“He who does not love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:8).
Throughout the book of 1 John the apostle is very concerned to exhort Christians to love one another — not just in word, but in action. And John has emphasized this in many different ways throughout his first epistle. For instance, 1 John 2:8-9 he calls us to love one another because love is what God commands. In chapter 3:14-15, John wrote that believers need to love one another because true love is evidence that we have been made a new creation in Christ. Love is evidence that the Spirit of God has changed us on the inside, translated us from darkness to light, and abundantly poured forth His love in hearts. Jesus said to His disciples in John 13:35: “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you love one another as I have loved you.” The Apostle Paul said that the greatest of God’s gifts to mankind is love (1 Cor. 13:13). And the love that God pours forth in the heart of His redeemed people is seen by godly characteristics: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails” (1 Cor. 13:4-8).
In 1 John 4:7-16, John argues that we ought to love one another because God is love, and God has demonstrated His love by giving His Son for our redemption. Therefore, if we have been adopted into the family of God, and are being conformed into the image of Jesus Christ, then we ought to love one another in the same manner that God has loved us. Yes, it’s a challenge to manifest this kind of love in the life of the church because of the struggle against old sinful thoughts, habits, and desires, but that’s exactly why the Scripture continually exhorts believers to love one another. “Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfillment of the law. And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed” (Rom. 13:10-11). “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God” (1 John 4:7).