The Living Word

KING JAMES VERSION

"The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever."

— Isaiah 40:8

1 John 4

Listen to the Word

Initializing audio...

1

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

WhatsApp Copy

2

Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

WhatsApp Copy

3

And 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.

WhatsApp Copy

4

Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

WhatsApp Copy

5

They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

WhatsApp Copy

6

We 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.

WhatsApp Copy

7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

WhatsApp Copy

8

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

WhatsApp Copy

9

In 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.

WhatsApp Copy

10

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

WhatsApp Copy

11

Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

WhatsApp Copy

12

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

WhatsApp Copy

13

Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

WhatsApp Copy

14

And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

WhatsApp Copy

15

Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

WhatsApp Copy

16

And 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.

WhatsApp Copy

17

Herein 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.

WhatsApp Copy

18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

WhatsApp Copy

19

We love him, because he first loved us.

WhatsApp Copy

20

If 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?

WhatsApp Copy

21

And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

WhatsApp Copy

Previous Next

Chapter Study & Analysis

Overview

1 John 4 exhorts believers to "try the spirits" to see whether they are of God. It provides the definitive declaration that "God is love" and explains that perfect love casts out fear, because He first loved us.

CONTEMPORARY APPLICATIONS

1. Testing the Spirits: Every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God (v. 2-3). We must use Christology as the primary filter for all spiritual and theological claims.
2. The Source of Love: Love is of God, and every one that loveth is born of God (v. 7). We cannot truly love others unless we are connected to the Source of love Himself.
3. Fearless Assurance: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear (v. 18). Knowing that we are fully loved by God removes the dread of judgment and the anxiety of the future.

Practical Lessons

FORMAL PRAYER

O God, who art Love: grant that we may dwell in love and thereby dwell in Thee. Perfect Thy love within us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment and serve Thee without fear. Amen.

Copied to clipboard!