1 John 4 Overview
John commands believers to test the spirits because many false prophets have gone into the world. The true confession centers on Jesus Christ come in the flesh. He then develops the theme that God is love: God loved first, sent His Son as propitiation, and His love should shape believers’ love for one another. Perfected love gives boldness and casts out tormenting fear.
Before you read 1 John 4
Coming from
John marvels at the Father’s love in calling believers His sons and says that seeing Christ will result in likeness to Him. He contrasts righteous living with the practice of sin, points to Christ as the One manifested to take away sins and destroy the devil’s works, and makes brotherly love concrete through Christ’s sacrifice and practical care for a needy brother.
In this chapter
John commands believers to test the spirits because many false prophets have gone into the world. The true confession centers on Jesus Christ come in the flesh. He then develops the theme that God is love: God loved first, sent His Son as propitiation, and His love should shape believers’ love for one another. Perfected love gives boldness and casts out tormenting fear.
Leads into
John closes by connecting faith in Jesus as the Christ with being born of God, love of God with love of His children, and faith with victory over the world. He presents the Spirit, water, and blood as witnesses, insists that God’s record is greater than man’s, and states his purpose plainly: believers may know that they have eternal life. He ends with confidence in prayer, concern for a sinning brother, and a warning against idols.
Key understandingExplore deeper
‘God is love’ describes God’s character; it does not mean every human idea labeled love is morally right.
Testing the spirits is doctrinal discernment, not suspicion of every spiritual experience merely because it is unusual.
Major truths in this chapterExplore deeper
Truth about Jesus must be tested
The incarnation is central to distinguishing the Spirit of God from error.
God is the source of Christian love
Believers love because He first loved them.
The Father sent the Son as Saviour
Love is defined by God’s saving action, not sentiment alone.
Mature love gives boldness
The believer need not live under tormenting fear of judgment.
Connections to the rest of ScriptureExplore deeper
John 1:14
The Word truly came in the flesh.
1 Timothy 3:16
God was manifest in the flesh.
Romans 5:8
God commends His love through Christ’s death for sinners.
What is clear, and where care is neededExplore deeper
Do not define love independently of God’s truth
The same chapter that says God is love commands doctrinal testing.
Do not turn ‘perfect love casteth out fear’ into denial of reverence for God
The fear in context has torment connected with judgment.
Do not make loving others the cause of being born of God
John describes family resemblance flowing from God’s prior love.
Read 1 John 4 watching for…
The command to test spirits.
The incarnation test.
God loving first.
Propitiation and Saviour language.
Fear, boldness, and perfected love.