Knowing God Through Love

1 John 4
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
19 We love Him because He first loved us.

There is no greater love than God's love for us. All of us have sinned but instead of condemning us, He sent His beloved Son, Jesus, to pay for all our sins. The guilt of our sins were all nailed to the cross of the Son of Man who suffered tremendously for wrongs He never committed.

Jesus laid down His life for us so we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren (1 John 3:16). But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? (1 John 3:17).

If we say we love God but do not love His children, the truth is not in us (1 John 2:4). He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. He who loves his brother abides in the light and there is no cause for stumbling in him (1 John 2:9-10). This is the simple test of knowing Him. If there is no love in your heart for your neighbor or for a friend, you don't really know God and, naturally, don't love Him, too.

Whoever is born of God does not sin (1 John 5:18). Why? Because if you really love God, you will not do anything to displease Him, purposely and knowingly do anything that will hurt Him. Do you hurt the one you love? Of course not! If you hurt the one you love, you will also be hurting yourself.

Lastly, whoever is born of God, keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him (1 John 5:18). Whoever loves God, keeps himself clean and shining before God's eyes, not a smear of wickedness or evil in his heart because his whole heart is covered with love for God. And love for God is the only thing that God requires of us. This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask for anything according to His will, He hears us (1 John 5:14) and protects us from evil. No harm will befall on someone who loves God dearly.