Test the Spirits
John begins with a serious warning.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God…” — 1 John 4:1
Not every spiritual message comes from God. John explains why:
“…because many false prophets have gone out into the world.” — 1 John 4:1
He then gives an important test.
“Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.” — 1 John 4:2
Those who deny the true identity of Jesus reveal a different spirit.
“And every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.” — 1 John 4:3
John identifies this as:
“…the spirit of the Antichrist…” — 1 John 4:3
He then encourages us:
“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them…” — 1 John 4:4
Why?
“…because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4
False teachers belong to the world. Believers belong to God.
“He who knows God hears us…” — 1 John 4:6
Through this, truth is distinguished from error.
This reminds us that sincerity alone is not enough. Every teaching, preacher, and spiritual experience must be tested by God’s truth, especially by what it teaches about Jesus Christ. We can stand confidently because the Holy Spirit within us is greater than every opposing influence.
God Is Love
John now returns to one of his central themes.
“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God…” — 1 John 4:7
Those who truly know God will increasingly love others.
“…everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.” — 1 John 4:7
Then comes one of Scripture’s greatest declarations.
“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” — 1 John 4:8
John explains how God’s love was revealed.
“In this the love of God was manifested toward us…” — 1 John 4:9
How?
“…that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.” — 1 John 4:9
John defines love.
“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us…” — 1 John 4:10
God demonstrated His love by sending:
“…His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” — 1 John 4:10
Therefore:
“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” — 1 John 4:11
1 John 4 teaches that love begins with God, not with us. We love because He first loved us. The cross is the greatest definition of love ever given, and every believer is called to reflect that same sacrificial love toward others.
Perfect Love Casts Out Fear
John continues by explaining the relationship between God’s love and our assurance.
“No one has seen God at any time…” — 1 John 4:12
Yet when believers love one another:
“…God abides in us…” — 1 John 4:12
John reminds us:
“By this we know that we abide in Him… because He has given us of His Spirit.” — 1 John 4:13
The apostles testify:
“…the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.” — 1 John 4:14
Everyone who confesses Christ:
“Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him…” — 1 John 4:15
John then returns to God’s character.
“God is love…” — 1 John 4:16
Those who remain in God’s love remain in Him. This brings confidence.
“Love has been perfected among us in this…” — 1 John 4:17
Then comes one of the Bible’s most comforting promises.
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear…” — 1 John 4:18
John is speaking particularly about fear of God’s judgment. Believers need not dread condemnation because Christ has already borne it on their behalf. John concludes:
“We love Him because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
And warns:
“If someone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar…” — 1 John 4:20
The chapter closes:
“And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” — 1 John 4:21
This reminds us that God’s perfect love provides confidence rather than fear. Because Christ has fully dealt with our sin, we are free to approach God with assurance. The evidence that His love truly fills our hearts is seen in the way we love other people.
Deeper Waters
1 John 4 weaves together two essential themes that cannot be separated: truth and love. John teaches that genuine Christianity is recognised both by right belief about Jesus Christ and by Christlike love toward others. Throughout the chapter, doctrinal faithfulness and practical love stand together. One without the other is incomplete.
John begins with a command:
**”Do not believe every spirit.”**
Not every spiritual claim originates from God. Throughout history, false teachers have often used religious language while presenting distorted views of Christ. Therefore believers must:
**”test the spirits.”**
Discernment is not suspicion toward everyone but careful evaluation according to God’s revealed truth. John immediately provides the primary test.
**”Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God.”**
The issue is not merely acknowledging Jesus’ existence. John specifically affirms the incarnation. The eternal Son truly became man. This directly opposes early false teachings that denied either Christ’s true humanity or His full deity. Why is this so important? Because only the God-Man could perfectly represent humanity while offering an infinitely sufficient sacrifice for sin. To deny Christ’s incarnation is ultimately to deny the Gospel itself. John therefore says those who reject this truth reveal:
**”the spirit of the Antichrist.”**
The term describes every influence that opposes or substitutes itself for the true Christ. John then gives remarkable encouragement.
**”You have overcome them.”**
Believers need not fear false teaching because:
**”He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”**
The Holy Spirit dwelling within believers possesses infinitely greater power than Satan and every false spiritual influence. This verse is not primarily about personal success or earthly victory. Its context concerns spiritual discernment and perseverance in the truth. The Holy Spirit faithfully enables God’s people to remain established in Christ. John next turns once again to love.
**”Beloved, let us love one another.”**
Love is not merely one Christian virtue among many. It flows directly from God’s own character. John writes:
**”love is of God.”**
Those who have experienced the new birth increasingly display the family likeness through love. Then comes one of Scripture’s most profound declarations:
**”God is love.”**
This does not mean love itself becomes God. Nor does it suggest that every expression of human affection reflects God’s nature. Rather, love belongs eternally to God’s own character. Everything God does expresses His holy, righteous, and perfect love. John immediately explains how this love became visible.
**”God has sent His only begotten Son.”**
God’s love is not merely an abstract attribute. It is historically demonstrated in the incarnation and ultimately at the cross. John defines love with extraordinary clarity:
**”not that we loved God.”**
The initiative belongs entirely to Him. Humanity did not first seek God. God lovingly pursued sinners. He:
**”sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”**
Once again John uses the rich word propitiation. At the cross, Christ fully satisfied God’s righteous judgment against sin. Love and justice meet perfectly there. God’s holiness remains uncompromised. God’s mercy is fully expressed. Because God loved us first:
**”we also ought to love one another.”**
Christian love is never generated merely by human effort. It flows from hearts transformed by God’s prior love. John then addresses assurance. Although:
**”No one has seen God.”**
His invisible presence becomes visible through the transformed lives of His people. When believers genuinely love one another:
**”God abides in us.”**
The Holy Spirit continually assures believers of God’s indwelling presence. John writes:
**”He has given us of His Spirit.”**
The Spirit not only produces love but also continually points us toward Christ. The apostles testify:
**”the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.”**
This apostolic witness remains the foundation of Christian faith. Everyone who confesses:
**”Jesus is the Son of God.”**
demonstrates genuine faith. Correct doctrine and transformed living always belong together. John repeats:
**”God is love.”**
He then explains one of the most comforting results of abiding in God’s love.
**”There is no fear in love.”**
John is specifically speaking about fear of final judgment. Believers who rest in Christ no longer fear condemnation because their judgment has already fallen upon Jesus at the cross. The phrase:
**”perfect love casts out fear.”**
does not suggest believers never experience ordinary human fears such as illness, danger, or uncertainty. Rather, mature confidence in God’s redeeming love removes terror concerning eternal judgment. The believer approaches God not as a condemned criminal but as a dearly loved child. John then gives one of Scripture’s simplest explanations for Christian love:
**”We love Him because He first loved us.”**
God’s love always comes first. Our love is a grateful response rather than the cause of His acceptance. Finally, John exposes another false claim. Someone may say:
**”I love God.”**
Yet if that same person:
**”hates his brother.”**
John again declares:
**”he is a liar.”**
Love for God cannot be separated from love for people made in His image. The invisible love of God becomes visible through the practical love believers demonstrate toward one another. The chapter concludes with Christ’s command:
**”he who loves God must love his brother also.”**
Love is therefore not merely an emotion. It is the inevitable fruit of abiding in Christ. 1 John 4 encourages us to: ca.refully evaluate every teaching according to the truth about Jesus Christ, – trust the Holy Spirit’s power to preserve them in truth, – remember that genuine love originates with God, – continually reflect upon the cross as the supreme demonstration of love, – allow God’s love to overflow into practical care for others, – find assurance in the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, – confidently approach God without fear of condemnation, – reject hatred, bitterness, and unforgiveness, – continually grow in both doctrinal faithfulness and Christlike love, – and rejoice that God’s perfect love has secured their eternal salvation.
Ultimately, 1 John 4 points us to Jesus Christ, the eternal Son who truly came in the flesh, the propitiation who bore God’s righteous judgment for our sins, the Saviour of the world sent by the Father’s immeasurable love, and the One whose perfect love removes every fear of condemnation. As believers abide in Him through the Holy Spirit, they are enabled both to recognise the truth about Christ and to display the love of Christ. In this way, God’s invisible character becomes visible through His redeemed people until the day they stand confidently before Him in perfect love.