8: True and Love (1Jn 4:1-21)
The Basics
Setting
After John sets forth love as a
requirement of God’s children, he discusses the dichotomy between truth and lie
by showing how to discern the spirit of truth and the spirit of error. Then,
continuing with the theme of loving one another, he goes on to emphasize the
divine origin of love as a basis for our love for one another.
Key Verse
“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” (4:4).
“Beloved, let us love one
another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows
God” (4:7).
Observation
Outline
(4:1-6)
(4:7-21)
(7-12)
(13-16)
(17-18)
(19-21)
Key Words/Phrases
Segment Analysis
4:1-6
1a. According to this paragraph, what are the two tests that help
us discern the spirits?
1b. How are the two tests related?
1c. How do these tests apply to the
situation of the world today?
2. The passage implies that the spirit of error works through
his agents. Who are the agents of the false spirit and in whom does the false
spirit work?
3. Why is the belief that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh a
crucial doctrine?
4a. Who is “them” in verse 4?
4b. How have the true believers overcome
them?
4c. Explain “He who is in you is greater
than he who is in the world.”
4:7-21
5. Record the teachings in this passage about
5a. God’s love for us
5b. Our love for God
5c. Our love for one another
5d. What God is
5e. Our relationship with God
6. How is the teaching of love an expansion of verses 5 and 6?
7. How does love enable us to know God (7,8)?
8. What is the significance of the statement “no one has seen God”?
9a. According to 12-16, what are the manifestations of our abiding
in God and His abiding in us?
9b. What does it mean to abide in God?
10. Why is it necessary that Jesus Christ be the Son of God in
order to be Savior of the world?
11a. What is a perfected love? (12,17,18)
11b. What does it mean to be “made perfect
in love” (18)?
12. Why does perfect love cast out fear?
13. Why does loving God require loving our brothers (21)?
