On Denying the Incarnation

4 Dear friends,^(A) do not believe every spirit,^(B) but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.^{(C) 2} This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh^(D) is from God,^{(E) 3} but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist,^(F) which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.^(G)

⁴ You, dear children,^(H) are from God and have overcome them,^(I) because the one who is in you^(J) is greater than the one who is in the world.^{(K) 5} They are from the world^(L) and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us.^(M) This is how we recognize the Spirit^[a] of truth^(N) and the spirit of falsehood.^(O)

¹³ This is how we know^(A) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.^{(B) 14} And we have seen and testify^(C) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.^{(D) 15} If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,^(E) God lives in them and they in God.^{(F) 16} And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.^(G) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.^{(H) 17} This is how love is made complete^(I) among us so that we will have confidence^(J) on the day of judgment:^(K) In this world we are like Jesus. ¹⁸ There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,^(L) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.