Chapter 4
Themes, discussion questions, Christ connections, and denomination lenses.
Just read this chapter →Scripture
KJV1Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3And 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.
4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
5They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
6We 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.
7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
9In 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.
10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
13Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16And 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.
17Herein 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.
18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
19We love him, because he first loved us.
20If 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?
21And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
“We love him, because he first loved us.”
Overview
John calls believers to test the spirits, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. The test is whether a spirit confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh — this is of God, and the spirit that does not confess Christ is the spirit of antichrist. He then delivers his great teaching on love: God is love, and He demonstrated this love by sending His only begotten Son as the propitiation for our sins. If God so loved us, we ought to love one another, for perfect love casts out fear.
Key Themes
Testing the Spirits
Not every spirit is from God — believers must test whether a spirit confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, for this distinguishes truth from the spirit of antichrist.
God Is Love
Love is not merely an attribute of God — God is love. He manifested this love by sending His only begotten Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
There is no fear in love — the mature love of God casts out tormenting fear, for fear has to do with punishment, and the one who fears is not made perfect in love.
Study Questions
How does the test of confessing 'Jesus Christ is come in the flesh' (v. 2) remain relevant for discerning truth today?
What does it mean that 'God is love' (v. 8), and how is this different from saying 'love is God'?
How does God sending His Son as 'the propitiation for our sins' (v. 10) define what true love looks like?
What does 'perfect love casteth out fear' (v. 18) mean for believers who struggle with anxiety or fear of judgment?
Why does John say 'if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another' (v. 11)?
Connection to Christ
God's love was manifested in sending His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. Christ came in the flesh, and the confession of this truth is the mark of every spirit from God. Through Him, believers experience the love that casts out all fear.
Personal Reflection
Take time to journal or meditate on what God is teaching you through 1 John 4. How can these truths transform your thinking and actions today?