Testing the Spirits

1Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits if they are of God: for many false prophets have come out into the world. 2In this ye know the spirit of God: Every spirit which acknowledges Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit which acknowledges not Jesus Christ having come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that of antichrist which ye have heard comes; and now is already in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have conquered them: for greater is he in you, than he in the world. 5They are of the world: for this they speak of the world, and the world hears them. 6We are of God: he knowing God hears us; he is not of God who hears us not. By this we know the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Love Comes from God

7Dearly beloved, we should love one another: for love is of God; and every one loving has been born of God, and knows God. 8He not loving knows not God; for God is love. 9In this was the love of God manifested in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world, that we might live by him. 10In this is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son a propitiation for our sins. 11Dearly beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12None has ever seen God. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his love is completed in us. 13In this we know that we remain in him, and he in us, for he has given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his. Son a Saviour of the world.

15Whoever acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love; and he remaining in love remains in God, and God in him. 17In this has love been completed with us, that we might have freedom of speech in the day of judgment: for as he is, so are we in this world. 18Fear is not in love; but perfected love casts out fear: for fear has restraint. And he fearing has not been perfected in love. 19We should love him, for he first loved us. 20If any say, I love God, and hate his brother, he is a liar: for he not loving his brother whom he has seen, God whom he has not seen, how can he love? 21And this command have we from him, That he loving God love his brother also.