Testing the Spirits

1Beloved, believe not every Spirit, but try the spirits, whether they be of God: for many false prophets are gone out into the world. 2By this ye may know the Spirit of God: every Spirit that confesseth Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God: 3and every spirit that doth not confess Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, which ye have heard was coming, and is already in the world. 4Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is He, that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5They are of the world; therefore they speak as men of the world, and the world heareth them. 6We are of God: he, that knoweth God, heareth us; but he, who is not of God, heareth not us. By this we know the Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

Love Comes from God

7Beloved, let us love one another: for love is from God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. 8He, that loveth not, knoweth not God: for God is love. 9In this was the love of God manifested towards us, that God sent his only-begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10Herein is love; not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins. 11Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. 12No one hath ever seen God: but if we love one another, God dwelleth in us and his love is perfected in us. 13By this we know that we are in Him, and He in us; because He hath given us of his Spirit. 14And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. 16And we have known and believed the love which God hath towards us: for God is love; and he, that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him. 17Herein is love perfected with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; for as He is, we also are in this world. 18There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear; because fear hath torment; but he that feareth is not perfected in love. 19We love Him, because He first loved us. If any one say, 20I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for how can he, that loveth not his brother, whom he hath seen, love God whom he hath not seen? 21And we have this commandment from Him, that he, who loveth God, should love his brother also.