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1 John 4:7-21
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1 John 4:1-6
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TEST THE SPIRITS
Passage:
1 John 4:1-6
Key verse: 4
NIV
On Denying the Incarnation
4 Dear friends,(A) do not believe every spirit,(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.(C) 2 This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh(D) is from God,(E) 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.(G)
4 You, dear children,(H) are from God and have overcome them,(I) because the one who is in you(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.(K) 5 They are from the world(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit[a] of truth(N) and the spirit of falsehood.(O)
Footnotes
- 1 John 4:6 Or spirit
Cross references
- 1 John 4:1 : S 1Co 10:14
- 1 John 4:1 : Jer 29:8; 1Co 12:10; 2Th 2:2
- 1 John 4:1 : S Mt 7:15; 1Jn 2:18
- 1 John 4:2 : S Jn 1:14; 1Jn 2:23
- 1 John 4:2 : 1Co 12:3
- 1 John 4:3 : 1Jn 2:22; 2Jn 7
- 1 John 4:3 : 1Jn 2:18
- 1 John 4:4 : S 1Jn 2:1
- 1 John 4:4 : S Jn 16:33
- 1 John 4:4 : Ro 8:31
- 1 John 4:4 : 2Ki 6:16; S Jn 12:31
- 1 John 4:5 : Jn 15:19; 17:14, 16
- 1 John 4:6 : Jn 8:47
- 1 John 4:6 : S Jn 14:17
- 1 John 4:6 : S Mk 13:5
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway
ESV
Test the Spirits
4 Beloved, (A)do not believe every spirit, but (B)test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for (C)many (D)false prophets (E)have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: (F)every spirit that confesses that (G)Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit (H)that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and (I)now is in the world already. 4 Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for (J)he who is in you is greater than (K)he who is in the world. 5 (L)They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and (M)the world listens to them. 6 We are from God. (N)Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know (O)the Spirit of truth and (P)the spirit of error.
Read full chapterCross references
- 1 John 4:1 : Jer. 29:8
- 1 John 4:1 : 1 Thess. 5:21; [1 Cor. 12:10; 14:29; Rev. 2:2]
- 1 John 4:1 : See ch. 2:18
- 1 John 4:1 : 2 Pet. 2:1
- 1 John 4:1 : 2 John 7
- 1 John 4:2 : [1 Cor. 12:3]
- 1 John 4:2 : 2 John 7
- 1 John 4:3 : ch. 2:22; 2 John 7
- 1 John 4:3 : ch. 2:18; [2 Thess. 2:3-7]
- 1 John 4:4 : See Rom. 8:31
- 1 John 4:4 : [1 Cor. 2:12]; See John 12:31
- 1 John 4:5 : John 3:31; 8:23
- 1 John 4:5 : John 15:19
- 1 John 4:6 : [John 8:47; 10:16; 18:37; 1 Cor. 14:37]
- 1 John 4:6 : John 14:17; 15:26; 16:13
- 1 John 4:6 : [1 Cor. 2:12; 1 Tim. 4:1]
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway
1. How to recognize the Spirit of God (1-3)
We are engaged in a spiritual conflict. We are not fighting people, but the devil. He is a liar and a deceiver, and he gives his lying spirit to false prophets. John gives us a sure test: the Spirit of God is in one who acknowledges that Jesus Christ came in the flesh. Jesus is the Christ; he is God; and he came in the flesh. He was tempted in every way as we are; he learned obedience from what he suffered. Those who ignore Jesus' example of prayer and his spiritual struggle, and refuse to apply God's word to themselves are antichrists.
2. The Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood (4-6)
Worldly people speak from the viewpoint of the world. They sound reasonable. They encourage us to seek small, selfish benefits. But they are full of a spirit of falsehood. Those who know God listen to God's word. They have the Spirit of truth.
Prayer: Lord, fill me with your Spirit. Help me to have spiritual discernment.
One Word: God's Spirit overcomes the world
