CHAPTER 4
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 will 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 have heard
is coming,
and
is
already
in
the
world
at this time.
You,
little children,
are
from
God
and
have overcome
them,
because
greater
is
He who is
in
you
than
he who is
in
the
world.
They
are
of
the
world.
That is why
they speak
from the
world’s
perspective,
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.
That is how
we know
the
Spirit
of truth
and
the
spirit
of deception.
Beloved,
let us love
one another,
because
love
comes
from
God.
Everyone
who
loves
has been born
of
God
and
knows
God.
This is how
God’s
love
was revealed
among
us:
God
sent
His
one and only
Son
into
the
world,
so that
we might live
through
Him.
And love
consists
in
this:
not
that
we
loved
God,
but
that
He
loved
us
and
sent
His
Son
as an atoning sacrifice
for
our
sins.
No one
has ever seen
God;
but if
we love
one another,
God
remains
in
us,
and
His
love
is
perfected
in
us.
And
we
have come to know
and
believe
the
love
that
God
has
for
us.
God
is
love;
whoever
abides
in
love
abides
in
God,
and
God
in
him.
In
this way,
love
has been perfected
among
us,
so that
we may have
confidence
on
the
day
of judgment;
for
in
this
world
we
are
just like
Him.
There is
no
fear
in
love,
but
perfect
love
drives
out
fear,
because
fear
involves
punishment.
The one who
fears
has not been perfected
in
love.
If
anyone
says,
“I love
God,”
but
hates
his
brother,
he is
a liar.
For
anyone who
does not love
his
brother,
whom
he has seen,
cannot
love
God,
whom
he has not seen.