Beloved,
do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they
are from God. For many false prophets have gone out into the world.
By this you will know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus
is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have
heard is coming and which is already in the world at this time.
You, little children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.
They are of the world. That is why they speak from the world’s perspective, and the world listens to them.
We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us; whoever is not from God does not listen to us. That is how we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of deception.
Love Comes from God.
Beloved, let us love one another, because love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
This is how God’s love was revealed among us: God sent His one and only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.
And love consists in this: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son as the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God remains in us, and His love is perfected in us.
By this we know that we remain in Him, and He in us: He has given us of His Spirit.
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent His Son to be the Savior of the world.
If anyone confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
And
we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us. God is
love; whoever abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
In
this way, love has been perfected among us, so that we may have
confidence on the day of judgment; for in this world we are just like
Him.
There
is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear, because fear
involves punishment. The one who fears has not been perfected in love.
We love because He first loved us.
If
anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For
anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God,
whom he has not seen. And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.
Does that mean you must love 'any' brother as in 'any' human being? Good question. If it means any brother as in any and every human being then we have to say yes. Why? Because, it would mean that loving God and loving any and all human beings is enough. There is no need for evangelism- spreading the Good News; as we interpret that 'brother' equals any human.
If that is true, then every human knows the One True God who sent His Son to atone for sins and promise salvation and eternal life to everyone... right? And, if that is true then we are all one in Christ the Lord, right?
But, why does it say this - "Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
and every spirit that does not confess Jesus
is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist!" I don't hear every spirit making that confession, do you? Then we have much to do... Spread the Gospel!
You see, everyone is a creation of God but not all are His children. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.~ 1 John 5:1. This is how we are able to love our brother.
John 1:3
Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
John 3:3
Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
John 8:42
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
You see, everyone is a creation of God but not all are His children. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has become a child of God. And everyone who loves the Father loves his children, too.~ 1 John 5:1. This is how we are able to love our brother.
John 1:3
Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made.
John 3:3
Jesus replied, "Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
John 8:42
Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I have come here from God. I have not come on My own, but He sent Me.
Confessing that Jesus Christ is Lord is how we come to know and love God. "Everyone that confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have come to know and believe the love that God has for us". That is how you know God and know His love. You cannot truly love your 'brother' until you know that truth. For just saying you love your brother can be said by anyone... and so can saying you love God. The two must work together... once you confess the truth, you love like you never loved before!
ReplyDeleteWhat about loving your enemies and do good to them ~ Luke 6:35? The key word is 'your' enemies. Those that you feel/think have sinned against you or hurt you or oppressed you. They are likely a brother ... not just any human. You can't have an enemy unless you have/had contact with them. Its irrational to have an enemy that you don't know or never met. How could they in fact be 'your' enemy. They can't. Loving your enemy is about forgiveness which is an act of compassion (mercy/brotherly love)which is the kind of love that God has and wants us to have in regard to our 'brother/sister' in Christ.
ReplyDelete