Test the Spirits, for God Is Love confessing the incarnation · the love that is from God · perfect love casts out fear
Chapter 4 joins the doctrinal test and the love test. Do not believe every spirit; test them — the Spirit of God confesses Jesus Christ come in the flesh. And because God is love, shown supremely in sending his Son as the propitiation for our sins, those born of God love one another. Such love, perfected in us, gives confidence for the day of judgment and casts out fear.
Overview of 1 John 4
The chapter has three parts. 4:1–6 commands testing of the spirits by the confession of the incarnation and assures believers that greater is he who is in them. 4:7–12 declares that God is love and defines that love by the sending of the only Son and by propitiation — the ground and pattern of our love. 4:13–21 grounds assurance in the Spirit and the confession of the Son, shows perfect love casting out the fear of judgment, and insists that love for the unseen God is tested by love for the visible brother.
Passage Units
All 3 passages of 1 John 4 are available below.