Neville Goddard on 1 John 4:1-6 - Mystical Bible Interpretation

Read 1 John 4 in context

Scripture Focus

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

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

3And 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.

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

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

6We 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.

1 John 4:1-6

Biblical Context

The passage urges testing every spirit and discerning truth from error, affirming that those who confess Jesus come in the flesh are of God, and that the greater I AM within us overcomes the world.

Neville's Inner Vision

In the Neville Goddard view, all spirits are states of consciousness. The many voices you hear are the weather of your inner life, not distant prophets. To test them is to examine your own belief and feeling: which voice aligns with the truth of the incarnated I AM within you? When the confession that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is acknowledged, you are recognizing that divine idea has taken form in your current experience; this is the Spirit of God. Any voice that denies this incarnated truth belongs to the antichrist of fear and doubt in your mind. You are of God; greater is the I AM dwelling in you than in the world. The so-called voices of the world are simply old, untransformed thoughts seeking to rule your attention. The work is inner: cultivate a consciousness that resonates with truth, and your outer world will reflect that inner alignment. The Spirit of truth arises when your inner listening is clear and your imagination is yoked to that inner reality.

Practice This Now

Close your eyes, declare softly: I am the I AM; the greater One within me is truth. Test every thought by asking, 'Does this align with my inner divine sight?' then revise any fear as if it never happened, sinking into the certainty of the inner truth.