1st epistle/letter of John Ch4
1Jn 4 -ASV
1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but prove the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
Reminding the audience/readers again and again, even right in this 4th chapter, that they are beloved of John and Christ/God. Nothing short of a loving relationship.
Reminding them that they are not to believe just everything, anyone coming to them.
Proving is required in every situation, according to the word of God. Not rules set out by somebody else. Not self-inflicted rules.
Liberals and Conservatives have no leg to stand on, for they apply their own rule from the most fundamental off-set. human reasoning is not Godly reasoning.
Some spirits are not of God. This means they do not represent God, or doing things primarily for the good and righteousness. They are of a different kind. An alien kind.
False prophets are of many. Power and miracles do not signify truth.
2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
This is "the rule". Use it and profit with it.
The loving God does not leave His beloved ones in the dark. The key to success is given, broadcasted, within reach. Seek and ye/you will find.
Jesus Christ is the anointed representation of God. Not just another name. Test the spirits/envoy with this acknowledgment. Is Jesus the Messiah God and appointed redeemer? Is He the saving one? Is Jesus the only God? The Way? Is Jesus what He said (recorded in scriptures) He is?
Did Jesus manifest Himself in the flesh, being physical, lived with mankind, while being God?
Has God most high come in the flesh?
This test is valid, tested right in this era/century/decade. It does work. Another proof of supernatural allegiance. Another proof of the faithfullness of God and His word.
God did not lie. The scripture did not lie; but has authority even over the spiritual realm.
3. and every spirit that confesseth not Jesus is not of God: and this is the spirit of the antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it cometh; and now it is in the world already.
Jesus means God saves. Je means God. Even His name say so.
To say He is not of God is denying His very essence and substance and representation. It is a blatten lie. The liar is the antichrist. he is not for Christ; therefore not for God. An alien entity. An opposing force.
You were told that the antichrist will come. Right now he is near you; in radio channels, TV channels, text books, newspapers, neighbourhood. The antichrist is not a futuristic reality. The New evil Age is at hand. The new heaven and earth, the new Jerusalem is yet to come.
The last hour is so short that things/events are happening right around us. Need no waiting.
Be of courage, for God has already won/overcome. He holds the key to eternity. He is worth all praises.
4. Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.
All christians are of God in unity. All christians are protected in love.
God is always greater. Darkness has never overcome/comprehend/overwhelm the Word.
5. They are of the world: therefore speak they as of the world, and the world heareth them.
Evil and antichrists are of the world. Very familiar with the surroundings. Natives. In native tongues. Worldly. Carnal. Perishing. Final end ascertained.
Like with like. Darkness mingle with darkness.
6. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he who is not of God heareth us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
We are of God; all who heed the Word and obey God. There is no two way. Like with like.
The evil ones will not listen to us. They are of their own father.
Christians are not out there to convert everyone. Christians are witnesses, exposing every deed. Judgmental. Straight forward. Honest. Open. Willing to give up their worldly life for the Truth that is not of the world.
This test is confirmed again to be faithful and true.
7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is begotten of God, and knoweth God.
Another reminder for loving one another. This is the christian emblem.
We are able to love as we are born again. Our original self could not love.
Those who are born of God know God, for they are in one accord/unity.
8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
Worldly people do not really love. They lust after worldly things, even that they are perishing.
Love does not perish.
9. Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
The act of sending His Son is Love.
Through Him believers live.
10. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
There is the loving relationship, justifying the propitiation of Christ.
Christ is not ashamed with His little ones.
11. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
Beloved! You are part of the fellowship.
The discussion is on the love of God for us. God can actually love.
The message is that we ought to do as God does. We ought to have unity with our brethren. Like with like. Not indiscriminate lust/getting together.
Love for love.
12. No man hath beheld God at any time: if we love one another, God abideth in us, and his love is perfected in us:
Nobody knows all of God. That is natural and reasonable; yet many ignore this fact, deduction, reality, reason.
We can have God even that we cannot yet see Him.
Seeing is not a pre-condition for loving others.
We love by principles. The world hates by principles.
The great God can be/remain in us.
Our love is part of His love.
13. hereby we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Who said 1John is void of the Spirit? Who said 1 John only talk of the Father and the Son/Jesus?
It is His Spirit. Not just another ministering spirit. he is with us. We have His Spirit. Very precious indeed.
His Spirit; not just any spirit.
We are in unity with His Spirit.
14. And we have beheld and bear witness that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
The Spirit testified to us that the Son is indeed the Saviour of the World/us.
The evil spirits lie about it. They lie that Jesus did not come in the flesh to save mankind. They lie that others came and are coming.
God revealed that no body else can save. There is no other redeemer.
15. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God.
Christian witness is not just silence in the dark. Christians confess and proclaim Jesus, the Son of God.
God gives christians strength to confess that. No bullet can stop that. No bomb can. No operation can. The operation of God is greater.
16. And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him.
We believe in the love of God He planted in us.
Be in the totality of God. Be in the totality of love.
God with men. And men with God.
17. Herein is love made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as he is, even so are we in this world.
Remember sufferings. Remember obedience. Remember grace.
Remember His promises.
18. There is no fear in love: but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath punishment; and he that feareth is not made perfect in love.
Love needs no fear. Love has sufficient to give. Love can not be completely consumed.
Fear consumes. Fear leaves nothing peacful/whole/complete.
19. We love, because he first loved us.
Christians love.
God is love. His initiation is also love. His last step is also love.
We were not all love. So our first step towards anything is not love.
Who can be against us if God is for us?
20. 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, cannot love God whom he hath not seen.
It is easy to be a liar. Lies are easy to spot. Judgment is no hard work.
21. And this commandment have we from him, that he who loveth God love his brother also.
Who wants to forsake his brother? Who wants to break from unity?
Be in true union with the Godhead.
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