1 John 4

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. 8 l Anyone who does not love does not know God, because m God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that n God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, o not that we have loved God n but that he loved us and sent his Son to be p the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 q No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and r his love is perfected in us.

13 s By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And t we have seen and testify that u the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of v the world. 15 w Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 So x we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. y God is love, and z whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. 17 By this a is love perfected with us, so that b we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because c as he is so also are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love, but d perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not a been perfected in love. 19 e We love because he first loved us. 20 f If anyone says, "I love God," and g hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot 1 love God h whom he has not seen. 21 And i this commandment we have from him: j whoever loves God must also love his brother.

  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.
  19. Cross References
    1 John 3:10
    By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
  20. Cross References
    1 John 4:16
    So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.
    2 Corinthians 13:11
    Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.
    1 John 1:5
    This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
    John 4:24
    God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.
  21. Cross References
    John 3:16
    For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
  22. Cross References
    Romans 5:8
    But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
    Romans 5:10
    For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
  23. Cross References
    1 John 4:9
    In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him.
  24. Cross References
    1 John 2:2
    He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
  25. Cross References
    1 John 4:20
    If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen.
    John 1:18
    No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
    1 Timothy 6:16
    Who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
  26. Cross References
    1 John 2:5
    But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
  27. Cross References
    1 John 3:24
    Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
  28. Cross References
    1 John 1:1 - 2
    That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we looked upon and have touched with our hands, concerning the word of life -
  29. Cross References
    John 3:17
    For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.
  30. Cross References
    1 John 2:2
    He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
  31. Cross References
    1 John 5:5
    Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
    Romans 10:9
    Because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
    Matthew 14:33
    And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, "Truly you are the Son of God.
  32. Cross References
    John 6:69
    And we have believed, and have come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.
  33. Cross References
    1 John 4:8
    Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
  34. Cross References
    1 John 4:12
    No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
    1 John 3:24
    Whoever keeps his commandments abides in God, and God in him. And by this we know that he abides in us, by the Spirit whom he has given us.
  35. Cross References
    1 John 2:5
    But whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected. By this we may know that we are in him:
  36. Cross References
    1 John 2:28
    And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming.
    1 John 3:21
    Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God.
  37. Cross References
    1 John 3:1
    See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.
  38. Cross References
    John 3:18
    Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
    Romans 8:15
    For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!
  39. Cross References
    1 John 4:17
    By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world.
  40. Cross References
    1 John 4:10
    In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
  41. Cross References
    1 John 2:4
    Whoever says "I know him" but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
    1 John 3:17
    But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?
  42. Cross References
    1 John 2:9
    Whoever says he is in the light and hates his brother is still in darkness.
    1 John 2:11
    But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks in the darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
  43. Cross References
    1 John 4:12
    No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us.
    1 Peter 1:8
    Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.
  44. Cross References
    Galatians 6:2
    Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
  45. Cross References
    1 John 4:7
    Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.
    1 John 3:11
    For this is the message that you have heard from the beginning, that we should love one another.
English Standard Version (ESV) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers.
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