"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF JOHN"
Chapter Four
John cautions his readers not to believe everyone who claims to be led
by the Spirit, but to test them (1-6). He then exhorts them to manifest
brotherly love in keeping with the character and example of God’s love
as demonstrated in the sacrifice of His Son (7-21).
POINTS TO PONDER
* Distinguishing the spirit of truth from the spirit of error
* How God’s love should impact our love for one another
REVIEW QUESTIONS
1) What are the main points of this chapter?
- Test the spirits - 1Jn 4:1-6
- God is love - 1Jn 4:7-21
2) Why should one not believe every spirit? (1)
- Because there are many false prophets
3) If one is truly led by the Spirit of God, what will they confess? (2)
- That Jesus Christ has come in the flesh
4) What did John say about the coming of Antichrist? (3)
- It was already in the world at the time John was writing
5) What did John write about their ability to overcome? (4)
- He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world
6) How does one discern between the spirit of truth and the spirit of
error? (6)
- By whoever listens to the apostles (cf. 1Co 14:37; 1Th 2:13)
7) Why should we love one another? (7-8)
- Love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God
8) How was God’s love for us manifested? (9-10)
- By sending His Son into the world to be the propitiation for our
sins
9) How can we ensure that God will abide in us? (12-16)
- By loving one another
10) When we love one another as we should, what does it give us? (17-18)
- Boldness in the day of judgment; i.e., no fear
11) If we claim to love God, but hate our brother, what does that make
us? Why? (20)
- Liars; if we do not love someone we’ve seen, how can we love Him
we’ve not seen?
Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2015
