How do we know that God's love is essential?

The apostle John states in 1 John 4:7, 'Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.' This indicates that love is not only a command but a defining characteristic of those who are born again. Experiencing God's love impels us to love others as a genuine expression of our faith. It is through love that we demonstrate the authenticity of our relationship with God, as John continues by stating that anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.