Search for commentaries – I John 4

Don’t believe everything you hear
John explains how you cannot rely upon everyone who claims to preach a message from God (v. 1). Just because a man says he is presenting the Word of God from the Bible is no reason to believe that what he is saying is necessarily true. Each thing that you hear needs to be tested. …

Sure tests for true teaching
The churches that John was writing to were having a problem with false teachers who were denying that Jesus of Nazareth was truly the Christ. John gives two sure tests for teacher evaluation:The Holy Spirit will bear witness if it is true. -"the one that is in you” …

Love is an action
Everyone believes that love is important, but love is usually thought of as a feeling. In reality, love is an action. God loved us enough to sacrifice His Son for us (v.7). His love involves an action, and our love should be like His. Much that is called “love” in moder …

The relationship of belief to love
There is the relationship of belief to love, described in this passage (vv. 13-16). The text begins with the words, “By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us” (v. 13). He is referring to himself and the rest of the apostles by the word we (vv. 13-14). “By …

Pretending is not a mark of maturity
Notice that John says it is love “perfected” which gives us confidence in the day of judgment (v. 17). The day of judgment is that time when all people will appear before Christ and be held accountable for their actions in this life. With God living in us through Christ …