1 John 4:1-6

Devotionals, Articles, and Bible Study Resources on 1 John 4:1-6

1Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
2By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
3and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
4You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
5They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
6We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
— 1 John 4:1-6

Related Resources from Heartlight

Testing for the Genuine Spirit of God
Illustration of 1 John 4:1-3 MESSAGE

Illustration of 1 John 4:1-3 MESSAGE -- My dear friends, don't believe everything you hear. Carefully weigh and examine what people tell you. Not everyone who talks about God comes from God. There are a lot of lying preachers loose in the world. Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ — the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person — comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!

We Are Not Fooled!
Illustration of 1 John 4:2-3 MESSAGE

Illustration of 1 John 4:2-3 MESSAGE -- Here's how you test for the genuine Spirit of God. Everyone who confesses openly his faith in Jesus Christ — the Son of God, who came as an actual flesh-and-blood person — comes from God and belongs to God. And everyone who refuses to confess faith in Jesus has nothing in common with God. This is the spirit of antichrist that you heard was coming. Well, here it is, sooner than we thought!

Test the Spirits
Illustration of 1 John 4:1 NLT

Illustration of 1 John 4:1 NLT -- Dear friends, do not believe everyone who claims to speak by the Spirit. You must test them to see if the spirit they have comes from God. For there are many false prophets in the world.

The One Who Is In You
Illustration of 1 John 4:4

Inspirational illustration of 1 John 4:4 -- You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

To Whom Are We Listening?
Illustration of 1 John 4:6 MESSAGE

Illustration of 1 John 4:6 MESSAGE -- But we come from God and belong to God. Anyone who knows God understands us and listens. The person who has nothing to do with God will, of course, not listen to us. This is another test for telling the Spirit of Truth from the spirit of deception.

You, dear children, are from God and...
Illustration of 1 John 4:4

Illustration of 1 John 4:4 -- You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

ONLY Christians Can Say, “Jesus...
Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:3 NASU & 1 John 4:3 GWT

Illustration of 1 Corinthians 12:3 NASU & 1 John 4:3 GWT -- No one can say, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ except by the Holy Spirit. But every person who doesn't declare that Jesus Christ has come as a human has a spirit that isn't from God.

Cross References for 1 John 4:1-6

Cross References Provided by Open Bible

The Berean Standard Bible

The Berean Standard Bible (BSB) is a modern, clear, and faithful translation based on the best available Greek and Hebrew manuscripts. Ideal for reading, study, and sharing, it entered the public domain in 2023. For more information, visit berean.bible.