1 BELOVED, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

2  Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: [ So we have a way to differentiate those who are of Christ and those who are an antichrist. ] Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: [ First is that if you are of Christ you will confess that he has come, and I would add that he will come again as he keeps his word. ]

3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: [ They are antichrists. ] and this is that spirit of antichrist, [ Definition of an antichrist. ] whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

5  They [ These antichrists. ] are of the world: [ Worldliness. ] therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. [ Why? Because they teach what the world really wants to hear. So they are more worldly than they are of God. ]

6 We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error. [ Another character associated with those who are antichrists. (2 John 1:7) ]

7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten son into the world, that we might live through him.

10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins. [ Is God Love? What is John talking about here? But the Savior did not have to die, for he held death in abeyance. His was a willing sacrifice, a supreme act of love. He lived a life of complete obedience to the Father’s will. In giving his life willingly as he did, our Savior placed the seal of divine love on his life and mission and demonstrated the course which all men should emulate. ]

11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the son to be the Saviour of the world.

15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the son of God, [He is not the son of Joseph. He is not the son of a man. This title the son Of God means that his Father is literally God our Father in Heaven ] God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

19 We love him, because he first loved us.

20 If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

21 And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.