SCRIPTURE: 1 JOHN 4
BIBLE VERSES
“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” (1 John 4:1-3)
“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ” (1 John 4:4)
“Dear friends, let us love one another, for 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)
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. ” (1 John 4:9-10)
“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.” (1 John 4:11-12)
“ If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. ” (1 John 4:14-15)
“And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them” (1 John 4:16)
“And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:21)
TEST THE SPIRITS (vs. 1-6)
Not all spirits are from God. The Spirit that acknowledge that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God. The spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. That is the spirit of the Anti-Christ.
As children of God, we have overcome those who are not from God because the one who is in us is greater than the one who is in the world. We can recognize the Spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.
GOD’S LOVE AND OURS (vs. 7-21)
The word “LOVE” was mentioned 24 times in this chapter. Love is the evidence of salvation. Those born of God through faith in Christ have His nature that manifest love. Our love for others must be real and visible to make people experience it. Perfect love is without fear. Anyone who loves God will also love his brother.
THOUGHTS:
There are two spirits in the world today. God’s Spirit of truth who speaks through the inspired Word and Satan’s spirit of error that teaches lies. Christ unites the people in love while Satan divides and destroys. Believers are warned to recognize the voice of the Shepherd.
The cross is a plus sign that reconcile sinners to God and people to one another. We should love each other in the same measure and manner as God loves us. We should let the Spirit work in us so that God’s love can flow from us to others.
SCRIPTURES OF GOD’S COMMAND FOR US TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER:
John 13:25 – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciple if you love one another”
John 13:34 – “A new command I gave you. Love one another as I have loved you so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciple if you love one another”
John 15:12 – “My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you”
John 15:17 – “This is my command: “Love each other”
1 John 3:11 – “This is the message you heard from the beginning. We should love one another”
1 John 3:23 – “And this is the command: to believe in the name of his son Jesus Christ and to love one another as he commanded us”
1 John 4:7 – “Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and know God”
1 John 4:11 – “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another”
1 John 4:12 – “No one ever see God, but if we love one another, God lives is us and his love is made complete in us”
1 John 4:21 – “And he has given us this command. Whoever loves God must also love his brother”
1 Peter 1:22 – “Love one another deeply from the heart”
1 Peter 2:17 – Show proper respect for everyone. “Love the brotherhood of believers from God. Honor the king”
Mark 12:31 – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these” (Matthew 22:39)
Romans 13:8 – “Let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law”
1 Cor. 16:14 – “Do everything in love”
Col. 3:14 – “And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity”
The real test of our love to God is how we treat the people around us. Love is a choice with an action. Have you chosen to display your love for God and fellowmen through the actions that you take? Has God been revealed through your love to others?