1Jn 1 John, chapter First Epistle of John, chapter 4
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. Mat 7:15; Rev 2:2By this you will know4:2 Literally By this is known 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 that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh4:3 CT 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.1Jn 2:22; 1Co 12:3
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. 2Ch 32:7They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them. Jhn 15:19We 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 Spirit4:6 Or spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.Jhn 8:47
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.
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only4:9 Or only begotten or unique Son into the world, so that we might live through Him. Isa 9:6; Jhn 3:16; 2Co 5:19And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice4:10 Or as a propitiation for our sins.1Jn 2:2; Rom 5:8
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. Mat 18:33; Jhn 15:12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us. Exo 33:20; Jhn 1:18; 1Ti 6:16By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit. 1Jn 3:24And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
If anyone confesses that Jesus4:15 WH Jesus Christ is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 1Jn 5:5; Rom 10:9And 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 God4:16 Literally and God abides in him. 1Jn 3:24In 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 Him4:19 CT does not include Him. because He first loved us.
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, how can he love God, whom he has not seen?4:20 CT whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 1Jn 2:4; 1Jn 3:17And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.Mat 22:37; Mat 22:39; Jhn 13:34; 1Jn 3:11