if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”
And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him. In this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like Him.
There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love. We love because He first loved us.
0:31
Narrated by Bob Souer · BSB audio, public domain
We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
Reflect
The brother you can see
John says love for God is proved on the people in front of us: “anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.” Who is the brother or sister you find hardest to love right now? What is one way you could show them God’s love this week, in action and not only in words?
You’ve experienced
1 John 4
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A verse to carry with you
We love because He first loved us.
1 John 4:19
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