The verse 1 John 4:7 states “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.” This verse teaches an important truth about the nature and origin of love. Specifically, it makes three key points:
1. Love comes from God
The verse clearly states that “love is from God.” This means that the very capacity and motivation to love ultimately comes from God. As humans, we are able to love because we are made in the image of a God who himself is love (1 John 4:8). Love is rooted in the very nature and character of God. Just as the sun radiates light and heat, God radiates love. All human love is a reflection of divine love. God is the source and origin of love.
2. Loving others shows we have been born of God
The verse goes on to say “whoever loves has been born of God.” Here, loving others is presented as evidence that someone has been “born of God.” In Scripture, being “born of God” refers to spiritual rebirth through faith in Christ (John 1:12-13, John 3:3-8, 1 Peter 1:23). When someone repents of sin and trusts in Christ, they receive new spiritual life and are adopted into God’s family. This new birth and new life are accompanied by new motivations, desires, and spiritual capacities, including the capacity to love. Thus, a lifestyle of loving others serves as evidence that someone has experienced spiritual regeneration.
3. Loving others shows we know God
Finally, the verse concludes by saying “whoever loves…knows God.” In the Bible, “knowing God” speaks of having a personal, intimate relationship with him (Galatians 4:9, 1 John 2:3-6). Loving others both flows from knowing God intimately and also deepens our knowledge of him. As we share in the very love of God Himself through the inner working of the Holy Spirit, we come to know His heart and character more profoundly (Romans 5:5). And acting on His love expands our understanding of what He is like. Loving others and knowing God are intricately and beautifully connected.
In summary, 1 John 4:7 teaches that God is the source of love, loving others shows that someone is born of God, and a lifestyle of love fosters deeper knowledge of God. This has significant implications for Christians:
- We can have confidence that God will empower us to love others because love comes from Him.
- We should regularly evaluate if we are living a lifestyle of love as evidence of being born again.
- We must prioritize not just knowing about God, but actually knowing and experiencing Him intimately.
- Loving others should be motivated by desire to share God’s own love and thereby grow closer to Him in relationship.
Living out the truth of “God is love” starts with understanding that we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). As recipients of God’s amazing grace and love, we can in turn extend that love to others, which both pleases God and draws us closer to Him. This is the beautiful and transformative message at the heart of 1 John 4:7.
Old Testament Background
While 1 John 4:7 presents love as originating from God, this truth has its foundation in the Old Testament. God was presented as a loving God right from the beginning.
In the creation account, God creates mankind in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27). Bearing God’s image includes the capacity for relationship, which is an expression of love. God walks with Adam and Eve in loving fellowship in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 3:8). The Old Testament Law given through Moses includes commands to love God and love neighbor (Deuteronomy 6:5, Leviticus 19:18). God describes His covenant relationship with Israel in terms of a loving marriage (Hosea 2:14-20). The very character of God is proclaimed as merciful, gracious, patient, loving, and forgiving (Exodus 34:6-7).
So while the specific words “God is love” are not used, God’s identity as a God of love is abundantly clear throughout the Old Testament. This provides crucial background for the direct assertion “love is from God” in 1 John 4:7.
New Testament Fulfillment
The New Testament takes God’s identity as love to new heights. God reveals the depths of his love by sending his own Son Jesus to die for sins (John 3:16, Romans 5:8). Jesus embodies God’s love in human form (John 1:14, 1 John 4:9-10). He calls his followers to love as He has loved them (John 13:34-35), and the Holy Spirit empowers them to demonstrate divine love (Romans 5:5, Galatians 5:22-23).
While God’s identity as love was present in the Old Testament, the New Testament pulls back the curtain to give the fullest revelation through the incarnation of Jesus. As 1 John 4:7 states, to look at Jesus is to see perfect love originating from the Father.
Implications for Christians
If love comes from God and Jesus is the perfect embodiment of that love, what implications does this have for those who follow Christ? Significantly, it means that God’s own love is available to believers through the indwelling Holy Spirit. The supernatural capacity to love – even enemies – comes from God by grace (Matthew 5:44-45). Loving others, even at personal cost, is possible as we draw upon divine love within us (John 15:9-13). As we choose to act on that love, it not only blesses others but transforms us to become more like Jesus (1 John 4:12).
Additionally, recognizing that love comes from God should move believers to praise and worship. More than a duty or command, loving others becomes a joyful response to experiencing God’s love poured out in our hearts (Romans 5:5). Just as Jesus’ love flowed from intimacy with the Father, so our love should flow from a life of intimacy with Jesus by the Spirit (John 15:4-5, Galatians 2:20).
As Christians, the call to “let us love one another” is rooted in the beautiful truth that God Himself is the source of love. And living from His love each day allows us to join Him in fulfilling Jesus’ prayer that the Father’s love would be in us, so that the world may know Him (John 17:26). What an amazing privilege.
Key Points
- Love originates from the very nature of God, who is love.
- The capacity and motivation to love ultimately comes from God.
- Loving others serves as evidence that someone has been born of God.
- Loving others flows from knowing God intimately.
- The Old Testament presents God as a loving God.
- Jesus fully reveals the depths of God’s love.
- God’s love is available to believers by the Holy Spirit.
- Loving others becomes the joyful response of one who has experienced God’s love.
In summary, the verse teaches us that love is of God in source, nature and empowerment. This has massive implications for fulfilling the call to love one another. May we lean into God’s love and let it flow through us to others for His glory!