1 John 4:1-21. John is writing to Christians who have seen several fall away, believing in false doctrines, and he writes to urge them to remember the gospel they first heard, to be faithful to God, and to remember his great love. John gives us a litmus test for your spiritual condition. He says if you say you love God, the true test of that is if you love others. Loving others shows that God’s love has changed you.