1 John 4:6

An Understandable Version (2005 edition)

We [who preach the true Gospel] represent God; the person who knows God listens to our message; the one who does not belong to God does not listen to us. This is how we can know [the difference between those speaking by] the Holy Spirit of truth and [those speaking by] the spirit of [Satan’s] error.

Cross References

Luke 10:22

Everything has been handed over to me by my Father and no one knows the Son except the Father. And [no one knows] the Father except the Son and whatever person the Son wants to reveal Him to.”

John 10:16

I have other sheep [also] which are not [presently] in this corral; I must lead them, too. They will hear my voice and become one flock [i.e., with the others], having one shepherd. [Note: This probably refers to believing Gentiles becoming God’s people, along with the Jews].

John 10:27

My sheep listen to my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

John 10:3

The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep respond to his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out [of the corral].

John 13:20

Truly, truly, I tell you, the person who welcomes whoever I send welcomes me; and the one who welcomes me, welcomes God, who sent me.”

John 14:17

He is the Holy Spirit of truth [i.e., who reveals truth], whom the world cannot receive, for it does not see Him or know Him. [But] you know Him, for He lives with you, and will be within you.

John 15:26

And you will give testimony about me [also], because you men have been with me from the beginning [of my ministry].”

John 16:13

However, when the Holy Spirit of truth comes, He will lead you [apostles] into all the truth. For He will not speak on His own authority, but will speak [only] what He hears [from the Father]. And He will tell you about the things that are to come.

John 18:37

So, Pilate said to Him, “Are you a king, then?” Jesus answered, “You are [correct in] calling me a ‘king.’ This was the [very] purpose for which I was born and came into the world, that I should testify about the truth. Every person who wants [to know and obey] the truth listens to me.”

John 20:21

Jesus said to them again, “May there be peace in your hearts. Just as the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.”

John 8:19

So, the Jewish authorities said to Him, “Where is your father?” Jesus answered; “You people do not know me or my Father. If you [did] know me, you would know my Father also.”

John 8:23

Jesus replied, “You people are from below [i.e., from the earthly realm]; I am from above [i.e., from the heavenly realm]. You belong to this world; I do not belong to this world.

Romans 1:1

[This letter is from] Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, [who was] called to be an apostle, [and] set apart for [preaching] the Gospel of God.

Romans 11:8

as it has been written [Isa. 19:10], “God gave them a spirit of numbness [i.e., they developed a spiritual insensitivity to God and His word]. [He gave them] eyes to see with [but they would not look], and ears to hear with [but they did not listen]. And they still have this spirit.”

1 Corinthians 14:37

If any man thinks he is a prophet or has a spiritual gift, he should realize that the things I am writing to you are the Lord’s commandment.

2 Corinthians 10:7

You people are looking [merely] at the appearance of things [or, “You should look at what is obvious!” In either case, it suggests they were misjudging Paul’s ministry]. If any person is confident within himself that he belongs to Christ, he should reflect on this again: We are just as much Christ’s [servants] as he is.

2 Thessalonians 1:8

He will inflict punishment on those people who do not know God [as Savior], and on those who do not obey the Gospel message of our Lord Jesus.

1 Timothy 4:1

Now the Holy Spirit specifically says that in later times [Note: “Later times” in the New Testament usually refers to the period following the first coming of Christ and the establishment of the church], some people will fall away from the faith [i.e., the true teaching of Christianity]. They will pay attention to deceitful spirits [i.e., lying people] and the teaching of evil spirits.

2 Peter 3:2

to remember the words spoken to you in the past by the holy prophets, and what the Lord and Savior commanded you through your apostles.

1 John 4:1

Loved ones, do not believe [the message of] every spirit [i.e., every person claiming to be a teacher], but test the spirits [i.e., require proof that they and their message are genuine] to see whether they represent God [or not], because many false prophets have begun circulating throughout the world.

1 John 4:4

[But], you people are [followers] of God, little children [i.e., dear ones], and you have overcome them [i.e., these false teachers] because He who is in your lives [i.e., the Holy Spirit, See 3:24] is greater [i.e., more powerful] than he who is in [i.e., dominates] the world [i.e., Satan. See II Cor. 4:4].

1 John 4:8

The person who does not love [others] does not know God [as Savior], for [the very nature of] God is love.

1 John 5:19

We [also] know that we are [children] of God and that the people of the whole world lie under [the control of] the evil one [i.e., Satan].

Jude 1:17

But you dearly loved ones, you should remember the message that was previously told to you by the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ,