Test the Spirits
Questions for Study 5

1 John 4:1-21
Memory Verse: 1

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I. Test the Spirits (1-6)

1. Who do the false prophets refer to ? (2:19) How can we test a spirit whether it is from God or not?

2. Why don't the believers need to be afraid of the false prophets? What assurance and encouragement does the author give to the readers by contrasting them to the false prophets?

3. How do we recognize the spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood?

II. This is Love (7-12)

4. Where does "love for one's brother" come from? (7) What do we have to do to draw love from God as we realize that it is not an innate virtue nor a learned behavior? In what sense does one who loves show that he has been born of God and knows God?

5. Why does the author say that one who fails to love not only has no knowledge of God but is also not born in God? (8) What does the statement, "God is love" tell us about the essential nature and the motivation of all activities of God? Find the verses in the letter of 1 John where it is written: "God is..." (1:5, 2:29) What do they have to do with "God is love"?

6. How is God's love manifested in human history? (9) What is the purpose of loving? (John 3:16) How does this tell us that God's love involves concrete and objective acts? And that we ought to show our love for one another in deeds?

7. In the Hellenic world (the time of the writing of this letter) love was defined as "a cosmic principle, and the mystical craving for union with the eternal, or the insatiable craving of man for god." How is John's teaching about love different from the claims of the false teachers? How does God's presenting his Son as "an atoning sacrifice for our sins" tell us about the nature of his love?

8. How can we see God in the fullest manner - even more clearly that one sees him in a vision? (Exodus 24:11) How is God's love made complete in us?

III. Living in God and Living in Love (13-21)

9. How is "the reciprocal abiding" or "mutual indwelling of God and the believer" possible for Jesus' followers? (2:24, 4:13, 15) Who does John refer to when he says, "We" in verse 14?

10. How is it possible for us to have fellowship with God? What does this teach about faith being the only way for us to know God and his love?

11. How is it possible for us to have confidence on the day of judgement? Why do believers have no need to fear? What does the author say about the nature of gear in verse 18?

12. What does John say about the source of genuine love? How is it possible for this love to become our own?

13. Why is love for God and love for neighbor inseparable? How is this related to our perfect love relationship with God - God's love for us and our own obedience to him? (20-21, Mk. 12:30-31, Jn. 13:34)