1 John 4:7-11

AUV(i) 7 Loved ones, we should have love for one another, because love comes from [the very nature of] God, and every person who [continually] loves [others] has been [spiritually] conceived by God [See 2:29; 3:9], and knows [he is in fellowship with] God. 8 The person who does not love [others] does not know God [as Savior], for [the very nature of] God is love. 9 Here is the way God’s love for us was demonstrated; He sent His one and only Son into the world so that we could have [spiritual] life through Him. 10 Here is [the essence of] love: [It is] not that we loved God [first], but that He loved us [See Rom. 5:6-8] and sent His Son to be a “covering over” [i.e., atonement, 2:2] for our sins. 11 Loved ones, if God loved us that much, we should also love one another.