1 John 4
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
This is why you had better know how to judge in righteousness and test every spirit.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 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.
Reject Christ? You're an anti-christ and follow satan. It's that simple! I'm going to tell you like it is. If you're a believer in Buddha, Mohammad, money, etc., anything other than Christ Jesus, you're a follower of the anti-christ and God is NOT of you. People that follow these are just fighting Truth, thinking they are above The Truth.
4 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.
Those of us that accept Christ have so much more than those that refuse Him. They follow death, we follow life. IT'S A CHOICE!
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
They are all about the party. They find their pleasures in the things of the world. They look for things they will never find until they open their hearts.
6 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.
ONLY those that study Gods Word have the wisdom of Truth. The knowledge of what is RIGHT. The rest just love the world too much.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
How you love is how you show who you are. It's with confidence knowing God is with you, you give them His Word of correction when you see them falling. Being silent or conforming to their way of thinking isn't real love. Nor is it love for God. Silence for them that are in your path isn't Christ like = Christian. It's fear of what they will think about you. When you do that, it's about you, not them or God. It's selfishness!
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
To test the spirit is to give The Word and yourself. That is love! That is showing you have God in you and you're not afraid to show it.
9 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.
His cross gave us life, but His Words shows us how to live it.
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.
Do you know why God came in this flesh? Right there it is! He is our way out of death. He IS our ONLY Way to life everlasting. Being a "good person" isn't going to cut it.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
He gave Himself, so we should give of ours.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
No human has seen The God head, but we see Him through the actions of those that follow Him. They are called Christians.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
Upon repentance, He is with you. It's up to us to keep Him with us. Study and follow His path and He will.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
Are you a Christian? Then you scream this from the roof tops; figure of speech. We don't let anyone say there is another way. We follow Christ and let others know about Him. If we litterally screamed it from our roof tops, they would need to lock us up for looking crazier than they already think we are.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
If you're not willing to speak up, you're not a REAL Christian. You're just continuing as part of the world.
16 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.
What is dwelling in you? Do you hold to the world and its Government or God and His? The one you're waiting on for answers defines which one. Our Father sent His Son for us to have life and have it more abundantly. John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
17 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.
Well are you? Are you a bold Christian or a sugar coated swaying one of the world and then back to God when it's good for you. SALT? Do you love pleasing people or God? Do you stand for the things of God or the world? Many in my life say, "I'm too harsh" or I shouldn't say some things. They are not bold in the Love of the Lord, but are conforming to the things of the world.
18 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.
Our Father has given us assurances and those that follow Him have no fear in Him. We will be smiling when others fall into fear upon His arrival. He isn't mad at those that have been doing what He asked of us and accepted His Word of Truth as Truth. He's anger isn't with us! It's the worldly people. Those that rejected His love, His sacrifice. His Son! †
19 We love him, because he first loved us.
Why wouldn't you show love to someone that loves you? Why shouldn't we show it more to The One that created us ALL?
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, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
You see the thing a Christian does. How can you say you don't love them yet say you love God. God makes it happen!
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
If you love God, you had better show love to your brothers and sisters in Christ. Show love to everyone and spread Gods Word.