1 John 4

1 John 4:1

Having written about pure love in chapter 3, verses 1Jn_3:1-9, and practical love in verses 1Jn_3:10-24, here in chapter 4, John will write of perfect love… Perfect, mature love requires discernment. Perfect love requires that we test the spirits in order that we don’t fall prey to those who would seek to lure us away from the simplicity of the gospel. How do we test the spirits? Read on.

1 John 4:2

If a teaching, suggestion, or thought is of the spirit of God, it will affirm both the deity and the humanity of Christ. The question in the early church never concerned the deity of Christ. The debate was over His humanity. Church councils would convene in the second century and argue vehemently over this issue because gnostic thought had penetrated the church. Two thousand years later, however, it is the deity of Christ that is continually called into question. John says the Spirit of God attests to both the humanity and deity of Christ. Such is the test by which we recognize Him.

1 John 4:4

The walls of the submarines that descend two miles into the Mariana Trench of the Pacific Ocean are constructed of thick steel plates to withstand the tremendous pressure placed upon them. But the pictures taken from such heavily protected submarines reveal fish swimming two miles below the surface of the water with scales no thicker than that of any other fish. How can this be? The answer is simple: The pressure on the inside of those fish is equal to the pressure of the water around them. That’s the beauty of Christianity. Some people erect massive walls to insulate themselves from the attacks of the Enemyonly to find themselves filled with the frustration of isolation. The key is not to put up massive walls to protect you from the Enemybut to realize the One inside you is greater than whatever pressure threatens to attack you. When we understand that He that is in us is greater than any temptation, problem, trauma, or difficulty that could come against us, we can move through life freely.

1 John 4:5

Inspired by the Spirit, John declares those who truly know God know the Word. Those who don’t know God don’t listen to the Word. In this simple section, John has told us all we need to know to identify the cultist. That is, if a person draws people closer to God, if he embraces both the deity and humanity of Jesus Christ, if he encourages folks to read the Scriptures, he is of the Spirit. On the other hand, if he diminishes either the deity or humanity of Christ, if he makes people feel distant from God, or if he makes light of the Word, he is in error.

1 John 4:7

As John puts the clutch in and changes gears a bit, he tells us that even though we are to test the spirits, we must not become cynical. Although we are to be able to identify heresy and pseudo-spirituality, we must also be those who love, for God is love. Earlier, John told us God is light (1Jn_1:5). Moses tells us He is a consuming fire (Deu_9:3). Taken together, these descriptions of God paint a powerful portraitfor fire can either be very lovely or it can be terrifying. It all depends on one’s relationship with the fire. Fire in the fireplace is light and love. But outside of the fireplace, raging through one’s house, fire is terrifying. So, too, he who embraces what God did for him on the Cross of Calvary will be one who basks in His love, one who glows in His light. On the other hand, he who doesn’t accept God’s free gift of salvation will feel the heat of His wrath because the sin of unbelief abides on him (Joh_3:36).

1 John 4:9

Scripture declares that no man seeks God (Rom_3:11). He seeks us. And He pulls us into His kingdom by the provision He made for us on Calvary. He does the whole thing. I don’t know what happens to us. Why is it that, when we get saved, we accept grace so easilybut then after we walk with the Lord for a season, we begin to think we can add to grace? “Even as you have received Christ, so walk ye in Him” Paul declares in Col_2:6. “Herein is love,” John says"not that we loved God, not that we had devotions, not that we were involved in missionsbut that God loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

1 John 4:11

If God so loved usand keeps on loving usthen we have no other recourse but to forgive people who have knowingly or unknowingly offended us. If you’re having a hard time forgiving someone, ask the Lord to give you a glimpse of your own sin, a peek at how much He has forgiven you.

1 John 4:12

How do you know if you’re really walking with the Lord and dwelling in the Lord? Because you have His Spirit. How do you know if you have His Spirit? The fruit of the Spirit being love, I know I am walking close to the Lord to the degree that I am loving people.

1 John 4:14

We must confess that Jesus came in the flesh to be the Savior of the world. And we must confess that He is the Son of God. These are the two components that will keep us free of heresy.

1 John 4:16

God is love. Therefore, if we are His, if we are abiding in Him, we will, like Him, love others.

1 John 4:18

Perfect love casts out fear. How so? If I understand that God really, truly loves me, I can have absolute confidence that whatever happens at any given moment is the best for me. Regardless of what the doctor may say, what the IRS may declare, or who wins the electionwhen you are sure of God’s love for you, you don’t have fear. The answer to anxiety and fear is not to face your fears or to figure out your phobias. The answer to fear is to become saturated in God’s love because His perfect love casts out fear. Grumpiness and cynicism, doubt and despair wash over me whenever I take my mind off God’s perfect loveso undeniably demonstrated at Calvary.

1 John 4:19

Forgiveness doesn’t have to do with feelings. Forgiveness is a decision we make. If we decide to forgive, feelings will follow in due season. Who can choose to forgive? Only one who’s living in love. Who is living in love? The one who realizes that, although he’s a sinner and a failure, because God has been so good to him, he has no reasonable option but to love his brother.