7 Beloved, let us [unselfishly] *love and seek the best for one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves [others] is born of God and knows God [through personal experience]. 8 The one who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love. [He is the originator of love, and it is an enduring attribute of His nature.]

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation [that is, the atoning sacrifice, and the satisfying offering] for our sins [fulfilling God’s requirement for justice against sin and placating His wrath].

15 Whoever confesses and acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. 16 We have come to know [by personal observation and experience], and have believed [with deep, consistent faith] the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides continually in him.

19 We love, because *He first loved us.

16 "For God so [greatly] loved and dearly prized the world, that He [even] gave His [One and] *only begotten Son, so that whoever believes and trusts in Him [as Savior] shall not perish, but have eternal life.

8 But God clearly shows and proves His own love for us, by the fact that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

4 But God, being [so very] rich in mercy, because of His great and wonderful love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace—His undeserved favor and mercy—you have been saved from God’s judgment). [Rom 6:1-10]

15 But You, O Lord, are a God [who protects and is] merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness and truth.

7 How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

The children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.

3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,

My lips shall praise You.

1 *Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;

For His lovingkindness (graciousness, mercy, compassion) endures forever.

18 Who is a God like You, who forgives wickedness

And passes over the rebellious acts of the remnant of His possession?

He does not retain His anger forever,

Because He [constantly] delights in mercy and lovingkindness.

11 Finally, believers, rejoice! Be made complete [be what you should be], be comforted, be like-minded, live in peace [enjoy the spiritual well-being experienced by believers who walk closely with God]; and the God of love and peace [the source of lovingkindness] will be with you.