Study From the Book of First John,5

Study From the Book of the first John,5

Today is the fifth part of this series, where we study chapter four and as usual, we pick up a couple of biblical principles and lessons that can be applied in biblical counselling.

In chapter four, the apostle John talks about discerning the spirits, testing who is from God and what is of Satan. Simple test: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. And in the contrary every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God.

He then talks again about love. Let us love one another, for love is of God and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. We see God through love.

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears have not been made perfect in love.

And this is commandment: we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Structure:

Verses 1-6: discerning the spirits

Verses 7- 11: knowing God through love

Verses 12-16: seeing God through love

Verses 17- 19: the consummation of love

Verse 20-21: obedience by faith

Principle 7: verse 4:1: “—beloved do not believe every spirits, but test the spirits , whether they are of God     ; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”

Lesson 7: Luke called the Berean Jews “fair-minded” because after Paul preached to them, “they searched the Scripture daily to find out whether these things were so.” Acts 17:11.We also are to “test all things, hold fast what is good.”Thess. 5:21.

Principle 8: verse 4:8  “—He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”

Lesson 8: to be conformed into the image of Christ -God’s ultimate goal for us- means to increasingly reflect His loving character in our behaviour and attitudes.21/2/2021