1 John 4
Test the Spirits
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
God's Love and Ours
7Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son[b] into the world that we might live through him. 10This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for[c] our sins. 11Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13We know that we live in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. 15If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God. 16And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19We love because he first loved us. 20If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.
Footnotes:
a. 1 John 4:6 Or spirit
b. 1 John 4:9 Or his only begotten Son
c. 1 John 4:10 Or as the one who would turn aside his wrath, taking away
3 comments:
V5 - "they are from the world....and the world listems to them" - wow, that is so true. just watch our news and see what gets covered...what policies are being put in place by politicians and the type of talk you hear from celebs. it hurts.
I dig all of this love stuff. the more i read the Bible, the more it is clear to me how love and loving are the #1 thing we are to do. and how when we dont love, we dont love God.
Father, thank you for these men. Thank you for the people in my life. Help us to show love to our family and friends. But also help us to love today, right now, at work. Help us love those we come into contact with. too often my interactions with people at work fail you. God, push me to love others. Amen.
1 John 4
I agree timmcd, it is hard to even watch the news these days. I feel as though it is hard to get an unbiased opinion anywhere and that there is an underlying political agenda most of the time.
I agree about the love stuff also. I find that sometimes I get so intense about things wether it is family or work related that I forget to love. It is defintely a tough prospect to think of lovng others as Christ would.
Father, bless our week. Keep us strong and faithful and commit to you. Help love those around us as Christ would and renew our hearts.
In Christ,
cas
1 John 4
18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
I agree with you two about really loving, as it just feels right when we make the conscious effort to do it, but our society has made us to be so production-minded that we forget to do it-or don't make time to actively love those around us.
The above verse jumped out at me, cause I often live in a little bit of fear, paranoia, or whatever you want to call it, but I live on the border of being overwhelmed, and I constantly get a glimpse of having all of it cave in on me, the kids, grad school, the wife, the house, the car, money, finding a job when I'm done, God, and me. Sadly, it sometimes comes in that order. So it certainly feels like there's lots on my plate, and the fear of not getting enough done at work or at home is a constant. But I do realize (most of the time) that these things are blessings that God wants me to love and embrace, and I guess true love would be to embrace these things and not be scared.
Father, you have given us all so much. We are thankful. Open my eyes, ears and heart that I may hear your Word, and set my worrisome heart at ease. I trust You, Father, and I know that worrying is questioning Your ability. I'm not actively questioning Your ability, but simply not turning to You enough. Help me to pray to You without ceasing, and exhibit perfect love, and let the fear disappear.
In Jesus name,
Amen
crb
Post a Comment