1 John 4

Which worship songs are based on 1 John 4?

Letter to the Church — Bryson Gray (2021) 1 John 4:1
The instruction to test spiritual influences directly invokes John's command to examine spirits rather than accepting every spiritual claim.
Never Fold — Bryson Gray (2021) 1 John 4:1
The declaration about testing spirits directly invokes John’s command to examine spiritual claims rather than believing every spirit.
Signed to Christ — Bryson Gray (2021) 1 John 4:1
Although the lyric appears to omit the numeral before John, the immediate transition to widespread false teachers strongly identifies this as John's command to test spiritual claims because many false prophets have appeared.
Feels Like in First John — ApologetiX (2017) 1 John 4:2-3
The cited passage supplies the song's test of orthodox confession: Jesus Christ genuinely came in the flesh, contrary to teachings that deny His incarnation.
Authority (In The Name of Jesus) — Housefires (2024) 1 John 4:4
The song combines God's self-revealed divine identity to Moses with John's assurance that the one dwelling in believers is greater than opposing powers.
Never Too Far Away — Newsboys (2021) 1 John 4:4
The bridge directly invokes John's contrast between God's presence within believers and the lesser spiritual power operating in the world.
God Is With Her! — Anike & Porsha Love & HOLY GIRL X HLY GRL (2025) 1 John 4:4
The second verse directly invokes John's declaration that the divine presence within believers is greater than the hostile power operating in the world.
HIGH — Victor Thompson (2026) 1 John 4:4
The phrase 'Greater is He that's in me' directly quotes 1 John 4:4, affirming the strength and power of the divine presence within believers.
Powerful God (Live) [feat. Keneiloe Hope] — Spirit Of Praise & Keneiloe Hope (2023) 1 John 4:4
The song directly adopts John's assurance that God's presence within believers is greater than the power operating in the world.
Giants — Colton Dixon (2023) 1 John 4:4
The second verse closely reproduces John’s contrast between God dwelling within believers and the power operating in the world.
If He Did It Before....Same God - Live — Tye Tribbett (2022) 1 John 4:4
The claim that the greater power resides within the believer directly condenses John's assurance that God's indwelling presence is greater than the power operating in the world.
Joy of the Lord — Mac Powell (2021) 1 John 4:4
The second verse closely restates John’s assurance that the One dwelling in believers is greater than the hostile power operating in the world.
Lift High The Name Of Jesus - Live — Keith & Kristyn Getty & Sing! (2017) 1 John 4:4
The second verse restates John’s assurance that the divine presence within believers is greater than the power operating in the world.
King on the Inside — RICHLIN (2021) 1 John 4:4
The chorus closely reproduces John's declaration that the divine presence within believers is greater than the hostile power in the world, applying it specifically to insecurity and deception.
Satan, Bite the Dust! — Carman (2017) 1 John 4:4
The believer’s confidence is expressed through John’s declaration that God’s indwelling presence is greater than the power operating in the world.
The Kingdom of Jesus — The Porter's Gate (2024) 1 John 4:4
The declaration that the one dwelling in believers is greater than the one operating in the world is an unmistakable quotation of this verse.
Enough — Koryn Hawthorne (2019) 1 John 4:4
The claim that victory over hostile spiritual influence is possible because God's Spirit dwells within closely reflects John's assurance that believers overcome because the One in them is greater than the one in the world.
What Is Your Name? — Jon Guerra (2020) 1 John 4:8
The refrain asks whether love names the hidden divine presence, directly engaging John's identification of God's nature as love, though the song presents that claim as a searching question.
That’s Enough — Brandon Heath (2022) 1 John 4:8
The outro identifies love as intrinsic to God’s nature, directly reflecting John’s concise theological statement about who God is.
Mad at Today — Lecrae (2025) 1 John 4:8
The song explicitly states that 'God is love,' directly quoting the essence of 1 John 4:8, which emphasizes the nature of God as love itself.
God Is Love — Chris Renzema (2020) 1 John 4:8
The song directly draws on John's identification of God with love and his teaching that perfected divine love drives away fear.
Good Love — Chris McClarney (2021) 1 John 4:8
The chorus repeatedly uses John’s concise identification of God’s very nature with love, making that declaration the song’s theological center.
I Want To Thank You — Kelly Price (2021) 1 John 4:8
The song directly repeats John’s theological identification of God’s nature with love.
Ordinary Love — John Mark McMillan (2022) 1 John 4:8
The bridge and outro directly repeat 1 John's identification of God's nature with love. The surrounding idea of divine love dwelling within people also fits the chapter's emphasis on God abiding in those who love.
Altogether Good — Citizens & Sandra McCracken (2020) 1 John 4:8
The song directly identifies the Lord with love, closely restating John's twice-repeated declaration about God's essential nature.
Gamble On Your Goodness — Chris Llewellyn (2023) 1 John 4:8
The chorus directly identifies God with love, closely echoing John's repeated declaration about God's essential nature.
Another Song About Love — Brandon Heath (2022) 1 John 4:8
The song grounds the listener’s assurance of being loved in God’s essential nature, closely reflecting John’s repeated declaration that God is love.
God Is Love (feat. Amanda Burnich & Bobby Myers) — Cross Point Music & Amanda Burnich & Bobby Myers (2023) 1 John 4:8
The central refrain directly repeats John’s concise declaration about God’s essential nature.
God's Love — VeggieTales (2022) 1 John 4:8
The chorus directly uses John's concise declaration about God's nature and connects it with believers demonstrating divine love toward others.
NEVER WALK AWAY — ELEVATION RHYTHM (2019) 1 John 4:8
The song identifies unconditional love with God's essential identity, closely paraphrasing John's statement that love belongs to God's very nature.
Love Note (feat. Abbie Gamboa) — UPPERROOM & Abbie Gamboa (2021) 1 John 4:9
The opening presents God's love through His sending of His only Son, closely following John's description of how divine love was revealed.
I Just Want You - Live — Planetshakers (2026) 1 John 4:10
The song reflects the concept that God's love is freely given and covers sin, echoing the message found in 1 John 4:10 about love being defined by God's actions toward humanity.
Savior of the World — Aaron Shust (2019) 1 John 4:14
The song repeatedly applies to Jesus the distinctive biblical title identifying the Son as the world's Savior.
Adorar Sin Cesar (Live) — Bethel Music (2019) 1 John 4:18
The song directly presents perfected love as the force that causes fear to depart, closely restating John’s teaching about love casting out fear.
Abide — Housefires (2016) 1 John 4:18
The prayer for divine love to subdue fear closely paraphrases the teaching that perfected love expels fear. The pairing of love and fear is specific enough to indicate this passage rather than a merely general appeal for comfort.
Honesty — Bethel Music & Sydney Allen (2022) 1 John 4:18
The song connects freedom from fear with abiding in God's love, closely paraphrasing John's teaching that perfected love drives out fear associated with punishment.
Ministers — Tenth Avenue North (2024) 1 John 4:18
The opening directly links freedom from fear with perfected love, closely paraphrasing John's teaching that perfect love drives out fear.
No Longer Slaves - 2023 Short Edit / Live — Tasha Cobbs Leonard (2023) 1 John 4:18
The bridge depicts fear being overcome through perfect love, closely adapting John's teaching that perfected love expels fear.
By The Spirit (Live) — Pat Barrett (2021) 1 John 4:18
The song directly associates perfect love with freedom to defy fear, closely reflecting John’s teaching that perfected love expels fear.
No Hopeless Soul — Stephen Stanley (2020) 1 John 4:18
The description of divine love as perfect evokes John's teaching that perfected love expels fear. Here that love is presented as healing the inner fragmentation caused by shame and distress.
Unto the Lamb — Chaotic Resemblance (2020) 1 John 4:18
The bridge closely paraphrases John’s teaching that perfected love removes fear, presenting divine love as the source of courage under persecution.
Threads — David Leonard (2019) 1 John 4:18
The repeated association of experiencing divine love with freedom from fear closely paraphrases John's teaching that mature love expels fear.
By the Spirit — Pat Barrett (2021) 1 John 4:18
The second verse connects freedom from fear specifically with perfect love, closely paraphrasing John’s teaching that perfected love expels fear.
Living With a Fire — Jesus Culture (2018) 1 John 4:18
The claim that complete love removes fear directly echoes John's teaching about the incompatibility of perfected love and fear.
The Garden — Kari Jobe (2017) 1 John 4:18
The bridge closely paraphrases John's teaching that perfected love drives fear away, presenting divine love as the force that overcomes inward terror.
By the Cross - Live — Red Rocks Worship (2019) 1 John 4:18
The description of perfect love removing fear closely paraphrases John’s teaching that perfected love drives fear out.
Burning With Your Love - Live — Leeland (2019) 1 John 4:18
The chorus presents divine love as removing fear and producing fearlessness, closely paraphrasing John's teaching that perfected love drives out fear.
Tempo Para Amar — Thiago Grulha (2017) 1 John 4:18
The song directly invokes John’s teaching that perfected love expels fear, using it to frame love as the choice that restores life.
More Than Welcome — Aaron Shust (2019) 1 John 4:18
The opening and closing directly invoke John's teaching that perfected divine love expels fear.
Love People — Chris Tomlin (2021) 1 John 4:18
The opening identifies love as the force that expels fear, closely echoing John's teaching about the relationship between perfected love and fear.
My Hallelujah — Bryan & Katie Torwalt (2018) 1 John 4:18
The movement from fear to courage through perfect love closely paraphrases John’s teaching that perfected love expels fear.
Shelter — Vertical Worship (2018) 1 John 4:18
The second verse directly reproduces John's teaching that perfected love drives fear away.
EVERYTHING EVERYTHING — ELEVATION RHYTHM (2019) 1 John 4:18
The movement from being surrounded by the Father's love to fear having no place closely reflects John's teaching that complete love expels fear.
Flowers (with Jamie MacDonald) — Phil Wickham (2026) 1 John 4:19
The singer identifies God’s prior love as the source of his own worship and surrender, closely paraphrasing John’s teaching that human love responds to God’s initiating love.
As You First Loved Me (Live) — Shane & Shane (2023) 1 John 4:19
The recurring commitment to love in response to Christ’s prior love directly restates John’s teaching that believers love because God loved them first.
Mercy — Cade Thompson (2023) 1 John 4:19
The chorus directly reflects John's teaching that human love is a response to God's prior love, making divine initiative the basis for loving others.
Driven — Chaotic Resemblance (2022) 1 John 4:19
The singer grounds personal identity and response in God's prior love, closely echoing John's teaching that believers love because God loved them first.
I Just Love You - Live — Gateway Worship (2022) 1 John 4:19
The bridge directly adopts John's teaching that human love is a response to God's prior love.
I Just Love You - Spontaneous / Live — Gateway Worship (2023) 1 John 4:19
The bridge explicitly grounds the worshiper's responsive love in God's prior love, closely reproducing this verse's distinctive formulation.
Away in a Manger / Worthy is Your Name (feat. Kim Walker-Smith, Chandler Moore & Mav City Gospel Choir) — Maverick City Music & Kim Walker-Smith & Chandler Moore & Mav City Gospel Choir (2021) 1 John 4:19
The closing explanation for loving Jesus closely adapts John's statement that human love is a response to God's prior love.
Dono da Minha Afeição - Ao Vivo — fhop music (2025) 1 John 4:19
The singer grounds personal devotion in Christ's prior love, closely reflecting John's teaching that human love is a response to God loving first.
i love You — Dante Bowe & Aaron Moses & JUDAH. (2021) 1 John 4:19
The chorus presents human love for God as a response to God's prior love, closely paraphrasing John's teaching that believers love because God loved them first.
Oh We Love You (John 3:16) - Live — Shane & Shane & Kingdom Kids (2022) 1 John 4:19
The chorus and closing tag directly reproduce the verse’s cause-and-effect teaching that human love responds to God’s prior love.
Nobody Loves Me Like You — Chris Tomlin (2018) 1 John 4:19
The bridge places Jesus' love before the singer's answering love for God, reflecting John's teaching that human love is a response to God's prior love.
Ele Me Amou Primeiro - Ao Vivo — MORADA (2017) 1 John 4:19
The refrain presents the singer's enduring love for God as a response to God's prior love, closely restating the order of love taught in this verse.
Só Quero Ver Você — Gabriel Guedes de Almeida (2017) 1 John 4:19
Identifying the Creator as the one who loved the singer first echoes John’s statement that human love is a response to God’s prior love.
Jesus I Love You (Live) — Sinach (2024) 1 John 4:19
The spoken introduction explicitly grounds the worshippers’ love for Jesus in God’s prior love for them, closely paraphrasing John’s statement that human love is a response to divine initiative.
All I Have Is Christ - Live — Keith & Kristyn Getty & Bob Kauflin & Jordan Kauflin & Devon Kauflin (2017) 1 John 4:19
The opening confession attributes the believer’s response entirely to God’s prior love, closely following John’s teaching that human love arises from God loving first.
Stand my Ground — Carrollton (2017) 1 John 4:19
The bridge presents human love as a response to God's prior love, directly reflecting John's explanation that believers love because God loved them first.
Talk to Me Nice (feat. S.O.) — KB & S.O. (2023) 1 John 4:20-21
The song challenges the consistency of claiming love for God while failing to love another person, closely matching John's test of genuine love for God.
Father Knows Best — Kirk Franklin (2019) 1 John 4:20-21
The outro closely restates John’s argument that professed love for God is incompatible with refusing love to a fellow believer. God’s fatherhood is presented as creating a family whose members are obligated to love one another.

1 John 4 (King James Version)

¹ Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

² Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

³ And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

⁴ Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.

⁵ They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

⁶ We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. Hereby know we the spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.

⁷ Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

⁸ He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

¹¹ Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

¹² No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

¹³ Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.

¹⁴ And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.

¹⁵ Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.

¹⁶ And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

¹⁷ Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

¹⁹ We love him, because he first loved us.

²⁰ If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?

²¹ And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.