John_love

The third main theme of the letters of John is the idea that God first loved us. It is thorugh this forerunning love of God that we are able to love. He pours His love into us when we are reborn in Him as an example of His love to us. It is thorugh this knowledge, this truth of God's initial love for us that we are able to love one another and have the love of God in us and that He can initiate love through us.

Verses on God first loving us:

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God."
1 John 3:1

"Dear friend, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God: but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us."
1 John 4:11

"We love because He first loved us,"
1 John 4:19