1 John 4:1. Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
It was so in John's day: it is so in these days. If there were only one false prophet, we should have need to be on our guard, but «many false prophets are gone out into the world.» If false prophets were all shut up in a cage, and we had to go to seek them, there might be some danger to be apprehended from them, but there is so much more danger now that we can truly read, «Many false prophets are gone out into the world.»
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:
Where the Godhead and the manhood of Christ are truly and properly confessed, so far, at any rate, the confession is 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.
So that there were deadly errors very early in the history of the Christian Church. The loving apostle John did not handle them with gloved hands, but he dealt with them honestly and sought to destroy them. We must not wonder if, in our days, the church has many heresies in it; but they are not to be tolerated, but to be cut up, root and branch.
1 John 4:4. 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.
The people of God are few, feeble, and weak; but there is a Spirit in them mightier than the spirit of the world; and, as the ultimate victory will depend upon the strength of the indwelling Spirit, the Church of God will yet overcome the world that lieth in the wicked one.
1 John 4:6. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
These false prophets teach doctrines that suit carnal men: «They are of the world, therefore speak they of the world.» They take their cue from «the spirit of the age.» They speak according to the fashion of the world, and therefore it is no wonder that 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.
Here is an inspired answer to those who say that they attach no importance to the apostles. They profess to be the followers of Christ, but they say that they do not agree with Paul and with John. Very well; John speaks in the name of all the apostles when he says, «He that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us.»
1 John 4:6. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
If you reject any part of the Word of God, the spirit of error is within you. Truth is one, and the revelation of God is one, let us not rend it, let us hold fast by it all, and so prove that the Spirit of truth is in 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.
The spirit of love, kindness, self-sacrifice, holy charity, this is of God. This is the distinguishing mark of the Christian dispensation, the distinguishing mark of the Christian, that he abounds in love, not in malice, anger, revenge, bitterness «Let us love one another: for love is of God.»
1 John 4:8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
I have known men, professing to be Christians, at enmity with their brothers. I have heard of a father and a son who have not spoken to one another for months. Did I hear of a mother and a daughter who would not speak to each other, and of sisters who had fallen out? This will not do; you must either give up your Christian profession or give up your hatred. The very attempt to combine enmity and Christianity is a sin against God: «He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.»
1 John 4:9-10. 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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Sometimes people say, «How can we love a person who is not lovable, one who will not love us in return?» Yet God did so, he loved us when we loved him not, he loved us when there was nothing lovable in us; and we ought to take God as our Pattern in all things.
1 John 4:11-12. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.
Though we cannot see God, yet if we love one another that is a proof that we have him dwelling within us.
1 John 4:13-16. 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. 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.
The two things go together, knowing and believing.
1 John 4:16-18. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him. 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.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth off fear: There is no slavish dread, no spirit of bondage; perfect love casts it all out. May we all have that love, and get rid of all fear!
1 John 4:18-20. Because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him because he first loved us. If a man says I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar:
That is very plain language. John does not mince matters; he is all love, but he is also all truth. Some people think that, if you love, you will never use strong language; but that is not the case. Sometimes, because a Surgeon loves the patient, he cuts the more deeply.
1 John 4:20-21. For he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen. And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
Now I do not know to whom this message may specially apply in all this great congregation; but there is the Word of God as plain as a pike-staff. If you do not live in love, you do not live in God; and if any of you are harbouring any animosities, ill-feelings, and unkindnesses, get rid of them, get rid of them at once. The sun has well nigh gone down; remember the apostle Paul's injunction, «Let not the sun go down upon your wrath, «but, as God has forgiven you, forgive all others for Christ's sake, and dwell in a loving-hearted Christ-like spirit toward all mankind.