1 John 4:1-7

Test the Spirits

1 Beloved, t do not believe every spirit, but u test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for v many w false prophets x have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: y every spirit that confesses that z Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit a that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and b now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for c he who is in you is greater than d he who is in the world. 5 e They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and f the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. g Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know h the Spirit of truth and i the spirit of error.

God Is Love

7 Beloved, j let us love one another, for love is from God, and k whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

  1. Cross References
    Jeremiah 29:8
    For thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are among you deceive you, and do not listen to the dreams that they dream.
  2. Cross References
    1 Thessalonians 5:21
    But test everything; hold fast what is good.
    1 Corinthians 12:10
    To another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another the ability to distinguish between spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
    1 Corinthians 14:29
    Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others weigh what is said.
    Revelation 2:2
    'I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance, and how you cannot bear with those who are evil, but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false.
  3. Cross References
    1 John 2:18
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
  4. Cross References
    2 Peter 2:1
    But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
  5. Cross References
    2 John 1:7
    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
  6. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 12:3
    Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.
  7. Cross References
    2 John 1:7
    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
  8. Cross References
    1 John 2:22
    Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son.
    2 John 1:7
    For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist.
  9. Cross References
    1 John 2:18
    Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour.
    2 Thessalonians 2:3 - 7
    Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come, unless the rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction.
  10. Cross References
    Romans 8:31
    What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
  11. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:12
    Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
    John 12:31
    Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
  12. Cross References
    John 3:31
    He who comes from above is above all. He who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks in an earthly way. He who comes from heaven is above all.
    John 8:23
    He said to them, "You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.
  13. Cross References
    John 15:19
    If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.
  14. Cross References
    John 8:47
    Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.
    John 10:16
    And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.
    John 18:37
    Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.
    1 Corinthians 14:37
    If anyone thinks that he is a prophet, or spiritual, he should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord.
  15. Cross References
    John 14:17
    Even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
    John 15:26
    But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.
    John 16:13
    When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
  16. Cross References
    1 Corinthians 2:12
    Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.
    1 Timothy 4:1
    Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons.
  17. Cross References
    1 John 3:11
    For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
  18. Cross References
    1 John 2:29
    If you know that he is righteous, you may be sure that everyone who practices righteousness has been born of him.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.