V.1-6 We are hearing much these days about the “spirit world.” People are rushing to hear speakers who claim supernatural powers. A spirit-controlled person may be Satan-controlled. Never forget there are lying spirits as well as lying people. These verses tell us to test the spirits. False prophets are controlled by false spirits. They are real, and from Satan himself. How are we to test them? In this way — do they confess that Jesus is Divine? God has told us that demons can control people. The believer is preserved from this power to control us, but we can be deceived if we do not use this test. This is why we are so often warned in this Book.
V.7-10 This serious warning is followed by assurance of God’s love. We will see seven great facts about love.
V.7 The first — love is of God. Every particle of real love that there is in the world came from God. Real love is to delight in helping others. People talk much of love these days, but most of it is selfishness. Everyone who loves is born of God. Do not confuse natural affection with God’s love.
V.8 Love is what God is. See also 1 John 1:55And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not. (John 1:5). Light and love are combined in God. The whole Bible rests upon these two great pillars.
V.9-10 Jesus Christ is the supreme manifestation of the love of God. But that is only one side. The other is that He sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. “Propitiation” means this: God has been outraged and insulted by man’s sin. But the Lord Jesus has come to earth and has done such a work in the sacrifice of Himself for our sins, that God is completely satisfied and can now show mercy to us who had sinned so dreadfully.