Love embodies God

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God: and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God. For God is love (1 John 4:7-8)

Beloved, let us love one another

1. There is one thing we all must seek to do
2. Loving one another is that which we must cultivate in life
3. John urges his beloved readers to love one another
   1. Not only in word
   2. But also in deed

For love is of God

1. Love has God as its ontological ground
2. It is God who loves us
3. It is God who bestows upon us this love ( 1 John 3:1)
4. It is God who makes us capable of loving others

And everyone who loves is born of God

1. Humanity in its own (fallen) nature cannot love others
2. A person who loves others is born of God
   1. He is regenerated
   2. He is recreated
3. Such a person is initiated into the nature of God, thereby growing in the image (character) of God

And knows God

1. This person who loves the brethren knows God
2. As we love others, we too will grow in our knowledge of God

How who does not love does not know God

1. This is simply the obvious logical conclusion
2. What matters is our claim that we know God, but our love that we share with the brethren

For God is love

1. Mistaken is the view that love is God
2. As the Scriptures say, that “God is love” must stand
3. ‘God is love’ means
   1. God’s relationship toward us is embodied in love
   2. Our relationship with God is expressed in love
   3. Our relationship with the brethren too must be in love

Love well given out embodies God in us!