1 John 4
21 verses
The command to test the spirits rather than believing every spirit that claims prophetic authority distinguishes genuine revelation from satanic deception: the true Spirit confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh, identifying the incarnation as the litmus test of authentic Christianity. The one in the community who abides in Christ is greater than the one in the world—Satan and his agents—establishing that believers possess greater spiritual power through their participation in Christ than the forces arrayed against them. God is love is the definitive statement of God's nature, repeated twice for emphasis, meaning that love is not merely one of God's attributes but the very essence of his being and operation. God sent his only Son into the world not to condemn but to save, and Christ became the propitiation for our sins, bearing the judgment that sinners deserve and opening the way for reconciliation. The love God has shown in sending his Son calls for a responsive love from believers that overflows toward others. The love we have for God must overflow into love for our brothers and sisters, for whoever says I love God but hates his brother is a liar and the truth does not dwell in him—love of the invisible God finds its verification in the visible love of brothers and sisters.
VERSES IN THIS CHAPTER
1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
0 2Open verse page →
This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. When we read this alongside the surrounding chapters, the narrati...
2
Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
1 0Open verse page →
There's something deeply comforting about knowing that the same God who spoke these words is the same yesterday, today, ...
3
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 1Open verse page →
God is faithful in every circumstance.. This connects directly to the promise made to Abraham. God is faithful in every ...
4
Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
1 1Open verse page →
Now I understand why — it's a daily declaration of dependence on God.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. His timin...
5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
1 0Open verse page →
6
We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
0 1Open verse page →
The thread of covenant runs through every book of the Bible.. God meets us exactly where we are — broken, uncertain, yet...
7
Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
1 2Open verse page →
8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
0 2Open verse page →
9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
0 2Open verse page →
10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
0 0Open verse page →
11
Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
0 0Open verse page →
12
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
0 0Open verse page →
I love how this passage doesn't shy away from the difficulty of obedience. The Hebrew word used here carries a richness ...
13
Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
1 0Open verse page →
14
And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
0 0Open verse page →
15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
0 1Open verse page →
16
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
0 1Open verse page →
17
Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
0 1Open verse page →
18
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
0 1Open verse page →
God is faithful in every circumstance.. God is faithful in every circumstance.. I think this is a call to trust beyond w...
19
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 0Open verse page →
20
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
0 1Open verse page →
21
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
0 1Open verse page →
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
No notes on this chapter yet. Be the first to write one!