\v 1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
\v 2 By this you will know the Spirit of God—every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God,
\v 3 and every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not of God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world.
\f + \ft Some older versions read, \fqa and every spirit that does not acknowledge that Jesus has come in the flesh is not of God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming, and now is already in the world. \fba \f*
\v 6 We are of God. He who knows God listens to us. He who is not of God does not listen to us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
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\v 7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
\v 17 In this, love has been made perfect among us, that we may have confidence on the day of judgment, because as he is, just so are we in this world.
\v 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love throws fear out, because fear has to do with punishment. But the one who fears has not been made perfect in love.
\v 20 If anyone says, "I love God" but hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen.