The short but powerful verse, “We love because He first loved us” (1 John 4:19), captures the heart of the Christian life. It reminds us that love does not start with us—it begins with God. His love is the source, the model, and the motivation for how we love others.
God’s Love Came First
Before we ever knew Him, God loved us. His love is not based on what we do but on who He is. The Bible says:
But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8
This means that even in our brokenness and rebellion, God’s love was already active. He didn’t wait for us to be perfect before showing mercy. His love is unconditional and sacrificial, shown most clearly through Jesus Christ on the cross.
| Truth About God’s Love | Scripture Reference |
|---|---|
| God’s love is patient and kind | 1 Corinthians 13:4–5 |
| God’s love is everlasting | Jeremiah 31:3 |
| God’s love is self-giving | John 3:16 |
| God’s love forgives | Psalm 103:11–12 |
Love Flows From Relationship With God
We can’t truly love others unless we first know God’s love. When we experience His grace, forgiveness, and kindness, it changes how we treat people. The Apostle John connects love with knowing God:
Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. — 1 John 4:7
Loving others becomes natural when we are filled with the love of Christ. It is not forced or fake. It’s the overflow of a heart that has been changed by God.
Love as a Reflection of God’s Character
God’s love is the foundation for all Christian behavior. Jesus called love the greatest commandment:
‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ — Matthew 22:37–39
This two-part commandment shows that love toward God and love toward others are deeply connected. When we love God sincerely, it naturally leads to compassion, forgiveness, and kindness toward others.
How Love Reflects God’s Nature
- Forgiveness: Just as God forgives us, we forgive others (Ephesians 4:32).
- Compassion: God’s mercy moves us to care for those in need (Colossians 3:12).
- Patience: God’s patience toward us teaches us to be patient with others (2 Peter 3:9).
Loving Others the Way God Loves Us
God’s love is practical—it acts. Jesus didn’t just speak about love; He demonstrated it through His actions.
Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. — John 15:13
This kind of love costs something. It requires humility and sacrifice. It means loving the unlovable, forgiving the undeserving, and showing kindness even when it’s not returned.
| Way to Show God’s Love | Example |
|---|---|
| Forgive someone who hurt you | Reflects God’s mercy |
| Help someone in need | Reflects God’s compassion |
| Pray for your enemies | Reflects Jesus’ teaching |
| Encourage the discouraged | Reflects the Holy Spirit’s comfort |
Love That Transforms
When we live out God’s love, it changes communities, families, and hearts. Love has the power to heal relationships and break cycles of anger and fear. The Apostle Paul wrote:
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love. — 1 Corinthians 13:13
Faith connects us to God, hope looks to His promises, but love reflects His very nature. It’s the evidence that His Spirit is alive in us.
A Response to His Love
Our love for others isn’t about earning God’s approval—it’s a response to His grace. When we understand how deeply we are loved, we are moved to love others the same way. The more we receive His love, the more we can share it freely.
Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. — 1 John 4:11
God’s love is not something we keep to ourselves. It’s meant to overflow into our relationships, our communities, and even to those who may never return it.
Living Out the Message
To live out “We love because He first loved us” means:
- Loving others without expecting anything in return.
- Forgiving as God forgave us.
- Extending kindness even when it’s difficult.
- Remembering daily that our ability to love starts with God’s love for us.
When we anchor our lives in His love, we begin to see others through His eyes. Love becomes not just a feeling but a way of life.
Let all that you do be done in love. — 1 Corinthians 16:14
