1 John Chapter 4
By: Rich Puckett
As with most of my studies, my comments are in red. The blue is from Matthew Henrys and Believers Study Bible commentary.
1 John 4: (v. 1-6) Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit.
(v. 7-21) Brotherly love enforced.
Believers cautioned against giving heed to every one that pretends to the Spirit
(1 John 4:1 KJV) Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
We must always be aware of the fact that many false teachers are among us. Some do it because they are ignorant of the truth, so do it knowing full well they are not telling the truth. The real question is though how do you try the spirits, how do you know who to listen to and who not to. First thing to do is pray, and compare them to the word of God, do they live what they teach. Do they use the word, or men's ideals? Is it in context and most of all does the spirit of God speak to your heart and you know it was meant for you. Just because someone speaks good or can write a book or is seen on tv don't follow them. Follow those that lead you by the word of God. Never follow anyone who can not show you why they believe a certain way and it be according to the bible.
2 Pet 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:
2 Pet 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
Anyone that comes saying they are the way, they know all the answers, trust me, beware of. If a person says the bible says something, ask them to show you, then study it out. You will often find that most of the stuff that sounds like junk is junk and what the person has done is take one verse and twisted it by taking it out of context. If some one says they have this or that gift, the proof is in the actions.
2 Pet 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
1 Cor 14:37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.
1 Cor 14:38 But if any man be ignorant, let him be ignorant.
Col 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Col 4:6 Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Mat 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
Mat 7:16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
Mat 24:11 And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
Mat 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Mat 24:13 But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mat 24:24 For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.
2 Pet 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Pet 2:2 And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of.
Prov 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Prov 16:25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
Gen 6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
Another crucial passage for our modern era, this verse emphasizes that believers are not to be naive about claims of spiritual authority, gullibly accepting all such claims. Instead, believers are cautioned to subject the spirits to testing to see whether or not they are of God. The presence of false prophets claiming the authority of the Holy Spirit only underscores the necessity of "testing the spirits." This "testing" is an evaluation of spiritual claims based upon the authority of the Scriptures.
1 John 4:1: Verses 1-6. Christians who are well acquainted with the Scriptures, may, in humble dependence on Divine teaching, discern those who set forth doctrines according to the apostles, and those who contradict them. The sum of revealed religion is in the doctrine concerning Christ, his person and office. The false teachers spake of the world according to its maxims and tastes, so as not to offend carnal men. The world approved them, they made rapid progress, and had many followers such as themselves; the world will love its own, and its own will love it. The true doctrine as to the Saviour's person, as leading men from the world to God, is a mark of the spirit of truth in opposition to the spirit of error. The more pure and holy any doctrine is, the more likely to be of God; nor can we by any other rules try the spirits whether they are of God or not. And what wonder is it, that people of a worldly spirit should cleave to those who are like themselves, and suit their schemes and discourses to their corrupt taste?
(1 John 4:2 KJV) Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
This does not mean because a person says with his mouth Jesus Christ is come in the flesh he is a man of God. What it does mean if a man confess or gives there heart to God. Who lives his words, shows his love.
James 2:19 Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
James 2:20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?
(1 John 4:3 KJV) And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.
The antichrist is any one that teaches contrary to the Word of God. For they work against him in stead of for him.
Mat 23:13 But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in.
Mark 9:40 For he that is not against us is on our part.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
1 Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
(1 John 4:4 KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
We must overcome sin, and we have the power, the tools and strength because God's spirit is with in us. You can not overcome sin with out being born of the spirit, because you are part of the sin, only the Holy Spirit in you keeps you clean.
Rom 6:4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
2 Cor 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:
2 Cor 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)
2 Cor 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.
1 John 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
2 John 1:6 And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it.
(vv. 4-6) The differences between the false teachers and the genuine believers exemplify the dichotomy between the forces of God and the forces of Satan ("the world").
(1 John 4:5 KJV) They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
(1 John 4:6 KJV) We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
Brotherly love enforced
(1 John 4:7 KJV) Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
(vv. 7-21) The noun and verb forms of "love" (agape, agapao, Gk.) occur a total of 27 times in these verses.
(vv. 7-12) Returning to the theme of mutual love ("love one another," vv. 7, 11, 12), John shows that love is grounded in God's nature. Those who have been "born of God" ought to emulate His character. God provides both the source (v. 9) and example (v. 11) of the believer's love. Moreover, love for others is an integral part of one's relationship with God (v. 12). While "no one has seen God" (cf. John 1:18), God's love is evident in the work of Christ (v. 9) and in the believer's love for others (v. 12).
1 John 4:7: Verses 7-13. The Spirit of God is the Spirit of love. He that does not love the image of God in his people, has no saving knowledge of God. For it is God's nature to be kind, and to give happiness. The law of God is love; and all would have been perfectly happy, had all obeyed it. The provision of the gospel, for the forgiveness of sin, and the salvation of sinners, consistently with God's glory and justice, shows that God is love. Mystery and darkness rest upon many things yet. God has so shown himself to be love, that we cannot come short of eternal happiness, unless through unbelief and impenitence, although strict justice would condemn us to hopeless misery, because we break our Creator's laws. None of our words or thoughts can do justice to the free, astonishing love of a holy God towards sinners, who could not profit or harm him, whom he might justly crush in a moment, and whose deserving of his vengeance was shown in the method by which they were saved, though he could by his almighty Word have created other worlds, with more perfect beings, if he had seen fit. Search we the whole universe for love in its most glorious displays? It is to be found in the person and the cross of Christ. Does love exist between God and sinners? Here was the origin, not that we loved God, but that he freely loved us. His love could not be designed to be fruitless upon us, and when its proper end and issue are gained and produced, it may be said to be perfected. So faith is perfected by its works. Thus it will appear that God dwells in us by his new-creating Spirit. A loving Christian is a perfect Christian; set him to any good duty, and he is perfect to it, he is expert at it. Love oils the wheels of his affections, and sets him on that which is helpful to his brethren. A man that goes about a business with ill will, always does it badly. That God dwells in us and we in him, were words too high for mortals to use, had not God put them before us. But how may it be known whether the testimony to this does proceed from the Holy Ghost? Those who are truly persuaded that they are the sons of God, cannot but call him Abba, Father. From love to him, they hate sin, and whatever disagrees with his will, and they have a sound and hearty desire to do his will. Such testimony is the testimony of the Holy Ghost.
(1 John 4:8 KJV) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Makes no difference how much you have or give, makes no difference what you have done in his name, or what church you belong to or the office you hold: Love is the Key to heaven.
(1 John 4:9 KJV) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
Begotten is to be born of the flesh.
(1 John 4:10 KJV) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
propitiation
\Pro*pi`ti*a"tion\, n. [L. propitiatio: cf. F. propitiation.] 1. The act of appeasing the wrath and conciliating the favor of an offended person; the act of making propitious.
2. (Theol.) That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor.
He [Jesus Christ] is the propitiation for our sins. --1 John ii. 2.
(1 John 4:11 KJV) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
(1 John 4:12 KJV) No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
(1 John 4:13 KJV) Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
(vv. 13-16) The author discusses three evidences of genuine Christianity: (1) having the presence of the Spirit (v. 13), (2) acknowledging Jesus as God's Son (vv. 14, 15), and (3) abiding in love (v. 16). Throughout this epistle, John offers assorted indications of authentic Christian experience which provide a basis for assurance. The presence of these signs testifies to one's true spiritual condition.
(1 John 4:14 KJV) And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
1 John 4:14: Verses 14-21. The Father sent the Son, he willed his coming into this world. The apostle attests this. And whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. This confession includes faith in the heart as the foundation; makes acknowledgment with the mouth to the glory of God and Christ, and profession in the life and conduct, against the flatteries and frowns of the world. There must be a day of universal judgment. Happy those who shall have holy boldness before the Judge at that day; knowing he is their Friend and Advocate! Happy those who have holy boldness in the prospect of that day, who look and wait for it, and for the Judge's appearance! True love to God assures believers of God's love to them. Love teaches us to suffer for him and with him; therefore we may trust that we shall also be glorified with him, 2 Timothy 2:12. We must distinguish between the fear of God and being afraid of him; the fear of God imports high regard and veneration for God. Obedience and good works, done from the principle of love, are not like the servile toil of one who unwillingly labours from dread of a master's anger. They are like that of a dutiful child, who does services to a beloved father, which benefit his brethren, and are done willingly. It is a sign that our love is far from perfect, when our doubts, fears, and apprehensions of God, are many. Let heaven and earth stand amazed at his love. He sent his word to invite sinners to partake of this great salvation. Let them take the comfort of the happy change wrought in them, while they give him the glory. The love of God in Christ, in the hearts of Christians from the Spirit of adoption, is the great proof of conversion. This must be tried by its effects on their temper, and their conduct to their brethren. If a man professes to love God, and yet indulges anger or revenge, or shows a selfish disposition, he gives his profession the lie. But if it is plain that our natural enmity is changed into affection and gratitude, let us bless the name of our God for this seal and earnest of eternal happiness. Then we differ from the false professors, who pretend to love God, whom they have not seen, yet hate their brethren, whom they have seen.
(1 John 4:15 KJV) Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
(1 John 4:16 KJV) And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(1 John 4:17 KJV) Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(vv. 17,18) In light of the mutual "abiding" of God and believers (v. 16), Christians have confidence as they anticipate the "day of judgment" (v. 17; cf. 2:28). God's love, which the believer experiences and expresses toward others, drives out fear of eschatological or future punishment.
(1 John 4:18 KJV) 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.
Rather your talking about the relationship between man and God or husband and wife or children and parents there should not be fear but a deep understanding of love. (caring) This is not talking about fear of Gods wrath that is a different kind of fearing. We know that God's word says to fear God and keep his commandments, and we should have fear for doing wrong. Perfect love is knowing even if you mess up, even if you are punished for some act, you will still be loved. If a husband and wife disagree, real love is the knowing that once they say what needs or maybe don't need to be said the end result is that they will say they are sorry for any harsh words and still love and care about each other. God knows you will make mistakes, he knows you may feel hurt when you don't get what you think he should of given you, all he wants is you love for him and he will love you in return, we show that love by saying I'm sorry and meaning it.
(1 John 4:19 KJV) We love him, because he first loved us.
Its easy to love when we know we are loved.
(1 John 4:20 KJV) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
This is the seventh erroneous statement which the author refutes directly (cf. 1:6, 8, 10; 2:4, 6, 9). These assertions probably reflect the convictions of the heretics who left the church (2:19).
(1 John 4:21 KJV) And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
This sums up very well what is required of each of us, to love one another.