1. God is love (7-12)

God is love. He showed his love by sending his one and only son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Now whoever accepts and believes this love, God's love is born in him. He can love God and others too. Whoever loves others, we know he received God's love. But if whoever does not love others does not know God. For no one can love others unless he accepts God's love first. When we love others, God's love is made complete in us.

2. He first loved us (13-21)

John once had no love. He wanted God to send a lightening to destroy the unbelieving Samaritans (Lk 9:54). But he saw God's love in Jesus and was changed. He was even called as an apostle of love. Like John whoever acknowledges Jesus as the Son of God, the Savior of the world, he lives in God and God in him. Then he will not fear the judgment. Perfect love drives out fear. We love because God first loved us. If anyone does not love others, whom they have seen, they cannot love God, whom they have not seen. It is not easy to love others. Therefore, God commanded us to love others by receiving his love first.