This verse by verse Bible study was taught by Sim Forder, one of our pastors, at our Sunday evening service on the 24th July 2022.

Summary of this study

Having finished chapter 3 talking about brotherly love, John now pauses to note that our desire to love shouldn’t make us gullible. That is, we are not to accept or tolerate false doctrine within the church. How do we identify it? Well, John gives us some tests we can and should apply. But in our enthusiasm to keep to the truth, we must also not forget to love, and John resumes his teaching to us that as Christians we must love each other, for the love that God has shown to us will surely compel us to love others.

Application questions

• How readily are you checking out what you hear with the Bible?
• Do you know your Bible well enough that you’d easily spot a counterfeit?
• How much do you love other Christians? (be honest – God knows!)
• What can you do to love other Christians more?