1 John 4
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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but a test the spirits, whether they are of God; because b many false prophets have gone out into the world.
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By this you know the Spirit of God: c Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
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and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
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You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than d he who is in the world.
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e They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and f the world hears them.
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We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. g By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
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h Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who i loves is born of God and knows God.
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He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
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j In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten k Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
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In this is love, l not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son m to be the propitiation for our sins.
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Beloved, n if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
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o No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
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p By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
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And q we have seen and testify that r the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
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s Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
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And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and t he who abides in love abides in God, and God u in him.
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Love has been perfected among us in this: that v we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
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There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.
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w We love Him because He first loved us.
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x If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God y whom he has not seen?
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And z this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 14:29
Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge.
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Cross References
Matthew 24:5
For many will come in My name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and will deceive many.
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Cross References
Romans 10:8 - 10
But what does it say? "The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart" (that is, the word of faith which we preach):
1 Corinthians 12:3
Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
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Cross References
John 14:30
I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me.
John 16:11
Of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
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Cross References
John 3:31
He who comes from above is above all; he who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.
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Cross References
John 15:19
If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
John 17:14
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
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Cross References
1 Corinthians 2:12 - 16
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
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Cross References
1 John 3:10
In this the children of God and the children of the devil are manifest: Whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is he who does not love his brother.
1 John 3:11
For this is the message that you heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
1 John 3:23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
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Cross References
1 Thessalonians 4:9
But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.
1 John 3:14
We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death.
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Cross References
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
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Cross References
Isaiah 9:6
For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:7
Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
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Cross References
Titus 3:5
Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.
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Cross References
1 John 2:2
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
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Cross References
Matthew 18:33
'Should you not also have had compassion on your fellow servant, just as I had pity on you?'
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Cross References
John 1:18
No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
1 Timothy 6:16
Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, whom no man has seen or can see, to whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.
1 John 4:20
If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
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Cross References
John 14:20
At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.
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Cross References
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
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Cross References
John 3:17
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 4:42
Then they said to the woman, "Now we believe, not because of what you said, for we ourselves have heard Him and we know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world.
1 John 2:2
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
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Cross References
Romans 10:9
That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
1 John 3:23
And this is His commandment: that we should believe on the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, as He gave us commandment.
1 John 4:2
By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.
1 John 5:1
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him.
1 John 5:5
Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
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Cross References
1 John 3:24
Now he who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And by this we know that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us.
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Cross References
John 14:23
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.
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Cross References
James 2:13
For judgment is without mercy to the one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
1 John 2:28
And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears, we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.
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Cross References
1 John 4:10
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
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Cross References
1 John 2:4
He who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
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Cross References
1 Peter 1:8
Whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.
1 John 4:12
No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
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Cross References
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
Matthew 5:43
"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.'
Matthew 5:44
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
Matthew 22:39
"And the second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.'
John 13:34
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
New King James Version (NKJV) Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.