In 1 John Chapter 4, John tells his readers that they should not believe every teacher that they hear. But, he said, trust those who believe in the incarnation of God in the form of Jesus Christ. The readers should not believe anyone who professes otherwise.
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Love Each Other
John reminded his readers in 1 John Chapter 4 that they are children of God, and they will prevail over the false prophets who are not of God, but belong to the world.
He then encouraged his readers to love each other because their love comes from God. He said that if a person loves, they belong to God. Love, after all, was the reason that God sent Jesus so He could atone for the sins of the world. If God loved humankind that way, then humankind should love each other.
God is Love
John also said that though no one has ever seen God, He will live in those who love each other and that this love is made perfect. So this way people live in God, and God lives in His people. God’s people know that Jesus came to redeem the world. God lives in whoever believes and professes this.
Love Rejects Fear
John also said in 1 John Chapter 4 that fear and love cannot exist together. Love rejects fear because fear causes pain and that prevents love from being perfected. He told his readers that he and they love God because God loved them first.
He went on to say that a man cannot say he hates his brother but loves God. John said that a man cannot hate his brother, who he sees every day, but love God, who he has never seen. He reminded his readers that the call to love one’s brother is also a commandment from God because if a person loves God, he must love his brother as well.
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1 John 4 (King James Version)
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.