Love and Discernment

The Blessings Ministry

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In 1 John chapter 4, the emphasizes is on the importance of love and discernment in the lives of believers. The chapter begins with a warning to test the spirits, as false prophets have gone out into the world. The chapter instructs the readers to discern the spirit of truth from the spirit of error by examining whether the spirits acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh.
The chapter emphasizes that believers are from God and encourages them to listen to the teachings of true apostles. Those who know God listen to the apostles, while those who do not listen to them are not of God. This is an important test of the genuineness of one's faith.
Love is a central theme in this chapter. The author highlights that love is from God because God is love. God's love was revealed to the world through His sending of His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. The author emphasizes that God's love is not simply a sentimental feeling but a sacrificial action.
The chapter goes on to say that since God has loved us in this way, we should love one another. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. First John Chapter 4 reminds us that no one has seen God, but if we love one another, God's love is made manifest in us.
The Scripture concludes by discussing the connection between love and fear. Perfect love casts out fear because fear involves punishment. The one who fears is not perfected in love. We are reassured that we can love because God first loved them. If someone claims to love God but hates their brother or sister, they are a liar. For those who love God must also love their fellow believers.
Overall, 1 John chapter 4 emphasizes the importance of discerning the spirits, loving one another, and living in the perfect love that comes from God. It teaches that love is not just a sentiment but a sacrificial action, and that loving others is a testament to our love for God.
1 John Chapter 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.
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.
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.
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
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.
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
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.
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.
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
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.
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
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.
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.
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.
19 We love him, because he first loved 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, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
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