1 John 4

Summary

 

1 John 4 underscores the importance of discerning the spirits, highlights God's essential nature as love, stresses the connection between God's love and the believer's love for others, and encourages confidence in love as a reflection of God's character.

 

1. Testing the Spirits (1 John 4:1-6): John urges believers to test the spirits to discern whether they are from God. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing the Spirit of God, which acknowledges Jesus Christ coming in the flesh, and warns against false spirits.
2. God is Love (1 John 4:7-12): John emphasizes the fundamental nature of God as love. He encourages believers to love one another because love comes from God. The ultimate expression of God's love is seen in sending His Son as an atoning sacrifice for sin.
3. Mutual Love as a Sign of God's Presence (1 John 4:13-16): John emphasizes that the presence of the Holy Spirit in believers is a sign of God's abiding in them. This divine connection should result in mutual love among believers, as God is love.
4. Confidence in Love (1 John 4:17-21): John discusses the confidence believers can have on the day of judgment if they have lived in love. Perfect love casts out fear, and those who love God should also love their brothers and sisters. Believers are called to love, as God first loved them.

 

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