Knowing God Through Love(A)

(B)Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who (C)loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. (D)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten (E)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. 10 In this is love, (F)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son (G)to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, (H)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

12 (I)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. 13 (J)By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. 14 And (K)we have seen and testify that (L)the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world. 15 (M)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and (N)he who abides in love abides in God, and God (O)in him.

The Consummation of Love

17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that (P)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 casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. 19 (Q)We love [a]Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

20 (R)If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, [b]how can he love God (S)whom he has not seen? 21 And (T)this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

Obedience by Faith

Whoever believes that (U)Jesus is the Christ is (V)born of God, and everyone who loves Him who begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and (W)keep His commandments. (X)For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And (Y)His commandments are not burdensome. For (Z)whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that (AA)has overcome the world—[c]our faith.

Footnotes

  1. 1 John 4:19 NU omits Him
  2. 1 John 4:20 NU he cannot
  3. 1 John 5:4 M your

God’s Love and Ours

Dear friends, let us love one another,(A) for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God(B) and knows God.(C) Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(D) This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son(E) into the world that we might live through him.(F) 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us(G) and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.(H) 11 Dear friends,(I) since God so loved us,(J) we also ought to love one another.(K) 12 No one has ever seen God;(L) but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.(M)

13 This is how we know(N) that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit.(O) 14 And we have seen and testify(P) that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world.(Q) 15 If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,(R) God lives in them and they in God.(S) 16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.

God is love.(T) Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.(U) 17 This is how love is made complete(V) among us so that we will have confidence(W) on the day of judgment:(X) In this world we are like Jesus. 18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear,(Y) because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

19 We love because he first loved us.(Z) 20 Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister(AA) is a liar.(AB) For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen,(AC) cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(AD) 21 And he has given us this command:(AE) Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.(AF)

Faith in the Incarnate Son of God

Everyone who believes(AG) that Jesus is the Christ(AH) is born of God,(AI) and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.(AJ) This is how we know(AK) that we love the children of God:(AL) by loving God and carrying out his commands. In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands.(AM) And his commands are not burdensome,(AN) for everyone born of God(AO) overcomes(AP) the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.