The American Wisdom Series
Presents

1st. John chapter 4

Caution to students of God's Word - Please remember two things when using our American Wisdom Series studies:
#1. Our commentary is not God's Word. It is only our interpretation or understanding of "His Word" and even though we try our best to be accurate we may or may not be correct. #2. The King James translation, or any other translation, of the original Hebrew text has some words which were given different translations at different places probably because of the interpreters preconceived ideas of what they think God meant to say. For example: According to the notes in the "Dake's Annotated Reference Bible" the Hebrew word hayah in the KJV is Trans. (became) 67 times, (becamest or came to pass) 505 times, (become) 66 times, and (come to pass) 131 times, but for some reason in Genesis 1:2 it is translated (was)! That sure changes the way a person perceives the original creation of the earth, doesn't it?  Gen. 1:2 And the earth was (became) without form, ... Having said that, let us continue with our "studies". These studies contain knowledge, we believe, you must have to fully and accurately unlock and understand the Word of God. 
May the Holy Spirit be your only guiding light. Sincerely, John Rhine

Revelation 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

John 15:26
But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:13-14
[13] Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. [14] He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.

Now 1st. John chapter 4

Are you familiar with the prophecy Jesus Christ gave concerning the last days in which He said positively, without a doubt, that MANY would come in His name, saying that He is Jesus Christ, and they would deceive MANY? It was the very first thing Jesus told His disciples after they ask Him what signs they should look for just preceding His return. It was a strong Warning against deception!

Matthew 24:4
And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you.

[5] For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many.

So according to the Word of God, in the last days MANY shall come claiming to be Christ's representatives, His ministers and teachers and they will say, "Yep, Jesus Christ is the Messiah. He was that One who came in the flesh!" The problem is that Jesus Christ said these false teachers will deceive MANY (the majority of) Christians, except He doesn't really specify here how to determine whether or not you are one of the victims of their deceit! But, Not to worry! John is going to explain that to us in this 4th chapter of 1st John.

But first, stop and "Take Heed" for a moment and think logically about this deception! Do you believe Jesus Christ is telling the truth and that He is not a liar? If so, then you must stop and consider what He said about these last days regarding Christianity, i.e. that there would be MANY false Christian representatives deceiving MANY people. Soooo... WHERE ARE THEY? Do you know? What if you asked every Christian minister or preacher in this nation if he or she is a false prophet! How many will say, "Well, yes, I am a false prophet! Thanks for asking!" Come on, Christian. Get real!

It seems in this nation that anyone who wants to can turn his or her collar around backwards or any group can simply call themselves or their church system "Christian" and somehow that makes it so, i.e. JUST LIKE THAT people believe they ARE CHRISTIAN. Does a name or a label make it so? Simply because they come in Christ's name does that make them Christian and what they say the truth?

Though our people often mean well, they can be so gullible and "sottish" at times. For example, a group of ruthless international bankers can form a privately owned banking system and put our people in bondage to the tune of 21 trillion dollars while calling themselves the "Federal Reserve Banks". People then just automatically assume that because "Federal" is in their name, they are part of our Federal Government when in fact they are NOT!  Another group can call itself the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and many people will think they stand to preserve our American civil liberties, when in fact they are anti-American, anti-Christian, anti-civil liberties and their sole purpose as evidenced by their actions (the fruit they bear) is to tear down and destroy our American civil liberties. Arggghhh!

Notice a few verses later in Matthew 24 that Jesus makes these statements.

Matthew 24:11
And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many.
[12] And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
That's right! Many false prophets will be teaching a false Christianity, which is actually what you now see in "churchianity", which is denomination after denomination of man made religions, documented by the fact that they follow after the "traditions of men". Yet they ALL claim to be Christian. Notice Jesus also said in verse 12 that the love of many, the true brotherly love John and Christ told us to have, shall turn cold.

So here is the Big Question:

"How do you KNOW if a prophet, which means a teacher or minister, is or is not of God?"
Dear Christians, this pastor likes to teach and not preach, but the hour is late and you better know the answer to this question or you are in big, big trouble! Fortunately, because He loves us so much, our Father has given us His Word and the answers to all our questions are contained therein. In fact this 4th chapter of 1st John concerns those two statements we just read in Matthew 24:11-12. John is going to tell us how to discern between the True Prophets, those who teach the Truth, and the False Prophets, those who teach Error, and how to ensure we have that "love" which sets God's children apart from the world. In other words, John is going to show us how to discern between "the spirit of truth" and "the spirit of error" (see vs. 6).

We need therefore to pay very close attention!
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.
We read the words directly from Jesus Christ Himself in Mat. 24 that there are MANY false prophets gone out into the world to deceive MANY. Again, how do we tell who is a false teacher and who isn't? How do we tell whose spirit dwells in them, whether it is the Spirit of God, or the spirit of antichrist? It is real easy! John says DO NOT BELIEVE EVERY SPIRIT! That's right, John just admonished us not to believe every spirit, but to TRY THEM first! We are to TEST the spirits, ALL OF THEM! What exactly does that mean, to "try" them, to put their spirits to the test to DETERMINE whether or not they are of God?
The Greek word for "try" is "dokimaz" which means "to assay, to make trial of, put to the proof, examine, as metals by fire, etc., to prove, try". (This definition is taken from "A Critical Lexicon and Concordance", Kregel Publishers, by E. W. Bullinger.)
We are to use God's Word like the purifying fire it is to assay the spirits and doctrines of ALL men who profess to teach God's Word. There should be NO EXEMPTIONS from the fiery test, whether they are a pope, bishop, priest, minister, deacon, layperson, or teacher, including this teacher. Check them all out! If what they say aligns with the Word of God then it is "good as gold". If it is contrary to God's Word then consider it consumed and burned as a straw man and his words! Paul said in 1 Thes. 5:21, "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good." That means let go of that which is bad!

Note: Always be courteous and use good common sense and wisdom, but if you think it might be offensive to your minister to hold him or her accountable to God's Word for what he or she teaches, then consider this question: Is your minister or pastor above the stature of the apostle Paul, the man who wrote the majority of the New Testament? Did you know that the Bereans checked him out in the scriptures and he was not offended. It is written of them that they were more "noble" than those Christians in Thessalonica for doing their due diligence:

Acts 17:10
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

[11]These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

You see, that is HOW you know
whether or not a spirit is of God!

Many people have a problem with the next verse, 1 John 4:2. That is usually because they take it out of the context of the subject which is being discussed which is "trying the spirits".

1 John 4:2
Hereby...
Don't miss this word! It means "By this thing (which is the testing), i.e. "This is how" we know the Spirit of God, by knowing the Word of God. It is so simple.
[2] Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
Here is a really good and very basic example: If a spirit, be it man or angel, confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh then certainly that spirit passes the scripture test of John 3:16, doesn't it? That spirit has then been tried and found to be of God, i.e. it is scriptural. So that is a really good step in the right direction. But DO NOT forget to test everything else that spirit says the same way. Got it?  If you believe everything else someone says, just because he or she passes the first basic test, without "searching the scriptures daily" to see whether those other things they teach are so, then you are a fool indeed and you have not kept His commandments!

What if a spirit doesn't confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh? He FAILS the test! He will eventually make the grade by the time of judgment or he will be burned by the Consuming Fire: Hebrews 12:29 "For our God is a consuming fire."

[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.
Notice the second half of this verse that says "ye", those identified as the "little children" of God in the next verse (4), have heard that antichrist is coming and you know that the "spirit of antichrist", the "spirit of iniquity" as Paul calls it in 2 Thes., is already at work. So you better be doing some major testing of the spirits in these last days.

One of those spirits which has "deceived MANY" is called the any-moment rapture theory and millions of Christians, our brothers and sisters, accept it untried and untested! Why? Because their "Christian" church teaches it. First of all, church history will document that it originated as a "dream" by Margaret MacDonald in the year 1830 in Glasgow, Scotland, and eventually came to this country and is now taught by the MANY false prophets. The theory claims that Jesus Christ will return at any moment and "take up" His church in the "Rapture", leaving the rest behind to face an evil and wicked person called the antichrist.

Let's put that spirit to the test.

2 Thes. 2:1
Now we beseech you, brethren, by the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and by our gathering together unto him,
The subject is clearly defined as "the coming of our Lord" and "our gathering to Him".
[2] That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand.
Don't let any "spirit" or word or writing tell you that Christ's return can happen at any moment, i.e. that it is at hand. There is something that must first take place.
[3] Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;
Let NO MAN deceive you by any means! Put his words and his writings to the FIRE first! That Day, the day of Christ's return, SHALL NOT COME, before there is a great apostasy and that man of sin, the son of perdition, antichrist, who is Satan himself, is revealed, i.e. appears on earth in person claiming to be Jesus Christ (next verse).
[4] Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God.
The false messiah comes first and deceives the whole world into believing he is Christ, i.e. God.
[5] Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things?

[6] And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time.

You know from Rev. 12:7-9 who is holding Satan back, until he is given the command by God to step aside and let Satan go. It is Michael, the archangel, who has Satan restrained (Rev. 12:7-9). However, just as John said in vs. 4:3, the spirit of antichrist, the "mystery of iniquity", is already at work in the world, even though Satan is not yet here in person.
2 Thes. 2:7
For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.
The spirit of antichrist will continue until Michael steps aside and the Wicked one himself, Satan, is cast to this earth (Rev. 12:7-9)
[8] And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming:

[9] Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders,

The false messiah will put on quite a show and perform "supernatural" signs and wonders, like calling lightning down out of heaven. Rev. 13:13 "And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men." People will absolutely love this guy! It is also written in Daniel that he will enter in peaceably and prosperously and our people love prosperity, i.e. a great economy, don't they? Even a liar, a cheat, and a thief can be our leader when the economy is good! "It's the economy stupid!" We've proven that by the presidents we elect and then re-elect.
[10 ]And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.
They loved going to church! They loved seeing miracles and side shows! They loved seeing some "spirit" knock people down on stage! They loved the promises that Jesus was coming for them at any moment and they would be spared great tribulation! (I speak of the false "Rapture Theory", Don't they read all of their Bible?) They loved that "spirit" that moved among the crowd and caused everyone to raise their hands and wave their arms and shout "Hallelujah, Praise the Lord!" "Let's give a big hand to the Lord!", saith the false prophet! Clap, clap! But you see, the problem is they "received not the love of the truth" (vs. 10), which is the love of His Word, that they might do some testing of the spirits to see whether they be of God.

It is written, and we just read it in 2 Thes. 2:3, that there will be a great falling away, a great apostasy before Christ returns! Christians the world over will immediately believe that this supernatural archangel, Satan, the antichrist (which means "instead of Christ") is in fact Jesus Christ. Why? Because he will say he is! And he will back that up, i.e. document it, with "miracle" signs and wonders. But he will not be Jesus Christ, he will be a look alike, an imposter, for we just documented that the Wicked one is revealed first, i.e. he comes first at the sound of the 6th Trump. They listened to the traditions of men, as taught in most of their churches, and cared not to know the absolute truth. But, as John told us in John 17:17 "...Thy word is truth." (Not what your church may or may not say!)

Consequently, they will be deceived and believe the BIG LIE that Satan, the abomination, who will be sitting in the temple claiming to be God, is Jesus Christ!

[11]And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie:
They will be in big trouble because they believed not the truth, because they listen to other "spirits" without trying them first.
[12]That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
But you, God's elect, His dear little ones, do hunger and thirst after righteousness, His Word. And because you dwell in Him, He (His Spirit) dwells in you, leaving no room for the spirits of the Wicked one to enter in. You have overcome them because He that is in you has overcome them.
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.
Those little children who are of God are not even of this world for they are sanctified, i.e. set apart from the world, by His truth, which is the Word of God.

Here are words of Jesus Christ concerning His disciples as He prayed to the Father:
John 17:16
They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

[17] Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Those who do not have the truth but are Biblically illiterate, listen to other spirits. Therefore they are not of God but are of the world. God's elect do not hear them, i.e. pay heed to them, but the world sure listens to them.
1 John 4:5
They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.
Do you remember what John said the "things of the world" were back in chapter 2, verse 16?  1 John 2:16 "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world."

The world hears them that speak of the world. False prophets do this because they don't teach His Word line by line and chapter by chapter. They usually talk about life experiences and give their opinions and feelings about matters. Let's refresh our memories as to what the "things of the world" are that the spirit of antichrist uses to seduce and lull people to sleep and consider some examples!

(1) The Lust of the flesh: There are many spirits that get you all "pumped up" in the flesh. Some even work you to a frenzy and cause you to babble unintelligible syllables and then they call that confusion "speaking in tongues", a gift of the Holy Spirit. Really? John says don't believe ANY spirit until you have assayed it with the Word of God. Acts chapter 2 is a great place to start testing that spirit to see whether it is of the Spirit of God. Of course you will find there that the "tongue" spoken on Pentecost was clearly heard and understood by EVERY foreigner who was present, no matter what nationality he was or what language he spoke.

Acts 2:5
And there were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.

[6] Now when this was noised abroad, the multitude came together, and were confounded, because that every man heard them speak in his own language.

[11] ... Cretes and Arabians, we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.

Uh oh! Looks like we have a "spirit buster" here! When you speak about the wonderful works of God and people from different foreign nations who speak different foreign languages all hear what you say in their own native dialects, then that is evidence of the tongue spoken on Pentecost Day. Turkey gobbling just doesn't pass the test. NEXT!

Oh well, if your flesh still needs a "spiritual thrill" there are other spirits that get you laughing like crazy or just get you dancin' and hollerin' and a whoopin' it up in the aisles. Wheweee! Go spirits, go!

(2) Lust of the eyes: There are many spirits that promise you financial blessings and rewards just for sending your money, your seeds of faith, to them of course. Hey, the bigger the "faith seeds" the bigger the payoff, they say! (Actually if you have a mere touch of wisdom you can test some of the spirits with just a little common sense and burn them right then and there, or send them on their merry way!)

(3) The Pride of Life: Well aren't you special? You know, there are many spirits that say if a person isn't part of their group they aren't going to make it! Better try those spirits and see where their group is listed in the scriptures! Then there are the spirits that promise to fly you away just because you call yourself a Christian and have allowed some unlearned "man of the cloth" to twist the last few verses of 1st Thessalonians chapter 4!

I think we've made the point. I sure hope so. It is so sad to see our people misled by so many "spirits of error"! God's children believe only that which is written, that which is of God, that which has been tried and tested and confirmed by the Word of God. Those who truly know God will hear us when we say "check it out" for yourself in God's Word. Those who don't listen to us and do not go "search the scriptures daily" to see whether those things they hear are of God... well... John says they are not of God. For even though many do so in ignorance, nevertheless, they do follow the spirit of error!

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.
You now know how to discern between the "spirit of truth" and the "spirit of error". So how do our people get to know God? It is really simple. After they have received salvation they must "abide in His Word" and draw close to Him. Then He will draw close to them. You can test what was just said in James 4:8, "Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."

It seems so fitting to conclude this study with the words from the Introductory of E.W. Bullinger's great scholarly work titled "How to Enjoy the Bible", Kregel Publishers, pg. 6.

"When we come to ask ourselves, and say, "Where did I learn this?" "How did I get this?" "Who taught me this?" it is astonishing to find how much we have imbibed from man, and from tradition; and not directly and for ourselves, from the Word of God.

All that we have learned from our youth up must be tested and proved by the Word of God. Where we find it is true we must learn it all over again, from God. And where it will not stand the test of His Word we must be not only content, but thankful to give it up; and receive Divine revelation in the place of man's imagination."

"Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error." (1 Jn. 4:6)

Earlier we learned that "there are MANY false prophets that are gone out into the world" (vs. 4:1) who in turn bring forth MANY spirits in the name of Jesus, claiming that they are Christian. Some of those spirits sound real good and comforting to unsuspecting believers who could hardly imagine that such good men and women "of the cloth" would or could possibly be "false prophets".  The fact is that most ministers are themselves misguided and deceived because they have studied the "traditions of men" and the doctrines of their church as taught in man's seminaries instead of allowing the Holy Spirit to guide them as they "search the scriptures daily" to see if what is being taught is documented in God's Word.

 Therefore they are as the "blind leading the blind", both of whom shall fall into the ditch (Luke 6:39).

It is written that God is not a respecter of persons (Rom. 2:11, Eph. 6:9) and therefore neither should we be. He has clearly warned us through His beloved servant John that we are NOT to believe every spirit who claims to be of God (vs. 4:1), but to "try" them and put them to the test of scripture and determine from that "assaying" whether or not they are of God. THAT is how we discern the difference between the "spirit of truth" and the "spirit of error" (vs. 4:6). Period! Unfortunately in these last days the "spirit of error" which comes from the "prince and power of the air", which is the spirit of antichrist, is much more pervasive than God's Word which is rarely taught line by line and chapter by chapter, in most of our churches. And so it is that most of our brothers and sisters are sorely deceived and divided into many sects and denominations who often times bicker and act with intolerance towards one another! Does that fulfill the command of Jesus Christ to "love one another"? How should we view our brothers who disagree with our beliefs?

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.
Do you remember from the last chapter how it is that we are to love one another?
1 John 3:18
My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.
If you love your brothers in "deed" and in "truth" (His Word is truth which defines His love) then you have the love of God dwelling in you. And you should already understand from the foundation that has been laid so far in this epistle that John is not talking about the "love" many Christians think of which is just be "sweet as pie" and "nicey nice" to everyone. We have already discussed that sometimes true love requires correction and discipline and telling the TRUTH even when it isn't popular. Have you ever read how Jesus threw the money changers out of the temple with the cracking of a whip accompanied by righteous indignation? It was an act of love for they received the discipline they deserved.
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
If you do not have love for your fellow man including those who do not believe as you do, then you do not really KNOW the love of God! Stop and think for a moment. How did God show His love towards us?
[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.
The love God showed towards us was given unconditionally so that WHOSOEVER, regardless of his or her race, color, or creed, will BELIEVE in Jesus Christ might live (eternally) through Him.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Did God require that we do anything or love Him first?
 He did not!
1 John 4:10
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
Because He loved us sinners, whether or not we loved Him, God sent His Son to be the atonement for our sins, to be the Lamb slain who shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary to pay the price for our sins that we might be reconciled unto Him and receive the gift of eternal life.  And not for us only, but for the whole world, for WHOSOEVER will believe on Him. Remember we read that in 1 John 2:2? "And He is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world." Jesus was spat upon and beaten to pulp and willingly suffered a gruesome crucifixion because He so loved the world. You see, it is our loving Father's will, His desire, that "none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Pet. 3:9)".

A Christian must come to a full and mature understanding and KNOW that love He showed towards us through Jesus Christ before he can truly love his brother in deed and in truth. You see, our human love won't cut it. Only by having His love, His light, His truth, His Spirit, dwell in us can we show forth the love of God!

So what do we conclude from all this? 

It is real simple and John explains it:

[11]Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
If God was willing to make the supreme sacrifice of sending His Son to lay down His life for us sinners, can we not at least show Godly love and compassion for one another?  Is not He greater than our hearts (vs. 3:20)?
[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.
Look at it this way: If we have the love of God dwelling in us and we love one another in deed and in truth then we show His love to our brothers, even though they haven't seen God or come to know Him! Got it? None of us can actually see God with our flesh eyes but if we love one another, not only can we "see" and feel His love and know that His Spirit dwells in us, but His love, not ours, is fulfilled in us and shines through us.

This is extremely important in these last days because it is written that God's elect will be delivered up to antichrist when he comes. Remember John said back in chapter 2, vs. 18, antichrist SHALL COME! And just who do you think will be responsible for delivering up God's elect? 

Perhaps you better read it for yourself:

Luke 21:16
And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death.
Your brothers will believe that the one they deliver you up to, the antichrist, is in fact Jesus. Will you hate your brother for what he has done or will you be able to show him the love of God because you know the plan of God and the love of God. By knowing your brothers are deceived by the false messiah will you be able to say "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do?"

Again, it is the love of God, which comes from Him, that allows us to love our brothers, because our love is not perfect nor mature enough, but His love is!

1 John 4:13
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.

John said in the opening verse of this study, "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God (1 John 4:7)"  If we love one another in deed and in truth, as He loved us, then we KNOW we abide in Him and we KNOW that His Spirit which He has given unto us, dwells in us. And we KNOW that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world and we give witness and do testify in deed and in truth to that greatest act of love ever!

The apostle John, the disciple whom Jesus loved, had a very special gift of teaching, which was the ability to bring forth with clarity the simplicity which is in Christ. In fact, John wrote the most quoted verse in all of Christianity which explains the very foundation of salvation itself:

John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that He gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
At that greatest of all moments in a person's life when he (or she), one of those "whosoevers" in John 3:16, reaches out and accepts Jesus Christ as his personal Savior and confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, that person immediately receives the Holy Spirit, which means God now dwells in him. Many Christians like to use the phrase, "Jesus comes into your heart."
Here is John explaining it in his gifted way:
1 John 4:15
Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
Some churches teach that a person does not receive the Holy Spirit at this point. They claim that a person receives it sometime later on when he or she has learned to "speak in tongues" or "prophesy" or show some other sign as evidence that he or she has received the Holy Spirit.

 Do you remember what John told us at the beginning of this 4th chapter? "Believe not every spirit, but try the sprits." Well, the choice is yours! You can either believe that spirit or "try it" right here in 1 John 4:15. The fact is that the instant a person "confesses that Jesus Christ is the Son of God" he receives the Holy Spirit and "God now dwelleth in him." However, as a babe in Christ, he must now be led by that Holy Spirit and continue to dwell in Him, as have God's elect.
[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.
The "we" who have known and believed the love that God has to us, are the "little children", i.e. God's elect. Though we are still sinners and though we will continue to fall short at times, we continue to dwell in His love. You see, God is love! And to dwell in His love is to dwell in Him, to abide in Christ, who is the Word of God. In other words, we are led by His Spirit which dwells in us that we may show forth the love of God in "deed" and in "truth". Remember John told us that is the way the "little children" love one another: 1 John 3:18 "My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth."
1 John 4:17
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.
You see, dwelling in God, abiding in His love, is how our love grows and matures whereby we are filled with the love of God and can speak boldly and "have confidence at His coming". John told us all this back in chapter 2? You have received the anointing (of the Holy Spirit) which abides in you and which leads you in truth, increasing your love, and giving you that straight forward boldness and confidence.
1 John 2:27
But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

[28] And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.

Abiding in His Word is also how we try the spirits and discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Our Father in His love for us gave us the Living Word and the Written Word and the two are inseparable.  Again, to abide in God, to dwell in His love, is to abide in His Word which enables us to love one another in DEED and in TRUTH. As John said, we have known God's love and we believe His Word and we DO IT! That this is how we become mature Christians and filled with the love of God?
1 John 4:18
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.
You cannot have both the boldness and confidence and at the same time have "fear". The two do not go hand in hand. If you know the love of God and abide in His love, in His Word, then there is nothing to fear. He that fears and is tormented with anxieties, etc., is not mature in the Word of God, "is not made perfect (mature) in love". For instance, some Christians are fearful of antichrist and so they love to hear the Rapture theory espoused to them which promises to whisk them away and fly them to safety in the clouds so that their little old flesh won't be harmed. He that fears antichrist obviously does NOT know the plan of God nor the love of God nor the power of God!

You see, through His Spirit He has not only given us the Spirit of love, but he has given us "power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt us (Luke 10:19)." Here is Paul describing some of the characteristics of God's Spirit which He has given to us:

2 Tim. 1:7
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
We know His plan and we know the love He has for us and for the world and we know something else too! That something else is that we are His children. Do you know the protective, tender, caring love a parent has for his or her little child? Our Father has that love for His little children, even more so. Here's another recap of that which John has already told us:
1 John 3:1
Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
Have you any idea what it means to be an actual son of God?  Abide in His Word and you will learn and come to know "all things" which He has foretold you (Mk. 13:23). If you are led by that anointing then you are a son of the Living God! Wow! Think about that! Think about whose child you really are!
Romans 8:14
For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

You have received the spirit of sonship which is that bonding relationship a Father has with His son! Do you understand!
It is such a close personal relationship that we just want to reach out and hug Him and call Him Daddy, "Abba"! You see, your Dad, your heavenly Father who created your soul, loves you more than you can comprehend, just like a parent loves his child more than that child can understand until he or she matures. Yes, we cry, Abba, Father, for we know by the spirit that dwells within us that "We are the children of God."
[16]The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
Again, "What manner of love the Father has bestowed upon you (1 Jn. 3:1)?" You are His child and not only that, you are considered a firstborn (a firstfruit)! Did you know that the firstborn always received a double portion of his father's inheritance? Do you have any idea of the scope and magnitude of your inheritance as a child of God? Would you believe you are a joint heir with Jesus Christ, under whose feet God has put ALL things (Eph. 1:22)! You are rich indeed!
[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.
No wonder we love Him so much! Have you told Him that today?
1 John 4:19
We love Him, because He first loved us.
No, there is nothing to fear about God. And by knowing His plan and His love we thus have no fear of Satan or his doctrines or his evil spirits. The two spirits cannot dwell together for the spirit of God "casteth out fear"!

Live Link to->>> The Plan of God

John began this chapter by telling us to try the spirits to see if they are of God. He then explained what true love is and how God showed His love to us, and not just to us but to the world, and how we should likewise show our love to our brothers. We are not to be like Cain and harbor hate for our brothers. We are to be like Jesus Christ who laid down His life so that we, and whosoever will confess Jesus is the Christ, can have eternal life and be filled with His joy!  So in conclusion of this chapter, John gives us a simple way to test anyone who claims he or she loves God.

1 John 4:20
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.
God loves all our brothers and sisters, even those who do not believe as we do, right? He loved them enough to send His Son to die for their sins, just like He died for yours and mine! So let's be patient and longsuffering and abide in His Word whereby we know the plan of God and the love our Father has for all His children. If you love God, then love your brother also, in Deed and in Truth.

To study the Bible is the noblest of all pursuits; to understand it, the highest of all goals.
We pray that with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, you accomplish both.


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