The Bible teaches that God's love is not merely an attribute He possesses, but the very essence of His nature, most clearly manifested in the sending of His Son as the propitiation for our sins. This love is the primary motivation for our own love toward God and our neighbor, as we respond to the grace we have first received in Christ.
The Scriptures declare that 'God is love' (1 John 4:8), meaning that all true love finds its origin and definition in Him. This is not a passive sentiment, but an active, sovereign display of mercy. As 1 John 4:10 emphasizes, the perfection of this love is found not in our initial affection for Him, but in the fact that He took the initiative to love us, sending His Son to be the propitiation—the sacrifice that turns away wrath—for our sins. We are fundamentally flawed and sinful, yet in Christ, we are more loved than we ever dared hope.
Because we have been 'begotten of God' (1 John 4:7), our capacity to love is a fruit of our union with Him. We do not love in order to be accepted; rather, we love because 'He first loved us' (1 John 4:19). This gospel reality changes our posture toward the law. Obedience is not a burden to earn favor, but a joyful response to the One who has already accomplished our salvation. As we keep His commandments, we find that His love is perfected in us, and we are empowered to love our neighbor as ourselves (1 John 5:1–3).