1 John 4:1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirit whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
This is an unction of which there is great need in the present day, when so many accept anything that they hear from a «priest» or from a pastor without searching the Scriptures to see whether what they hear is in accordance with the inspired Word.
1 John 4:2. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
Some say that Jesus Christ was not God, others say that he was not man, while some talk as if everything about him was a mystery; but they who are truly sent by God declare plainly that Jesus Christ did literally come in the flesh, and such teachers are «of God.»
1 John 4:3. 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.
That was the form that antichrist took in John's day. It is constantly taking different forms, but it is always anti-Christ,-against Christ.
1 John 4:4. Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them:
If you have a childlike spirit, if God has made you teachable as little children, and his Spirit dwells within you, you will not be overcome by these false prophets, but you will overcome them.
1 John 4:4. Because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.
They may dupe the world, but they shall not dupe you. If it were possible,
they would deceive the very elect, but that is not possible.
1 John 4:5. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
They are the world's prophets, they preach the world's doctrines, they flatter the world, and the world likes that, so «the world heareth them.»
1 John 4:6. 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.
They who accept the apostolic teaching prove that they are «of God.» There are some nowadays who say, «We accept the teaching of the Gospels, but we will have nothing to do with the apostles and their Epistles;» thus they clearly show that they are not of God, for John says, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit «He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.»
1 John 4:7. Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
He who has the spirit of love within him «is born of God,» «for love is of God.» He who constantly seeks the good of others, he whose heart beats with love to those who are not within the narrow confines of his own ribs, he whose love goes forth to God and his people, and to the sons of men in general,-this is the man who «is born of God, and knoweth God.»
1 John 4:8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
He may be very orthodox, but if he does not love, he does not know God, and if he does not know God, what does he know? There is such a thing as holding the truth in bitterness, but those who know God, and are truly his children, hold the truth in love.
1 John 4:9. 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.
That was the highest possible proof of love that even God could give us.
1 John 4:10-11. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
As God «so loved us» when there was nothing lovable about us, and so loved us as to give his only-begotten Son to save us, «we ought also to love one another.»
1 John 4:12-14. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
John could testify as an eye-witness to the sufferings and death of Christ, for he stood at the foot of the cross, and saw the Saviour die, and he had aforetime laid his head upon his Master's breast. He knew that Christ was real flesh and blood, and he knew that Christ really died, so he could truly say, «We have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.»
1 John 4:15-16. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 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.
This is a deep Book. The words are very simple and plain,-mainly monosyllables, yet who among us can ever fathom the depth of this Epistle? May we fathom it so far as to plunge into its wondrous depths!
1 John 4:17-18. Wherein 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. 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. Questioning, mistrust, unbelief, doubt,-all these die when we come truly and heartily to love our Lord; and in proportion as our love to him burns like a flame of fire, it burns up all this wood, hay, and stubble of trembling, slavish fear.
1 John 4:19. We love him, because he first loved us.
We never should have loved him unless he had «first loved us.» His love to us begat our love to him.
1 John 4:20. If man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:-John is very emphatic in his condemnation of such a man as that.
Some of the most tender-hearted men in the world are the most blunt in their mode of speaking; and some of the most fawning flatterers are the most cruel in their hearts. We love John all the better because he writes so plainly, «If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:»
1 John 4:20. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
Why, sir, if you could see God, it is clear that you would not love him. If you talk about your love to him whom you have not seen, it is utterly false if you do not love men like yourself whom you have seen.
1 John 4:21. And this commandment have we from him,-
That is, from the Lord Jesus, who again and again gave this commandment to his disciples,-
1 John 4:21. That he who loveth God love his brother also.
O lovers of God, prove the reality of your affection for him by the genuineness of your love to your fellow-men!
This exposition consisted of readings from Acts 25:1. and Acts 26:1; and 1 John 4:1.