^16 (A)For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten ^(B)Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

⁸ But ^(A)God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

The Command to Love

3 Behold ^(A)what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that ^(B)we should be called children of ^[a]God! Therefore the world does not know ^[b]us, ^(C)because it did not know Him.

⁸ He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. ^9 (A)In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten ^(B)Son into the world, that we might live through Him. ¹⁰ In this is love, ^(C)not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son ^(D)to be the propitiation for our sins. ¹¹ Beloved, ^(E)if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

^12 (F)No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us.

¹⁸ There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. ^19 (A)We love ^[a]Him because He first loved us.