How we cite our quotes: (Chapter: Verse)
Quote #4
Little children, you are from God, and have conquered them; for the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. They are from the world; therefore what they say is from the world, and the world listens to them. We are from God. Whoever knows God listens to us, and whoever is not from God does not listen to us. (1 John 4:4-6, NRSV)
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. They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them. We are of God: he that knoweth God heareth us; he that is not of God heareth not us. (1 John 4:4-6, KJV)
Good vs. evil. Us vs. them. According to the elder, the people in his community are awesome, well-behaved children of God. His opponents are no-good, worldly jerks. How's that for black-and-white thinking?
Quote #5
Every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. And this is the spirit of the antichrist, of which you have heard that it is coming; and now it is already in the world. (1 John 4:3, NRSV)
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. (1 John 4:3, KJV)
If you don't believe what the good guys say about Jesus…you're evil. Hey, we never said this guy was open-minded.
Quote #6
Those who believe in the Son of God have the testimony in their hearts. Those who do not believe in God have made him a liar by not believing in the testimony that God has given concerning his Son. And this is the testimony: God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. (1 John 5:10-12, NRSV)
He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. (1 John 5:10-12, KJV)
It's a simple choice: good or evil. If you buy the things the elder is selling, you can count yourself with the good guys. If not, then it looks like you'll be taking the escalator downstairs at the end of time.