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1 John 4

World English Bible

WEB

1Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3and every spirit who doesn’t confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God; and this is the spirit of the Antichrist, of whom you have heard that it comes. Now it is in the world already. 4You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because greater is he who is in you than he who is in the world. 5They are of the world. Therefore they speak of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God doesn’t listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. 7Beloved, let’s love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8He who doesn’t love doesn’t know God, for God is love. 9By this God’s love was revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11Beloved, if God loved us in this way, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love has been perfected in us. 13By this we know that we remain in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world. 15Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 16We know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him. 17In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so we are in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love. 19We love him, because he first loved us. 20If a man says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who doesn’t love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21This commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should also love his brother.

World English Bible, 2020 stable text edition. Public domain; “World English Bible” is a trademark of eBible.org. eBible.org

Overview

1 John Chapter 4 emphasizes the importance of love as a defining characteristic of the Christian faith. The chapter begins with a call to discernment, urging believers to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world. This discernment is rooted in the acknowledgment that Jesus Christ came in the flesh, a fundamental truth that distinguishes the Spirit of God from the spirit of the antichrist. The apostle John reassures believers that they have overcome these false spirits because the One who is in them, referring to the Holy Spirit, is greater than the one who is in the world (#1John4:1-4).

The chapter continues to elaborate on the nature of God as love. John states that love is from God, and anyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Conversely, those who do not love do not know God, for God is love (#1John4:7-8). This profound truth is illustrated through the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, demonstrating the ultimate expression of love. John encourages believers to love one another, as love is the evidence of our relationship with God. The chapter concludes with the assurance that perfect love casts out fear, emphasizing that fear is related to punishment, while love brings confidence before God (#1John4:18). This powerful message calls Christians to embody love in their lives, reflecting the nature of God to the world.

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Referenced by

  1. Deuteronomy 13:5v1Deuteronomy 13:5 instructs the Israelites to put to death the false prophet who seeks to lead them away from God. In 1 John 4:1, believers are urged to test the spirits to see whether they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world.
  2. John 3:16v9John 3:16 declares God's love in giving His Son for the world, which is further explained in 1 John 4:9-10 as the manifestation of God's love through Jesus as the atoning sacrifice.
  3. John 4:42v14John 4:42 acknowledges Jesus as the Savior of the world, a truth affirmed in 1 John 4:14 where it is declared that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
  4. 1 Corinthians 13:8v81 Corinthians 13:8 states that love never fails, which is supported by 1 John 4:8, where it is declared that God is love, emphasizing the eternal nature of love.
  5. 2 John 1:7v22 John 1:7 warns against deceivers who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh, which aligns with 1 John 4:2-3 that provides a test for discerning the Spirit of God by acknowledging Jesus' incarnation.

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