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Texts -- 1 John 4:1-20 (NET)

Context
Testing the Spirits
4:1 Dear friends , do not believe every spirit , but test the spirits to determine if they are from God , because many false prophets have gone out into the world . 4:2 By this you know the Spirit of God : Every spirit that confesses Jesus as the Christ who has come in the flesh is from God , 4:3 but every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God , and this is the spirit of the antichrist , which you have heard is coming , and now is already in the world . 4:4 You are from God , little children , and have conquered them , because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world . 4:5 They are from the world ; therefore they speak from the world’s perspective and the world listens to them . 4:6 We are from God ; the person who knows God listens to us , but whoever is not from God does not listen to us . By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deceit .
God is Love
4:7 Dear friends , let us love one another , because love is from God , and everyone who loves has been fathered by God and knows God . 4:8 The person who does not love does not know God , because God is love . 4:9 By this the love of God is revealed in us : that God has sent his one and only Son into the world so that we may live through him . 4:10 In this is love : not that we have loved God , but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins . 4:11 Dear friends , if God so loved us , then we also ought to love one another . 4:12 No one has seen God at any time . If we love one another , God resides in us , and his love is perfected in us . 4:13 By this we know that we reside in God and he in us : in that he has given us of his Spirit . 4:14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world . 4:15 If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God , God resides in him and he in God . 4:16 And we have come to know and to believe the love that God has in us . God is love , and the one who resides in love resides in God , and God resides in him . 4:17 By this love is perfected with us , so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment , because just as Jesus is , so also are we in this world . 4:18 There is no fear in love , but perfect love drives out fear , because fear has to do with punishment . The one who fears punishment has not been perfected in love . 4:19 We love because he loved us first . 4:20 If anyone says “I love God ” and yet hates his fellow Christian , he is a liar , because the one who does not love his fellow Christian whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen .

Pericope

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Arts

Hymns

(Note: In "active" or "on" condition, the hymns music will be played automatically when mouse hover on a hymns title)
  • 'Ku Heran, Jurus'lamatku [KJ.174a]
  • 'Ku Heran, Jurus'lamatku [KJ.174b]
  • Allah Adalah Kasih [KJ.434]
  • Andaikan Yesus, Kau Bukan Milikku [KJ.300]
  • Berlutut di PalunganMu [KJ.115]
  • Hai, Siarkan di Gunung [KJ.120]
  • Kusongsong Bagaimana [KJ.85]
  • Majulah, Majulah [KJ.253]
  • Mungkinkah Aku pun Serta [KJ.31a]
  • Mungkinkah Aku pun Serta [KJ.31b]
  • PadaMu, Tuhan dan Allahku [KJ.367]
  • Pujilah Tuhan, Muliakan Dia [KJ.315]
  • Tuhan Allah Hadir [KJ.17]
  • Yang Mahakasih [KJ.381]
  • [1Jo 4:2] Christians, Sing Out With Exultation
  • [1Jo 4:8] Amid The Splendors Of Thy State
  • [1Jo 4:8] God Is Love!
  • [1Jo 4:8] Holy Jesus! God Of Love!
  • [1Jo 4:8] Love Is The Theme
  • [1Jo 4:14] Dear Christian People All, Rejoice
  • [1Jo 4:14] Dear Christians, One And All, Rejoice
  • [1Jo 4:16] Come, Ye That Know And Fear The Lord
  • [1Jo 4:16] God Is Goodness, God Is Love
  • [1Jo 4:16] God Is Love
  • [1Jo 4:16] God Is Love, By Him Upholden
  • [1Jo 4:16] God Is Love; His Mercy Brightens
  • [1Jo 4:16] Love Came Down At Christmas
  • [1Jo 4:16] Love Divine, All Loves Excelling
  • [1Jo 4:16] O Love Divine And Golden
  • [1Jo 4:16] O Thou Who Gavest Power To Love
  • [1Jo 4:16] See, Sinners, In The Gospel Glass
  • [1Jo 4:16] Thou Lord, Art Love, And Everywhere
  • [1Jo 4:16] Through Love To Light
  • [1Jo 4:18] O Love That Casts Out Fear
  • [1Jo 4:18] Valley Of Blessing, The
  • [1Jo 4:19] Gone From My Heart
  • [1Jo 4:19] How Can I Help But Love Him?
  • [1Jo 4:19] I Love Him Because He First Loved Me
  • [1Jo 4:19] I Love Thee
  • [1Jo 4:19] I Sought The Lord
  • [1Jo 4:19] I Will Love Jesus
  • [1Jo 4:19] I Will Sing Of Jesus’ Love
  • [1Jo 4:19] My Jesus, I Love Thee
  • [1Jo 4:19] Never Will I Cease To Love Him
  • [1Jo 4:19] O How I Love Jesus
  • [1Jo 4:19] Savior, Teach Me Day By Day
  • [1Jo 4:19] When The Lord Of Love Was Here

Questions

Sermon Illustrations

Unclean Spirits; The Importance of Love; Why Did Jesus Die?; Three Groups; Why Did Jesus Die?; Propitiation; 1 John 4:10; Who Is Jesus Christ?; Salvation Is the Deliverance from Sin; He Must Punish Sin; 1 John 4:20; Rosemary’s Rag Doll; A Sacrificial Death; Exodus 7:8-10; Survival Kit; Satan’s Power is Permitted; Sheep and Goats; Marks of a False Prophet; Vicarious Death of Christ; Six Marks of a False Prophet; Spiritual Warfare

Resources/Books

Expository Notes on the Bible (Constable)

  • Let me share with you a couple of quotations that point out the importance of this book."Deuteronomy is one of the greatest books of the Old Testament. Its significance on the domestic and personal religion of all ages has no...
  • Because God had initiated love toward Israel by redeeming the nation (v. 6) the people were to respond appropriately by loving Him in return. This is the essence of God's grace. He initiates love, and the only reasonable resp...
  • First Samuel records David's preparation. Second Samuel records his service namely his reign. In our study of 1 Samuel I mentioned three aspects of his preparation: as shepherd, as courtier, and as "outlaw."In 2 Samuel we see...
  • The Lord, through His prophet, assured fearful Israel in this segment. Israel need not fear the nations (vv. 1-7) because Yahweh remained committed to His people and would use them to accomplish His purposes in the world (vv....
  • 7:1 We have already read of two dreams that Nebuchadnezzar had (2:1; 4:5). Now God gave one to Daniel. It too was a vision from God that came to Daniel as he slept."In referring to the experience as a dream' (sing.) Daniel wa...
  • 8:15-16 As in the previous vision (7:16), Daniel needed help understanding what he had seen. He saw someone who looked like a man standing before him. Evidently this was an angel. Daniel also heard a voice that he could under...
  • Jesus first laid down a principle (v. 1). Then He justified this principle theologically (v. 2). Finally He provided an illustration (vv. 3-5).7:1 Jesus taught His disciples not to be judgmental or censorious of one another i...
  • 1:28 The fact that Gabriel greeted Mary as he did and did not greet Zechariah the same way shows Mary's favored position. Gabriel's greeting was customary: Hail! or Greetings! (Gr. chaire). Mary was highly "favored"(Gr. kecha...
  • John's return to the Word in verse 14 from verse 1 introduces new revelation about Him. Though still part of the prologue, the present section focuses on the Incarnation of the Word.1:14 The Word, who existed equal with God b...
  • This pericope explains why Jesus must become greater. It also unites several themes that appear through chapter 3. John the Apostle or John the Baptist may be the speaker. This is not entirely clear.3:31-32 The incarnate Son ...
  • There are several connections between this section and the preceding ones that provide continuity. One is the continuation of water as a symbol (cf. 2:6; 3:5; 4:10-15). Another is the continuation of conversation in which Jes...
  • The response of the Samaritans to Jesus was considerably more positive than the response of the Jews had been (1:11; 2:23-25). This would prove true as Jesus' ministry continued to progress.4:39 Harvesting followed the arriva...
  • Jesus began His instructions with His disciples' most important responsibility.13:31-32 Judas' departure to meet with the chief priests signalled the beginning of the Son of Man's glorification, which John recorded Jesus as c...
  • At the end of His answer to Peter's question (13:36), Jesus moved the conversation back to the general theme of preparation for His departure (v. 4). He did the same thing after answering Philip's question (v. 8). Obedience t...
  • 16:25 "These things I have spoken unto you"(NASB) indicates another transition in the discourse (cf. 14:25; 16:1, 4, 33; 17:1). Jesus acknowledged that He had not been giving direct answers to His disciples' questions. He had...
  • 21:1 John recorded still another post-resurrection appearance of Jesus to His disciples. It undoubtedly occurred during the 32-day period between Thomas' confession (20:28) and Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:9). Exactly when is uni...
  • This is the first of two incidents taken from Paul's ministry in Ephesus that bracket Luke's description of his general ministry there.19:1-2 Two roads led into Ephesus from the east, and Paul travelled the northern, more dir...
  • Paul began by explaining the concept of justification.92"We now come to the unfolding of that word which Paul in Chapter One declares to be the very heart of the gospel . . ."933:21 The "righteousness of God"here refers to Go...
  • In the foregoing verses Paul spoke of God's plan for creation and the believer. In these verses he showed how central a place His children occupy in the plan He is bringing to completion in history.8:26 Hope helps us in our s...
  • "Nowhere else in Paul's writings do we find a more concise collection of ethical injunctions. In these five verses are thirteen exhortations ranging from love of Christians to hospitality for strangers. There are no finite ve...
  • The apostle began his discussion by clarifying the indicators that a person is under the control of the indwelling Spirit of God. With this approach, he set the Corinthians' former experience as idolaters in contrast to their...
  • 2:19 Because of this union Gentile believers are no longer strangers (foreigners) and aliens respecting Israel. They are fellow citizens with Jewish believers in the church, God's new household (1 Tim. 3:15). Christians are a...
  • 5:19 Quenching the Spirit is a figurative expression used to illustrate the possibility of hindering the Spirit's work in and through the believer. The image is that of water thrown on a fire. The proper response is to follow...
  • It is not surprising to find that James dealt with physical sickness in this epistle. He referred to the fact that departure from the will of God sets the Christian on a course that, unless corrected, will result in his or he...
  • To prepare his readers to meet the Lord soon Peter urged them to make the best use of their time now that they understood what he had written about suffering.4:7 Like the other apostles Peter believed the return of Jesus Chri...
  • This epistle does not contain the name of its writer, but from its very early history the church believed the Apostle John wrote it. Several ancient writers referred to this book as John's writing.1Though modern critics have ...
  • If I were to boil down the message of this epistle into one sentence it would be this. Fellowship with God is the essence of eternal life.Both the Gospel of John and the First Epistle of John deal with eternal life. John wrot...
  • I. Introduction: the purpose of the epistle 1:1-4II. Living in the light 1:5-2:29A. God as light 1:5-7B. Conditions for living in the light 1:8-2:291. Renouncing sin 1:8-2:22. Obeying God 2:3-113. Rejecting worldliness 2:12-1...
  • "The teaching of 1 John is concerned essentially with the conditions for true Christian discipleship. The two main divisions of the letter set out these conditions and exhort the readers to live in the light (1:5-2:29) as chi...
  • John continued a structural pattern that he established in the previous section (vv. 6-7) in which he used pairs of clauses to present a false assertion followed by his correction.1:8 This second claim (cf. v. 6) is more seri...
  • John reminded his readers of their spiritual blessings to motivate them to cultivate intimate fellowship with God."Because his readers are Christians and have in part experienced the power of their faith he moves them to nobl...
  • 2:18 John probably used a different Greek word translated "children"(paidia, also in v. 12) because it implies a child who learns. His readers needed to learn what he now revealed.In the drama of human history all of John's r...
  • 2:28 John introduced the new idea of the believer's meeting Jesus Christ at death or the Rapture to motivate his readers to continue to cultivate intimate fellowship with God. The prospect of this meeting remained the basis f...
  • "In the second division of this document (3:1-5:13) John concentrates on the developing spiritual life of his followers, rather than sustaining his attack on the heretics, some of whom have already seceded from his church (2:...
  • This section introduces John's recapitulation and expansion of his exposition of what is necessary for people to have fellowship with God. He changed his figure from God as light to God as the Father of the believer."John beg...
  • 3:19-20 "By this"refers to what John said in verses 17-18. Tangible demonstrations of love for the brethren show the believer's true character. They should be a comfort to us when we feel guilty that we have not met many need...
  • 3:23 Jesus taught the apostles to trust in Him and to love each other. This is the distillation of His teaching. Specifically He taught them to trust in the efficacy of His name when they prayed to His Father (John 14:12-15; ...
  • "The worldliness' in view here, as in 2:12-17, is primarily a wrong attitude: a determination to be anchored to a society which does not know God (cf. 3:1 . . .). But whereas in the earlier section John shows that worldly att...
  • 4:7 Love, as well as faith (i.e., acknowledging the true doctrine of Christ, vv. 1-6), is a product of God's Spirit. The believer (one "born of God") who also "knows"God (i.e., has intimate fellowship with Him) loves (cf. 2:3...
  • 4:11 That demonstration of love by God is our model for showing love to others. As God manifested love in (among) us then by sending Jesus Christ, so He manifests His love among us now as we love one another (vv. 12-13).4:12 ...
  • 4:17 Our love becomes complete in the sense that we can now have confidence as we anticipate our day of judgment (i.e., the evaluation of our works at Christ's judgment seat; 1 Cor. 3:12-15; 2 Cor. 5:10). The characteristic o...
  • 4:21 Furthermore, God commanded us to love both Himself and our brothers, not just Himself (2:3; 3:23-24; 5:3). Here is another false claim (cf. 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4, 6, 9, 22; 5:10)."Much verbal expression of devotion for the per...
  • Here John set out his fifth and final condition for living as children of God (cf. 2:18-29)."We canbelieve, and therefore we shouldmaintain the faith."162In the previous section (4:7-5:4) John wove together the themes of fait...
  • 5:14-15 Prayer is another expression of the believer's trust in Jesus Christ and confidence toward God (cf. 3:21)."Prayer is not a battle, but a response; its power consists in lifting our wills to God, not in trying to bring...
  • John wrote this epistle to urge his readers to continue to be obedient to God by responding positively to the truth of His revelation. He also wanted them to resist the inroads of false teachers who sought to distort this tru...
  • Next John moved on to his second purpose. He wrote to encourage his readers to resist the false teachers who were distorting the truth and deceiving some of the believers."The presbyter's attention now moves from the existenc...
  • Gaius' good example stands out more clearly beside Diotrephes' bad example. Diotrephes is a rare name and means "nourished by Zeus."13John brought Diotrephes into the picture to clarify the responsibility of Gaius and all oth...
  • 22:8 John resumed addressing the reader, which he had not done since 1:1, 4, and 9. He affirmed the angel's words that the prophecy was genuine. He himself had heard and had seen the things that he had recorded (cf. Dan. 8:15...

Expositions Of Holy Scripture (Maclaren)

  • Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings? 15. He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands ...
  • There are two ways of getting like Christ, spoken about in the context. One is the blessed way, that is more appropriate for the higher Heaven, the way of assimilation and transformation by beholding--If we see Him' we shall ...
  • Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.'--1 John 4:10.THIS is the second of a pair of twin verses which deal with substantially the same subject under...
  • "… As He is, so are we in this world.'--1 John 4:17.LARGE truths may be spoken in little words. Profundity is often supposed to be obscurity, but the deepest depth is clear. John, in his gospel and epistles, deals with t...
  • 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.' --1 John 4:18.JOHN has been speaking of boldness, and that naturally suggests its opposite-...
  • "We love Him, because He first loved us.'--1 John 4:19.Very simple words! but they go down into the depths of God, lifting burdens off the heart of humanity, turning duty into delight, and changing the aspect of all things. H...
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