John writes such loving words to us and yes, we are beloved by God. Faith is crucial and faith is precious to God. Enjoy this one, Beloved.
Please read 1 John 4:1-3
Testing the Spirits
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit [speaking through a self-proclaimed prophet]; instead test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets and teachers have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know and recognize the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges and confesses [the fact] that Jesus Christ has [actually] come in the flesh [as a man] is from God [God is its source]; 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus [acknowledging that He has come in the flesh, but would deny any of the Son’s true nature] is not of God; this is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and is now already in the world.
You can recognize and know the Spirit of God. And while those kinds of conversations don’t always happen, you can certainly know them by other things said or seen. Mostly you’ll see those who don’t believe before you see those that do. At least if you read or watch the news.
Please read 1 John 4:4
4 Little children (believers, dear ones), you are of God and you belong to Him and have [already] overcome them [the agents of the antichrist]; because He who is in you is greater than he (Satan) who is in the world [of sinful mankind].
This one is well worth memorizing. Even if doing it is easier skipping the bracketed text. Let’s work on it…
Believers, you are of God
and you belong to Him
You have overcome the agents of the antichrist
He who is in you is greater than
he who is in the world of sin.
You can also study it this way.
Please read 1 John 4:5
5 They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them.
The way you can understand who is not God’s. Unfortunately there are many. Memories of previous studies say there are so many who refuse to believe and therefore belong to God.
Please read 1 John 4:6
6 We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know [without any doubt] the spirit of truth [motivated by God] and the spirit of error [motivated by Satan].
Knowing God through personal experience is the most fun way to learn about Him. You can ask Him to surprise you and watch. You can ask Him anything. Wait, watch, listen and you’ll see and know Him and most likely know how perfectly He knows what you need.
Please read 1 John 4:7-9
God Is Love
7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] [a]love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. 8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.] 9 By this the love of God was displayed in us, in that God has sent His [One and] only begotten Son [the One who is truly unique, the only One of His kind] into the world so that we might live through Him.
We love because we know God. Love is the command. And Jesus being sent to us is proof God loves us. Not the only proof, but proof nonetheless.
Please read 1 John 4:10-14
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath]. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. But if we love one another [with unselfish concern], God abides in us, and His love [the love that is His essence abides in us and] is completed and perfected in us. 13 By this we know [with confident assurance] that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given to us His [Holy] Spirit. 14 We [who were with Him in person] have seen and testify [as eye-witnesses] that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
The other proof, Jesus came to save us by satisfying God’s with against sin, and freeing us from sin and God’s wrath. Yes, He died for you. Yes, He rose for you. Love one another.
Please read 1 John 4:15-17
15 Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him. 17 In this [union and fellowship with Him], love is completed and perfected with us, so that we may have confidence in the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him]; because as He is, so are we in this world.
Ooh, you should memorize verse 15 too. All of it, because that one is used partially many places. You too can know and believe the love God has for you. And abide in it too. What a gift, this union and fellowship, by abiding in His love, makes our love complete and perfected. Thus freeing us from fear in the day of judgement and giving us confidence, assurance and boldness to face Him.
Please read 1 John 4:18-21
18 There is no fear in love [dread does not exist]. But perfect (complete, full-grown) love drives out fear, because fear involves [the expectation of divine] punishment, so the one who is afraid [of God’s judgment] is not perfected in love [has not grown into a sufficient understanding of God’s love]. 19 We love, because [b]He first loved us. 20 If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. 21 And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.
Perfect love drives out fear of judgment. Perfect love loves other believers too. Love God Love People.
Footnotes
[a] 1 John 4:7 –7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] [a]love and seek the best for one another,- See note 2:10.
1 John 2:10 -The one who [b]loves and unselfishly seeks the best for his [believing] brother lives in the Light- The key to understanding this and other statements about love is to know that this love (the Greek word agape) is not so much a matter of emotion as it is of doing things for the benefit of another person, that is, having an unselfish concern for another and a willingness to seek the best for another.
[b] 1 John 4:19 –19 We love, because [b]He first loved us.- Because God bestowed on humanity a free will, man is not forced to love Him, but rather consciously and freely chooses the response he makes to God’s love.
Menu for this study.
Believe it beloved.
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