Bible Lesson: 1 John 4:1-6

Review: 1 John 3

God's Love and Our Identity

We are called children of God because of His incredible love (1 John 3:1).

This identity as God's children defines who we are and shapes how we should live.

The Call to Righteousness

As God's children, we are called to live righteously, reflecting Christ's righteousness (1 John 3:7).

This means actively avoiding sin and striving to obey God's commands (1 John 3:4-6).

Distinction Between Children of God and Children of the Devil**

Our actions reveal our true allegiance: practicing righteousness shows we belong to God, while persistent sin aligns with the devil (1 John 3:8-10).

This emphasizes that genuine faith must be evident in our behavior.

The Command to Love One Another**

Love is a defining mark of God's children and must be expressed not just in words but in actions and truth (1 John 3:18).

This love is sacrificial, modeled after Christ's love for us (1 John 3:16).

Assurance Through Obedience and Love**

Obeying God's commands and loving others gives us confidence in our relationship with Him (1 John 3:21-24).

The Holy Spirit dwelling in us confirms that we belong to God (1 John 3:24).

Thought-Provoking Questions

What does it mean to you to be a child of God? How might this change the way you act at school or with friends?

Why do you think living righteously matters? What’s one way you can avoid sin this week?

How can you show love to someone through your actions instead of just words? Think of a specific example.

How does following God's rules make you feel closer to Him?

How does the world around you make it hard to live a righteous life? What can you do to stay strong in your faith?

John says our actions show who we really follow—God or the devil. How can you make sure your choices reflect your faith, even when it’s tough?

Loving others can be hard, especially when they’re difficult. How can you grow in showing real, sacrificial love to those around you?

How does knowing you’re secure in Christ affect your everyday life—like your decisions, worries, or relationship with God?

This summary and these questions aim to help students grasp the core teachings of 1 John 3—our identity in Christ, the call to righteous living, the importance of love, and the assurance of salvation—while encouraging them to apply these truths to their own lives.

For Youth Bible Study (6th-12th Graders)

I. Introduction (5 minutes)

Engage the Students: Start with a relatable story: “Imagine you’re scrolling through social media and see a post claiming, ‘Scientists have discovered a new planet where humans can live!’ It sounds amazing, but is it true? How would you find out?” Have you heard or seen some crazy news or posts on the internet or in a magazine? (Pause for responses.) Explain: “We’d check reliable sources or evidence. In the same way, we need to be careful about what we believe spiritually—not everything that sounds spiritual is from God.”

Connect to Scripture: Introduce the passage: “Today, we’ll study 1 John 4:1-6, where John warns us about false teachings and shows us how to discern truth.”

Read 1 John 4:1-6 (ESV): “Beloved, 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. By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you heard was coming and now is in the world already. Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error.”

II. Understanding the Passage (10 minutes)

Context: John wrote this letter to believers facing false teachers who denied key truths about Jesus. This passage teaches us how to test teachings and trust in God’s truth.

Verse-by-Verse Explanation:

Verse 1: “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”

“Spirits” mean spiritual influences or teachings, not just ghosts. We’re commanded to test them.

Cross-Reference: Acts 17:11 (ESV) – “Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.”

The Bereans tested Paul’s teaching against Scripture—our model for discernment.

Verses 2-3: “By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.”

The test: Does the teaching affirm that Jesus, fully God, became fully human? This is the incarnation.

Cross-Reference: John 1:14 (ESV) – “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

Why it matters: Without the incarnation, Jesus couldn’t die for our sins or rise again.

Verse 4: “Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Assurance: The Holy Spirit in us is greater than the devil or false spirits.

Cross-Reference: 1 John 5:4-5 (ESV) – “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world except the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”

Our faith in Jesus gives us victory.

Verses 5-6: “They are from the world; therefore they speak from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God…”

False teachers speak worldly ideas and gain worldly approval. Believers follow God’s Word through the apostles (now in Scripture).

Key Point: Scripture is our ultimate authority for testing truth.

III. Reformed Baptist Commentary (5 minutes)

1689 London Baptist Confession, Chapter 1, Paragraph 6:

“The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith and life, is either expressly set down or necessarily contained in the Holy Scripture: unto which nothing at any time is to be added, whether by new revelation of the Spirit, or traditions of men.”

This underscores Scripture’s sufficiency—no new revelations or traditions can override it.

John Gill’s Exposition on 1 John 4:1: “By every spirit, he means… the doctrines of men, which are to be examined by the word of God, whether they are of God, or not.”

Gill, a Reformed Baptist, emphasizes testing teachings against Scripture alone.

Application:

As Reformed Baptists, we reject any teaching that contradicts or adds to or subtracts from the Bible, relying solely on its truth.

IV. Application and Discussion (5 minutes)

Thought-Provoking Questions:

For Homeschoolers: How can you test teachings in your daily Bible study? (e.g., Compare what you read or hear to Scripture.)

For Public Schoolers: How do you discern truth from falsehood at school or with friends? (e.g., Evaluate claims about God against the Bible.)

General: What modern false teachings should we watch out for? (e.g., “All religions are equal,” “Jesus was just a teacher.”)

Activity: "Spot the False Teaching" Read these statements and ask students to identify if they’re true or false based on 1 John 4:1-6:

“Jesus is just a good teacher, not God.” (False – denies His divinity.)

“All religions lead to God.” (False – Jesus is the only way.)

“The Bible is one of many holy books.” (False – it’s God’s unique Word.)

“Jesus Christ came in the flesh.” (True – affirms the incarnation.)

Discuss why each is true or false, encouraging students to explain.

V. Conclusion (3 minutes)

Summarize:

Test all teachings against Scripture.

The key test is confessing Jesus came in the flesh.

The Holy Spirit helps us overcome falsehood.

Challenge:

Know and stand on God’s Word in a world full of lies.

Prayer:

“Lord, thank You for Your Word and the Holy Spirit who guides us. Help us discern truth and hold fast to it. Amen.”

Sources

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV).1689 London Baptist Confession of Faith.John Gill’s Exposition of the Bible. Available online at conservative Reformed sites like biblestudytools.com.