Spiritual Discernment

Read 1 John 3:24-4:6.
Who abides in or lives in fellowship with Him?
In whom does He abide?
What did we learn was His commandment? (1 John 3:23)

From verse 24, what can we add to our "What we know/How we know it" chart? What do we know? How do we know it?

What did John tell them about this Spirit in 1 John 2:27?

Why does he say they have to test the spirits?

How does this compare to what John told them in 1 John 2:18?

What does 1 John 2:22 tell them about these antichrists?

Do you think these "false prophets" that John mentions in 4:1 are "antichrists"? (See verse 4:3.)

What does John say that the believers know in 4:2? Add that to your chart.
How do they know who has the Spirit of God? Add that to your chart.

What does John tell them about themselves in 4:4?
If your version uses "them," who is "them"?
What other names has John given them?

Who does John tell them is greater than he who is in the world?
Who is it that lives in the believers? (See verse 3:24.)
Who is "he who is in the world"? (See 3:7-10.)
If your version uses "they" in verse 5, who are "they"?
Who listens to them?
Who do you think "we" is in verse 6? Who listens to them? Who does not listen to them?

What does verse 4:6 say that we know?
How do we know it?
Add that information to your chart.

What struck you as you studied these passages? How might what you learned affect the way you think, believe, or behave?