In 1 John, the Bible teaches that God is love and that loving one another is a fundamental aspect of knowing God.
1 John 4:7-8 emphasizes that love originates from God, stating that 'everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.' The text further elucidates that the essence of God's nature is love. This means that if one does not love, they do not truly know God, because love is intrinsic to God's identity. Thus, the calling for believers is to love one another, reflecting the love God has for us through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
Scripture References:
1 John 4:7-8, 1 John 4:7-10, 1 John 3:24, 1 John 4:7-12, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:12
Commentary