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19 We love because God first loved us. 20 If we say we love God, but hate others, we are liars. For we cannot love God, whom we have not seen, if we do not love others, whom we have seen. 21 The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love others also.

Our Victory over the World

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Messiah is a child of God; and whoever loves a father loves his child also. This is how we know that we love God's children: it is by loving God and obeying his commands. (A)For our love for God means that we obey his commands. And his commands are not too hard for us, because every child of God is able to defeat the world. And we win the victory over the world by means of our faith.

19 We love[a] because he first loved us. 20 Those who say, “I love God,” and hate a brother or sister are liars, for those who do not love a brother or sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.(A) 21 The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.

Faith Conquers the World

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ[b] has been born of God, and everyone who loves the parent loves the child.(B) By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For the love of God is this, that we obey his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome,(C) for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith.(D)

Footnotes

  1. 4.19 Other ancient authorities add him or God
  2. 5.1 Or the Messiah