John has just told us in chapter 3:24 that we have the Holy Spirit within us as believers. What does he want us to realize concerning other spirits that may speak through people? vs.1
Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.
Why do we have to be careful about the spirit that may be speaking through a prophet or teacher? vs. 1
Many false prophets have gone out into the world.
How do we know that a spirit is from God and not from the evil one? vs. 2
Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God.
What does it mean that Jesus has come in the flesh? It would be good for you to review the Gospel of John again, John 1:1-4, and vs.14. This is what a person should believe about Jesus; that He was with God and He was God and then the Word became flesh, born of a virgin, born of the seed of God, without man. That is what it means.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Who is behind the spirit that does not confess Jesus is from God? vs.3
The spirit of the antichrist.
Is the antichrist spirit among us today? Can you give examples of movie stars and others who are anti-Christ? What cults are there that promote God but do not claim Jesus is God?
Being from God, we have already overcome the spirit of antichrist. Why is that? vs. 4
Because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
Those who are of the antichrist spirit are from the world. How do they speak and how does the world receive them? vs.5
They speak as from the world, and the world listens to them.
John and the other apostles are from God. Who listens to them and the words they speak in the writings we study in the Bible? vs.6
He who knows God listens to us.
How do we know the spirit of truth from the spirit of error? vs. 6
He who is not from God does not listen to us.
Where does love originate from? vs. 7
Love is from God.
If we truly love one another, what 2 things does this prove about us? vs. 7
Can we know God and not love? Why not? vs. 8
No, because God is love.
How did the love of God "manifest" itself to us? vs.9
God sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him.
How do we describe what love is? vs.10
He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
We should remember that propitiation does not mean that men must do something to appease God or to placate His anger. Propitiation is something God does to make it possible for men to be forgiven.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 4). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
Because God loved us in this way, we ought to love one another. (vs.11) Although no one has seen God at any time, how do we know the love of God is perfected in us? vs. 12
God abides in us.
How do we know that we abide in Him and He abides in us? vs. 13
Because He has given us of His Spirit.
The apostle John has "seen" the things he is telling us. He witnessed the death, burial, and resurrection, as well as the ascension of the Lord Jesus Christ. Being an eye witness, and an ear witness to all of His teachings, what does he testify to us? vs.14
The Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
What confession shows that God abides in us and we abide in God? vs.15
Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God.
Do you believe this is simply a statement of belief or a lifestyle of belief? Read 1 John 1:6 again to help you with the answer.
If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
Men cannot see God, but they can see us. If we abide in Christ, we will love one another, and our love for one another will reveal God’s love to a needy world. God’s love will be experienced in us and then will be expressed through us.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 4). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
What did John know and believe? vs. 16
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us.
What is the distinguishing mark of the Believer in the Lord? vs.16
God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
What will love that is perfected (complete, mature) give us on the day of judgment and why? vs.17
Love is perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment;
What does perfect love do and why? vs. 18
Perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.
Why are we able to love? vs.19
We love, because He first loved us.
If we do not love a person we can see with our eyes, can we love God whom we cannot see with our eyes? vs. 20
No, the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
What is the commandment we have from God? vs. 21
That the one who loves God should love his brother also.
With all the antichrist spirits in the world today, how are you going to know the "spirit of truth" and the "spirit of error"? What needs to be our distinguishing mark in the world?
Summarize your thoughts and post a prayer if you would like.
For the third time, we are considering the subject of love! This does not mean John has run out of ideas and has to repeat himself. It means that the Holy Spirit, who inspired John, presents the subject once more, from a deeper point of view.
First, love for the brethren has been shown as proof of fellowship with God (1 John 2:7–11); then it has been presented as proof of sonship (1 John 3:10–14). In the earlier passage, love for the brethren is a matter of light or darkness; in the second it is a matter of life or death.
But in 1 John 4:7–16, we get down to the very foundation of the matter. Here we discover why love is such an important part of the life that is real.
Love is a valid test of our fellowship and our sonship because “God is love.” Love is part of the very being and nature of God. If we are united to God through faith in Christ, we share His nature. And since His nature is love, love is the test of the reality of our spiritual life.
If we love God, we will love one another; and if we love one another, we will grow in our love for God. We cannot love our neighbor or our brother unless we love our Heavenly Father. We must first love God with all our hearts; then we can love our neighbor as ourselves.
Wiersbe, W. W. (1996, c1989). The Bible exposition commentary. "An exposition of the New Testament comprising the entire 'BE' series"--Jkt. (1 Jn 4). Wheaton, Ill.: Victor Books.
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