1 John 4 comments
March 22, 2026
God Is Greater
We have instructions on how to exercise discernment, and the truth that the Holy Spirit who lives in us is greater than the spirit that is in the world. Memorize 1 John 4:4. Also, this chapter teaches that the mark of a true Christian is love for brother and sisters in Christ.
How can a person believe a spirit if that spirit is unable to communicate? In a back handed way this verse is teaching us that evil spirits do communicate. How? How do evil spirits spread their lies? Through false prophets.
Do not believe every “spirit“, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God. Many false prophets have gone out into the world. Many. False. Prophets. Not a few. Many.
This warning about false prophets was taught by the Lord Jesus Christ and repeated by the apostles in their letters to the church. Let’s look at one example of where the Lord Jesus warned about this:
Matthew 7:15 (BSB), “Beware of false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.”
Matthew 24:11 (BSB), “...and many false prophets will arise and deceive many.“
Matthew 24:24 (BSB), “For false Christs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive even the elect, if that were possible.”
How do we recognize the Spirit of God? Everyone who confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.
To discern a false prophet you have to track down what they say about the Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes this can be subtle and not obvious what they think about Jesus. They can hide behind a lot of religious language and layers of religious systems and doctrines. Just take one look at the Catholic church and you can see how deceiving this false Christ can become.
One way I’ve been able to detect that people are teaching a false Jesus is by how they handle the doctrine of the trinity. When people deny the triune nature of God they are ultimately denying that God came in the flesh. They may not realize this and insist that they believe Jesus is God, but they have a different way of interpreting the nature of God.
They might have a type of “modalism”, which is actually just an offshoot of evolution. People who believe in this modalism theory think that God was the Father, became the Son, and is now the Holy Spirit. This sums up what a lot of Oneness Pentecostals (Jesus Only; also known as Apostolic) believe.
Logically if you deny the trinity you will end up twisting scriptures, and you will end up denying the perfect sacrifice of Jesus Christ. It is preaching “another“ Jesus, “another“ gospel, and “another“ spirit. (2 Corinthians 11:4, 13-14)
1 John 4:4 (BSB), “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.”
This is a good bible verse to memorize. I’ve quoted this verse many times to strengthen my faith, and to stand in the authority that God gives the believer in Jesus. This is a spiritual warfare bible verse. I saw a man quote this verse in the presence of a demonized person. The demonized person then ran away screaming when the man of God quoted this bible verse. God’s word is very powerful when it is quoted by a born again Christian.
People who are “in the world“ have their own language. It is the language of the devil. They speak from the world’s perspective, and those who belong to the world will listen to them. This is why the whole world will follow the Antichrist because he will be the ultimate embodiment of this spirit of the world system.
Born again Christians represent God. Those who belong to God will hear and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ. Whoever is not of God will not listen to the Holy Spirit, or the gospel, or the Bible. This is how we can discern the spirit of truth from the spirit of deception.
We are exhorted to love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. In today’s world, this word “love” has been taken out of the context of the Bible. Love and the commandments of God go hand in hand. You cannot just use the word “love” and think it is biblical, because it must be paired with truth and within the boundaries of knowledge and good judgment (Compare with Philippians chapter 1).
God is love. This love is pure, and holy, and dangerous. There is no compromise with sin in this love. It is a pure and holy love. God loves us so much that Jesus came into this world and became the atoning sacrifice for our sins upon Calvary.
Since God loved us so much we also ought to love one another. We love because he first loved us.
John’s testimony is that he knew Jesus personally. He knew the Lord Jesus who God sent to be the Savior of the world. He is not just the Savior of one group of people. Christ died on the cross for the sins of the whole world. Only those who believe and receive can benefit from this.
If a person confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, then God abides in him, and he in God.
The love of God drives out all fear out of our lives. Just as Paul said to Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear“ (2 Timothy 1:7). Perfect love casts out fear.
If someone says that they love God but hate their brother then they are a liar. They are deceived by a religious spirit. How can someone love God whom they cannot see if they don’t love their brother who they can see?
Whoever loves God must also love his brother. This is the commandment we received from the Lord Jesus. Love one another.
Love is expressed not just in words but also in practical ways by helping other people, especially those who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:9-20, “Let us not grow weary in well-doing, for in due time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10, Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to the family of faith.”