1 John 4:4 - 11

So this morning we continue in at verse 4. For Context let’s read from verse 1 through 11.

James Version (NKJV)

Love for God and One Another

1 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. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, 3 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.4 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. 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. 6 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.

Knowing God Through Love(cf.  )

7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. 8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 9 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. 10 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. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another of the world, and the world hears them. 6 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.

of the world, and the world hejars them. 6 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.

So here John continues his thought from verse 3. The spirit (pneuma) of antichrist which is already in the world. We have talked a lot about the spiritual battle that we are in, like or or not!

Here in verse 4, the Greek really give amplification to what is being said.

4. You, of God are, little children.. a statement of fact.. and have overcome, conquered or prevailed. The word here is nikaō, where the brand name “nike” come from. Its is in the Perfect Active meaning our victory was completed in the past and the effects continue on into the future.

Overcome “them” - those of the antichrist spirit.

Now a familiar and important truth - because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Who is in us/you? The Holy Spirit. Is in you is meaning “continuously” in you.

He is greater than the spirit of antichrist in the world.

So this brings up an interesting question: Can a Born Again Believer be possessed by an unclean spirit or a demon?

Article

So two questions must be asked is the person really a believer and what is the difference between possession and oppression?

Discuss...

Verse 5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.

John here is contrasting where the non-believing world is from or of with us (4 You are of God,). Notice John’s next point, an earmark of who you are.

What someone talks about and who listens to them are key tests.

Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. Greek - They, of the the world are, therefore of the world “they have spoken and continue to speak” and the world hears them.

Think about it, what do you talk about? We generally talk about the things we care about most.

Verse 6 - John explains: 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.

He repeats we are of God for emphasis. Then he says, He who knows God hears us; knows is ginōskō to come to know or learn.

If we have come to know God over time, His word resonates with our spirit. Those who don’t know God don’t get it.

Resonance is a common vibration so it means two things move in unison so when something “resonates” with you, you understand, feel in common with or can sense it without explanation or problems.

John now changes the theme to Love.

Verse 7 & 8 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.

Let us “continue” to love one another, love is agape here. Notice the source of agapē is God. God’s love is proof of being born again and knowing Him.

Verse 9 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.

used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents)

used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God

Manifested - means to show or appeared

Only begotten is monogenēs .

single of its kind, only

used of only sons or daughters (viewed in relation to their parents)

used of Christ, denotes the only begotten son of God

“In order”, that we might live (be alive) through (because of) Him. He is the only way we can live eternally!!

Compare to

NKJV “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

NLT “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

CSB “For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.

Verse 10 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.

I love this verse - Its not that we loved God, but that He loved us.

propitiation is hilasmos, meaning appeasing or satisfaction

Verse 11 - Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Its like an equation, 2 + 2 = 4, God loves us we love one another.