God loved us first
1 John 4:19
“We love because he first loved us.”
Biblical Context
The First Epistle of John was written by the apostle John, probably at the end of the first century AD. This letter is addressed to a Christian community facing internal and external challenges, including the spread of false teachings that denied the incarnation of Jesus and the importance of brotherly love.
In chapter 4, John emphasizes the importance of love as an essential characteristic of true believers. In the verses preceding 1 John 4:19, John explains that love comes from God and that those who love their brethren demonstrate that they are born of God and know God.
“We love.”
This “we” refers to believers in Christ. Love is not just a feeling, but an action that manifests itself in our relationships with others.
“because he first loved us.”
This is the key to the verse. God's love is the source and foundation of our love. God loved us first, even before we loved him. His love is unconditional, generous and sacrificial.
Christian love is a reflection of God's love:
By loving others, we are reflecting God's character and showing the world what true love means.