1 John 4

1 John 4 discusses the discernment of spirits, the primacy of love as evidence of knowing God, and the relationship between God's love and our love for others. The chapter emphasizes testing every spirit to see whether they are from God and explains how love is perfected among believers. It also speaks to the confidence one can have on the Day of Judgment through love in this life.

1 John 4:1 (NKJV)
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

This verse warns believers to be discerning and not blindly accept every spiritual teaching or claim. It urges testing the spirits to determine whether they are from God, as many false prophets have gone out into the world. This emphasizes that not all teachings or supernatural experiences come from God—some are deceptive and can lead people away from truth. The way to test these spirits is by comparing their message with the truth revealed in Scripture, especially regarding Jesus Christ. This verse highlights the need for spiritual discernment, a strong foundation in God’s Word, and reliance on the Holy Spirit to distinguish truth from error in a world filled with deception.

1 John 4:2–3 (KJV)
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist…

This passage provides a clear test for discerning truth from error: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God, while those who deny this are not, but reflect the spirit of antichrist. At the most basic level, this affirms the true incarnation of Christ—directly countering early errors such as Gnosticism, which denied that Jesus truly took upon Himself real human flesh; however, the apostle’s wording goes deeper than a mere historical statement, for the Greek phrase ἐληλυθότα (from ἔρχομαι, “to come”) is a perfect active participle describing an action completed in the past with continuing, present results, which is why the KJV renders it “is come” rather than simply “has come.” While many modern translations use “has come in the flesh,” this is not entirely incorrect, yet it can soften or obscure the ongoing force of the Greek tense, since “has come” often reads as something completed in the past, whereas “is come” more clearly preserves the sense of a present, abiding reality; therefore, the emphasis is not only that Christ came in the flesh, but that the reality and power of that coming abides and continues.

Thus, the confession is not merely intellectual acknowledgment of a past event, but a living recognition that Christ’s incarnation has ongoing significance—He remains the One who has come in the flesh, and whose life continues to operate in and through His people. This aligns with the broader New Testament testimony that Christ now dwells in believers:
Galatians 2:20 — “Christ lives in me”
Colossians 1:27 — “Christ in you, the hope of glory”
2 Corinthians 13:5 — “Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified (reprobate).”

In this light, the true confession of Christ includes not only His historical incarnation, but His present indwelling through the Spirit, by which His life is manifested in human flesh today.

✍️ Ellen White on “Christ come in the flesh”
Ellen G. White strongly affirmed this experiential dimension:
“When we confess that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, we are to confess that He has come in our flesh… We have laid aside our own sins and we are living to the glory of God.”
— Ms 15, 1894
This statement highlights that the confession is not merely doctrinal, but practical and transformative—Christ’s coming is realized in the believer’s life.

📚 Early Adventist Pioneer Insight
J. N. Loughborough also emphasized the significance of the wording:
“It does not say that Jesus Christ ‘did come in the flesh,’ but ‘is come in the flesh’; that is, that He comes, by His Spirit, and dwells in us… This… is the central truth of the gospel, ‘Christ in you, the hope of glory.’”
— The Great Second Advent Movement, pp. 302–303
He connects the grammar directly with the ongoing indwelling of Christ, not limiting the verse to past history.

🔥 Key Insight
The phrase “is come in the flesh” carries a twofold truth:
Historical reality — Christ truly took human nature
Present reality — Christ continues to dwell in believers by His Spirit
To confess this is to acknowledge not only that Christ once came, but that His life is actively present and effective now, enabling victory over sin and a life lived to God’s glory.

💡 Final Thought
This is why John makes it a test of truth:
A teaching may speak of Jesus historically, yet deny His present, transforming presence. But the true Spirit of God leads us to confess both:
👉 Christ came in the flesh
👉 And Christ lives in our flesh
Anything less falls short of the full gospel reality.

1 John 4:4-6(NKJV)
4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
5 They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them.
6 We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.

This passage contrasts believers, who are of God, with false teachers, who are of the world. In verse 4, John reassures believers that they have overcome deception, not by their own strength but because God’s Spirit dwells in them, and He is greater than the forces of the world. Verse 5 explains that false teachers speak according to the world’s desires, and the world readily accepts their message because it does not challenge sin or call for true repentance. In verse 6, John emphasizes that those who truly know God listen to His truth, while those who reject Him do not. This distinction reveals the spirit of truth versus the spirit of error, reminding believers to remain anchored in Christ, who dwells in them and enables them to discern truth from deception.

1 John 4:7-10 (NKJV)
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.
10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

John emphasizes that love comes from God, and those who truly know Him will express His love in their lives. Verse 7 calls believers to love one another because love originates from God, and those who love reflect their relationship with Him. Verse 8 warns that anyone who does not love does not truly know God, because God is love—His very nature is selfless, unconditional love. Verse 9 reveals how God demonstrated this love by sending His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him, showing that divine love is not just words but action. Finally, verse 10 defines true love—not that we first loved God, but that He loved us first and sent Jesus as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. This passage highlights that love is the defining characteristic of God’s people, and the greatest evidence of His love is seen in Christ’s sacrifice, which calls believers to reflect the same selfless love in their lives.

1 John 4:11-16 (NKJV)
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
12 No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.
13 By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

John connects the visible act of loving each other with the invisible reality of God's indwelling presence. Since God is unseen, His presence is confirmed and made perfect through the love believers demonstrate toward one another. This mutual indwelling of God and believers is assured by the Holy Spirit. Confession of Jesus as the Son of God solidifies this relationship, further intertwining divine love with our daily lives.

1 John 4:17-21 (NKJV)
17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been perfected in love.
19 We love Him because He first loved us.

This passage highlights the power of God’s perfect love in transforming believers and removing fear. Verse 17 explains that as we abide in God's love, we gain boldness in the day of judgment, because we reflect Christ’s character in this world. This confidence comes not from personal merit but from experiencing His love and living in His presence. Verse 18 teaches that perfect love casts out fear, meaning those who truly understand God’s love do not live in fear of punishment, because fear is tied to guilt and judgment. Instead, God’s love brings peace and assurance. Finally, verse 19 reminds us that we love because He first loved us, emphasizing that our ability to love comes from experiencing God's love first. This passage shows that God's love is not just about emotions but about confidence, transformation, and security in Him, leading us to love others selflessly.

1 John 4:20-21 (NKJV)
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

John emphasizes that true love for God is demonstrated by love for others. Verse 20 confronts hypocrisy, stating that if someone claims to love God but hates their brother, they are lying, because it is impossible to genuinely love God—whom we cannot see—while refusing to love people made in His image. Love for others is the visible proof of our love for God. Verse 21 reinforces this by reminding believers that loving one another is not optional but a command from God. True faith is not just about words or emotions; it is expressed through action, and those who claim to love God must also show love to others. This passage challenges believers to examine their hearts, ensuring that their love for God is reflected in their relationships with those around them.