First John 4:1-6 explains the difference in “the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of truth” (John 16:13-15) and “Satan’s antichrist spirit, the spirit of error”, for the Holy Spirit’s witness is: Jesus was God in the flesh, but Satan’s antichrist spirit denies Jesus was God in the flesh; this then, is how we know which spirit is which, for those with antichrist spirits refuse to hear the Holy Spirit of truth speaking through us, but those who love the truth, joyfully accept the Holy Spirit’s truth.
1 John 4:1-6—1 Beloved do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. 4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them (the antichrists), because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 5 They are of the world. Therefore, they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
First John 4:7-16 explains how we “know and see God” by the love revealed in His word and revealed through His children, Christians, members of Christ’s body, the church, for God in His written word, commands Christians to love others as God, through Christ, by the Holy Spirit loves us, which is first a believing choice, plus a close, intimate, loving relationship with Christ.
1 John 4:7-16—7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (atonement, covering) for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us (1 John 2:5). 13 By this we know we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 Whoever confesses Jesus is the Son of God (1 John 5:1), God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
First John 4:17-21 is God’s love revealed by our words, actions, and by our faith working through love, to accomplish God’s will in those with whom we associate, for 1 Corinthians 13:8a says, “Love never fails…”, for God’s perfect love flowing through us, expels the satanic spirit of fear, and keeps us in Christ’s faith working through God’s love, to reach others for Him.
1 John 4:17-21—17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 We love Him because He first loved us. 20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? 21 And this commandment we have from Him: he who loves God must love his brother also.
Obviously, we are to love our brothers and our sisters, and when we mature enough in Christ Jesus to do this, then we are spiritually mature enough to also love and forgive others, because loving all God’s creation is a command from God, for He loves everyone and has already forgiven everyone’s sins, although only a few of God’s creation accept His love and forgiveness.
Psalm 103:1-5—1 Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities (sins), Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction (Psalm 107:20-21), Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
God “satisfies our mouth with good things” (Luke 11:9-13), so we tell others about His awesomely sweet love and forgiveness for all His creation, so tell people how good God is to us, so they will want to be His child, but also demonstrate by our love to others, God’s love for us.
Jim Nabors
