1. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:1 God expects us to check for false teaching and false teachers. ______________________________________ They are out there. ______________________________________ And there are "many" of them.

2. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:1 God expects us to think and question 1 Thess. 5:19-21

3. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:2-3 1 John 2:18-22

4. What do we do? - 1 John 4:2-3 We hold to truth. ______________ Not because a pastor says it. ______________ Not because a church says it. ______________ But because the Word of God says it!

5. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:2-3 We embrace the reality that the ONLY teaching about getting eternal life is that to believe in Jesus for eternal life. He is the Christ. And He alone gives life.

6. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:2-3 That is what Scripture teaches. That is what Jesus taught - Mk. 16:61-62 That is what Peter believed - Mt. 16:16 That is what John believed - Jn. 20:31 That is what Paul believed - Acts 17:2-3 That is where we must stand.

7. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:2-3 It's not ok to accept any other requirement for eternal life. There is no other issue on earth more important than this.

8. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:2-3 We teach people the message of truth and grace. It is the only path to eternal life. It is the only path to freedom. It is the only way to become like Christ.

9. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:3 The Antichrist in the future and those like him now teach a perverted form of the gospel!

10. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:4-6 Those in sync with God will listen to the Word of God. Those out of sync with God will not listen to the Word.

11. Finding the good guys - 1 John 4:4-6 We determine who is right and wrong by adherence to this truth. This is clear, Apostolic truth.

12. Real vs. Counterfeit

13. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:7 In 4:1-6, John talks about identifying and standing against the counterfeits. ____________________ Now, he encourages his readers to demonstrate the real thing.

14. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:7 Those truly in sync with God will love as God loves.

15. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:7 The one who loves with God's love: 1) Is born of God 2) Knows God

16. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:8 John does not say if we do not love we are not born of God. _____________ Believers can, and sadly do, hate their brothers 3:15-17

17. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:8 If we know God we will love as He loved. The one who does not love, does not know God.

18. "God is love" - 1 John 4:8 "...Love is fundamental to what God is and to what He does". Hodges

19. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:8 The Spirit of God empowers us to love but He does not force us to love.

20. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:9 God's love was shown like parental love when the God of creation sent His Son to bring life to the world. 1 Tim. 2:1-5 = "all men" 3xs!!

21. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:9 Christ died that we might live! THAT'S the kind of love He has for us!

22. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:10 Verse 9 = the way God's love was shown ___________________ Verse 10 = the nature of God's love ___________________ What God's love is all about!

23. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:10 God's love is not a response to our love. Mt. 5:46

24. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:10 God's love seeks to meet our spiritual need. Physical needs are important (3:17), but we shouldn't neglect the spiritual!

25. How do we see God? - 1 John 4:10 Since no one in the world was beyond our Savior's sacrificial love, no brother or sister should be beyond our sacrificial love!