Slices
Prepare
Think about a time when someone unexpectedly acted in a loving way towards you. Thank God for that person and for his love.
Bible passage
On denying the incarnation
4 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. 2 This is how you can recognise the Spirit of God: every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
4 You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. 5 They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. 6 We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognise the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.
God’s love and ours
7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: he sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
13 This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: he has given us of his Spirit. 14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in them and they in God. 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.
God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them. 17 This is how love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment: in this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
19 We love because he first loved us. 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. 21 And he has given us this command: anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.
Explore
The passage begins by emphasising the importance of testing the spirits in a context where there are a variety of spirits, not just the Spirit of God (v 1). What ways have you found helpful in trying to discern if something is from God or not? Ensuring that something is consistent with God’s Word can be one way to do this. Which voices is it unhelpful to listen to (v 5)? Do you need to act on this?
The second half of the passage is like a novel or film that ties everything together at the end of the story and suddenly the plot makes sense. And this is what John is doing here as he tells us of God’s love. John has been telling us to love God and love others. Why? Here comes the part where it’s tied together to make sense: because God loved us first (v 19). Why do we love others? Because God showed his love to us by sending his one and only Son into the world (v 14). We love because we are loved. Since God loved us, we also ought to love one another (v 21). What was it that first drew you to God’s love? What in verses 7–21 are you most grateful for?
Respond
Consider for a moment how much God loves you. Ask for his help to show that love to others today.
Bible in a year
Read the Bible in a year: Jeremiah 7,8; Psalms 114,115
Pray for Scripture Union
Pray that God will guide SU Indonesia in the final stage of the Reading and Delving into the Bible training which started in July and finishes next Sunday. Pray that, as a result, children, young people, adults, pastors and congregations will grow in understanding and faith.
