How do we know that loving one another is a command from God?

The command to love one another is firmly rooted in the teachings of Jesus and the writings of the apostles. In John 15:12, Jesus explicitly commands His disciples, 'This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.' This directive is repeated and reinforced throughout the New Testament, especially in the epistles, such as 1 John 4:7-8, where John writes, 'Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.' The New Testament consistently emphasizes that love is not optional for believers but is foundational to our identity and conduct as Christians.