Gospel Wednesday: 1 John Chapter 4

1 John Chapter 4

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. - 1 John 4:1-6 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John4:1-6&version=NKJV

Test all religious teachings by the Bible. If the Bible does not support it, don't believe it. People who deny Christ are antichrists. Jesus is greater than the world and we will overcome. 

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.In this 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 also ought to love one another.No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.Love has been perfected among us in this: 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 casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.We love Him because He first loved us.If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also. - 1 John 4:7-21 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1John4:7-21&version=NKJV

We should love the brethren as God has loved us. How can we say we love God if we hate someone? It's really hypocritical.

Author's Note: there were many antichrists in the 1st century as there are some today. Antichrist is not a future world dictator as the premillennialists believe.

And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their headsand saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit. - Matthew 27:39-40,46,50 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew27:39-40,46,50&version=NKJV


Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree” ), - Galatians 3:13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians3:13&version=NKJV


But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. - Ephesians 2:13 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Ephesians2:13&version=NKJV


and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. - Colossians 1:20 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians1:20&version=NKJV


But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Galatians6:14&version=NKJV



1. Hear

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. - Romans 10:17 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans10:17&version=NKJV


2. Believe

Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for if you do not believe that I am He, you will die in your sins.” - John 8:24 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John8:24&version=NKJV


3. Repent

I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish. - Luke 13:3 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke13:3&version=NKJV



4. Confess

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven.But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven. - Matthew 10:32-33 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew10:32-33&version=NKJV


5. Be baptized

He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. - Mark 16:16 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark16:16&version=NKJV


6. Remain faithful

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. - Revelation 2:10 http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Revelation2:10&version=NKJV


For more information on obeying the Gospel contact your local church of Christ