1 John 4 – Abiding in God and His Love A. T he spirit of truth and protection against the spirit of error. 1. (1) The fact of false prophets and the need to test the spirits. 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.
Full Answer
What is John saying in 1 John 4?
The first reason he puts very bluntly and unmistakably: Jesus is God! John 1:1-4: In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God; all things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men.
Can you please explain 1 John 4?
Many themes are shared with the Gospel of John. First John chapter 4 emphasizes the way God's love removes the natural human fear of rejection. Fear is a punishment of its own, and those who do not believe have reason to fear judgment. Believers, on the other hand, have confidence.
What does 1 John chapter 4 Verse 4 mean?
What does John 1:4 mean? [⇑ See verse text ⇑] Verse 4 proclaims Christ's role as the giver of eternal life. John will spend much more time later in his gospel explaining Jesus' role in bringing life to mankind. This verse also refers to Jesus using the second of John's seven names for Jesus: "The Light." To a Hebrew, "light" was the ultimate value.
What does 1 John 4 mean?
What Does John 1:4 Mean? In Him was life, and the life was the Light of men. The living God is LIFE. The triune God has life within Himself. Jesus is one with the Father and He is the Source of life, the Fountain of life, the Sustainer of life, the Perfector of life.
What is the main point of John chapter 4?
In chapter 4, the Baptism introduces the reader to a prominent theme of Wisdom (water) throughout John. First, Jesus reveals himself to a Samaritan woman at the well, which is remarkable since Samaritan women were regarded by Jews as impure. Therefore, Jews were forbidden to drink from any vessel they had handled.
What can we learn from the woman at the well?
Here are 4 lessons we can learn from the woman at the well.The Samaritan woman scheduled her day to avoid her deepest pains. Yet Jesus still met her! ... She stayed with Jesus. And Jesus was unfazed by her sin. ... She received His filling. Jesus offered the living water. ... She desired to go and do.
What did Jesus mean by living water?
McConkie defined living water as “the words of eternal life, the message of salvation, the truths about God and his kingdom; it is the doctrines of the gospel.” He went on to explain, “Where there are prophets of God, there will be found rivers of living water, wells filled with eternal truths, springs bubbling forth ...
What does the Bible say about John 4?
Bible Gateway 1 John 4 :: NIV. Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God.
What is the significance of Jacob's well in John 4?
(John 4:7–15) The site is counted as a Christian holy site. From a Christian perspective, the reference in John's Gospel to the well seems to hint at a deeper nuptial reading of Jesus as the Bridegroom of Israel come to reunite the divided tribes through a spiritual union with him, the long-awaited Messiah; see St.
What is the significance of the woman at the well?
The story of the Samaritan woman, also known as the woman at the well, draws our attention to the central themes of the Gospel. By approaching her, Jesus demonstrates His care for all, regardless of their social standing. We can also be inspired by the Samaritan woman's excitement in sharing the good news of Jesus.
What does water represent spiritually?
With remarkable regularity across human cultures, water has been used to communicate the sacred value of life; the spiritual dimension of purification, protection, and healing; and the profound meaning of suffering and redemption in human life.
What does water symbolize in the Bible?
Christians are baptized with or in water, symbolizing a purification of the soul, and an admission into the faith. However, water can also be destructive (as in the biblical flood which only Noah and his family escaped); water drowns and erodes, wearing away even the densest of stones given enough time.
Does water represent the Holy Spirit?
“Rivers of living water” represent the Holy Spirit's presence and power poured out on Jesus' followers. The Spirit's presence points to his cleansing and sanctifying work in the hearts of God's children.
What is the story of the Samaritan woman at the well?
The Samaritan woman Jesus met faced prejudice from her own community. She came to draw water at the hottest part of the day, instead of the usual morning or evening times, because she was shunned and rejected by the other women of the area for her immorality.
What can separate us from the love of God?
8 Verses 38 to 39. [38] For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, [39] Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
How do you explain God's love?
God's relentless, loyal love arrives in Jesus, and his affection for us drives him to give us the ultimate act of loyal love in his life, death, and resurrection. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his khesed endures forever.
What is the chapter 4 of the Bible?
Chapter 4 It was, more than any thing else, the glory of the land of Israel, that it was Emmanuel’s land ( Isa. 8:8 ), not only the place of his birth, but the scene of his preaching and miracles. This land in our Saviour’s time was divided into three parts: Judea in the south, Galilee in the north, and Samaria lying between them.
What happened when the Pharisees thought they had got rid of John?
When the Pharisees thought they had got rid of John (for he was by this time imprisoned), and were pleasing themselves with that, Jesus appears, who was a greater vexation to them than ever John had been. The witnesses will rise again. That which grieved them was that Christ made so many disciples.
What was Jacob's well?
Here was Jacob’s well which he digged, or at least used, for himself and his family. We find no mention of this well in the Old Testament; but the tradition was that it was Jacob’s well. (2.) The posture of our Lord Jesus at this place: Being wearied with his journey, he sat thus on the well.
Why did John go to Galilee?
He went to Galilee now, (1.) Because John’s ministry had now made way for him there; for Galilee, which was under Herod’s jurisdiction, was the last scene of John’s baptism. (2.)
What does the Bible say about the wicked and profane?
The wicked and profane are at present so intermixed with God’s Israel that, unless we will go out of the world, we cannot avoid going through the company of such, 1 Co. 5:10 .
What does the Bible say about baptizing with the Holy Ghost?
He would reserve himself for the honour of baptizing with the Holy Ghost, Acts. 1:5 . He would teach us that the efficacy of the sacraments depends not on any virtue in the hand that administers them, as also that what is done by his ministers, according to his direction, he owns as done by himself.III.
Why did Jesus say "living water"?
But Jesus made a play on words with the phrase “ living water ,” because He meant the spiritual water that quenches spiritual thirst and gives life. i. “In the Old Testament living water is sometimes associated with Jehovah. He is called ‘the fountain of living waters’ ( Jeremiah 2:13, 17:13 ).” (Morris) ii.
Where did Jesus come to the well?
2. (5-9) Jesus comes to a well in Sychar of Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Now Jacob’s well was there. Jesus therefore, being wearied from His journey, sat thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.
Did Jesus baptize more disciples than John?
b. Jesus made and baptized more disciples than John (though Jesus Himself did not baptize, but His disciples ): Jesus’ work of baptism was first referred to in John 3:22. Jesus considered it important to also do John’s work of baptizing as a demonstration of repentance and cleansing in preparation for the Messiah.
What does 4:44 mean?
4:44 For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honor in his own country 1. 4:45 So when he came into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did in Jerusalem at the feast 1: for they also went unto the feast 2.
What does Jesus say to him?
4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die 1. 4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth 1. The man believed the word that Jesus spake unto him, and he went his way.
What hour did Jesus say "Thy son liveth"?
4:52 So he inquired of them the hour when he began to amend 1. They said therefore unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him 2. 4:53 So the father knew that [it was] at that hour in which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house 2.
When therefore the Lord knew?
(1) When therefore the Lord knew. —The second clause of this verse is given in the exact words of the report which came to the Pharisees: When therefore the Lord knew that the Pharisees heard, “Jesus maketh and baptizeth more disciples than John.”
What does "a prophet has no honour in his own country" mean?
—The statement that a prophet hath no honour in his own country is at first thought a strange explanation of the fact that He went into Galilee, and that the Galileans received Him; and the common geographical solutions, as that “His own country” means Judæa, or Nazareth, as distinct from Galilee, or the district of the so-called lower Galilee, are brought to, not from, the text. The narrative of the earlier Gospels places the commencement of the ministry in Galilee. John has in these opening chapters told of an earlier ministry in Judæa and Samaria. He now records the reception in Galilee to which this earlier ministry had been the real introduction. Jesus Himself said so. He knew the principle that a prophet’s own friends are the last to hear his message, and He came to His own country only when that message had been received by many in Judæa and Samaria, and when His own countrymen had seen and known His work at the Passover. Others had received Him at Jerusalem, and they therefore receive Him in Galilee. The honour is brought from without. It does not arise in His own country.
Whosoever drinketh of this water?
(13, 14) Whosoever drinketh of this water. —Jesus does not answer her question, but asserts the universal recurrence of thirst, after even the water of Jacob’s well, to lead her to the thought that His “living water” is something widely different.
Is not this the Christ?
(29) Is not this the Christ? —Better, is this the Christ? She felt that He was a prophet when His words revealed her past life ( John 4:19 ). She has had the thought of Christ present to her mind when He teaches the nature of true worship ( John 4:25 ). She has heard that He is the Messiah from His own lips ( John 4:26 ); but she does not frame her question so as to expect the answer “Yes:” she states the fact of His knowing the life, known perhaps to many of them, and leaves them to form their own judgment.
What did Jesus say in John's Gospel?
In John’s *Gospel, often conversations that Jesus had were like this. Firstly, Jesus said something that the person or people misunderstood. For example, Nicodemus misunderstood what Jesus meant about a second birth (John 3:4). And the *Samaritan woman thought that Jesus was talking about actual water (John 4:13-14).
Why did John write the Gospel?
The purpose of John’s *Gospel. John wanted his readers to believe ‘that Jesus is the *Messiah, God’s Son’ (John 20:31). That is why he wrote his *Gospel. Matthew, Mark and Luke recorded many *miracles in their *Gospels. But John chose to record only 7 *miracles.
What does the Bible say about God's Son?
A person who is from the world belongs to the world. That person can understand and speak only the world’s language. But God’s Son has come from heaven. And he is greater than everyone. v32 He speaks about what he has seen. He talks about what he has heard. But few people believe what he says. v33 But God is truthful! Whoever believes the words of God’s Son shows this. v34 God sent his Son to speak God’s words. And God has given to him the complete power of the *Holy Spirit. v35 The *Father loves his Son. And the *Father has given to his Son the authority over everything. v36 Everyone who *believes in God’s Son has *eternal life. But those who do not obey God’s Son will never have *eternal life. God will be angry with them always.’
How many miracles did John record?
In many ways, John’s *Gospel is different from the other three *Gospels. John did not include any stories about Jesus’ birth or his *baptism. John only recorded 7 *miracles, which he called ‘*signs’. John did not include any parables (stories which Jesus told to teach something about God).
What is the only way to God?
The only way to God is by means of a person: God’s Son, the *Lord Jesus *Christ. When we *believe in him, we are following the way to *eternal life with God. This way is available to every person on the earth. But each person is free to choose it or to *reject it.
Who wrote the 4th Gospel?
Most people agree that John, Jesus’ *disciple, wrote the 4th *Gospel. John’s father was called Zebedee. And John had a brother called James, who became also one of Jesus’ *disciples (Matthew 4:21; Mark 1:19-20; Luke 5:10). The family fished on Lake *Galilee. Zebedee owned a boat. He employed men to help with his business.
Who called John's Gospel a spiritual gospel?
The second century writer, Clement, from Alexandria, called John’s *Gospel a ‘*spiritual *Gospel’. In some ways, he was right. John did not record just facts about Jesus. John had thought much about what Jesus had said. And John had thought much about the *miracles that he had seen.
Why did Jesus speak so forthrightly?
Why did Jesus speak so forthrightly here, while on so many other occasions he was so careful not to say plainly that he was the Christ? Jesus was charged with the duty of convincing all people that he is King of kings and Lord of lords, Dayspring from on High, the Son of God, and the Lord of all creation; but he was also under the most urgent necessity of doing so in a manner that would not provide the Romans with any pretext for executing him as a seditionist. To make this even more difficult, the Pharisees and Sadducees would gladly have cooperated with the Romans in just such a judicial murder. This poor woman's word, however, was not good in any priestly court, due to her being a Samaritan; and thus it was perfectly safe for Jesus to tell her that he was the Messiah. This same phenomenon appears later in this gospel, in the case of the man born blind; who, after being cast out of the synagogue was not an acceptable witness in Jewish courts, and who was also told plainly by Christ that he was the Son of God.
What does the Bible say about the initiative of God?
For such doth the Father seek ... The initiative of God himself in man's salvation appears in the fact of God's actually seeking those of earth who will truly worship him as he has directed.
What does the Bible say about worshipping with hands?
An apostle declared that "God ... dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed anything" ( Acts 17:24,25 ). The author of this gospel wrote, "Testify unto every man that heareth the prophecy of this book, if any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book" ( Revelation 22:18 ). And also, "Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God" ( 2 John 1:1:9 ). Jesus said of the Pharisees, "Ye have made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition" ( Matthew 15:6 ). Paul warned the Corinthians, "Now these things, brethren, I have in a figure, transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes; that in us ye might learn not to go beyond the things which are written" ( 1 Corinthians 4:6 ). From these specific prohibitions, as well as from the spirit and tenor of the entire Bible, it is clearly impossible for man to approach his Creator in worship, except as God has directed. This was true in the days of Cain and Abel, of Nadab and Abihu, of David and Uzzah, and of the Lord Jesus Christ and ever afterward. It is true now and always.
What caused Jesus to say that God is not like man?
The countless anthropomorphisms of the Old Testament probably caused Jesus to set such a statement as this over against them all. God may be spoken of in terms of the activities of men, such as walking, seeing, hearing, etc., but there is a sense in which God is not like man at all.
How deep is the well in the Bible?
Its depth was stated by the earliest modern who visited it (Maundrel) at 105 feet with fifteen feet of water.
Did John the Baptist have a confrontation with the Pharisees?
The disciples of John the Baptist were already jealous of Jesus' success; and the Lord knew that the mighty acclaim hailing his efforts, if uninterrupted, would shortly bring upon him a premature confrontation with the Pharisees; and, in order to avoid it, he promptly switched the scene of his labors.
What is the Bible study question in John 4?
John 4 Bible Study Questions (Handout) JOHN 4:1-3 1 Therefore, when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John 2 (though Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples), 3 He left Judea and departed again for Galilee. Why did Jesus leave “Judea” (John 4:3)?
Who are Jacob and Joseph?
Who are “Jacob” and “Joseph” (John 4:5)? Jacob is the grandson and Joseph is the great-grandson of Abraham, whom God had chosen from Ur, a city in what is Iraq today to found the Hebrew nation.
What did John bring up in the letter?
i. Earlier in the letter, John brought up the idea of the world and its threat to the Christian life ( 1 John 2:15-17 ). He presented the world not as the global earth or the mass of humanity, which God Himself loves ( John 3:16 ). Instead it is the community of sinful humanity that is united in rebellion against God.
What does John declare about the Spirit of God?
We have seen and testify: Speaking as one who has the Spirit of God ( He has given us of His Spirit ), John declares three essential truths about who God is and how He saves us. · That the Father has sent the Son. · That He (Jesus) was sent as Savior of the world.
What does it mean when a spirit confesses that Jesus has come in the flesh?
a. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God : True prophecy, and true teaching, will present a true Jesus. In John’s day, the issue was about if Jesus had truly come in a real body of flesh and blood.
What does Paul say about God the Father?
In speaking of God the Father, Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 1:17: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible. Jesus declared of God the Father, God is Spirit, ( John 4:24) meaning that God the Father has no tangible body which may be seen. ii.
What does the Bible say about God?
The Bible also tells us that God is spirit ( John 4:24 ), God is light ( 1 John 1:5 ), and that God is a consuming fire ( Hebrews 12:29 ). g. God is love: There are few people who really know and really believe that God is love. For whatever reason, they won’t receive His love and let it transform their lives.
Did John know the danger of false prophets?
Even though the early church had a strong life and a large measure of purity, John still knew the danger false prophets and their message was real in the early church. c. Test the spirits, whether they are of God: This is the responsibility of every Christian, but especially of congregational leadership.
Does God's righteousness eliminate His holiness?
But it does not eliminate His holiness, His righteousness, or His perfect justice. Instead, we know the holiness of God is loving, and the righteousness of God is loving, and the justice of God is loving. Everything God does, in one way or another, expresses His love. ii.