1 John 4:7-12 (NRSV)
The Source of Love
Verse 7
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
In this verse, John emphasizes the importance of loving one another. The word "beloved" is a term of endearment, indicating a deep affection and closeness between believers. John urges us to love one another, not because it's a natural human emotion, but because love originates from God. Those who love are born of God and have a deep understanding of God's character.
Verse 8
Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.
John takes it a step further by stating that those who do not love do not have a true understanding of God. This is because God's very nature is love. This profound statement underscores the importance of love in our relationships with others and with God.
Verse 9
God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him.
Here, John highlights the ultimate expression of God's love: the sending of Jesus Christ into the world. This act of love enables us to live through Him, emphasizing the life-giving power of God's love.
Verse 10
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.
John contrasts human love with God's love. While we did not initiate love towards God, God took the initiative to love us, sending His Son as a sacrifice to atone for our sins. This underscores God's unconditional love for humanity.
Verse 11
Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another.
John encourages believers to respond to God's love by loving one another. Since God has loved us so greatly, it is only fitting that we demonstrate love towards each other.
Verse 12
No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.
In this final verse, John emphasizes the importance of loving one another as a manifestation of God's presence in our lives. When we love one another, God's love is perfected in us, indicating a deepening of our relationship with Him.
