1 John 4:21

God's Love Revealed

²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates (works against) his [Christian] brother he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹ And this commandment we have from Him, that the one who loves God should also [unselfishly] love his brother and seek the best for him.

From God

1 John 3:11

For this is the message which you [believers] have heard from the beginning [of your relationship with Christ], that we should [unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another;

Leviticus 19:18

You shall not take revenge nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor (acquaintance, associate, companion) as yourself; I am the Lord.

Matthew 22:37-39

And Jesus replied to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’

Matthew 5:43

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor (fellow man) and hate your enemy.’

Mark 12:29-33

Jesus answered, “The first and most important one is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God is one Lord;

Luke 10:37

He answered, “The one who showed compassion and mercy to him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and constantly do the same.”

John 13:34-35

I am giving you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too are to love one another.

John 15:12

“This is My commandment, that you love and unselfishly seek the best for one another, just as I have loved you.

Romans 12:9-10

Love is to be sincere and active [the real thing—without guile and hypocrisy]. Hate what is evil [detest all ungodliness, do not tolerate wickedness]; hold on tightly to what is good.

Romans 13:9-10

The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, you shall not murder, you shall not steal, you shall not covet,” and any other commandment are summed up in this statement: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

Galatians 5:6

For [if we are] in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but only faith activated and expressed and working through love.

Galatians 5:14

For the whole Law [concerning human relationships] is fulfilled in one precept, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself [that is, you shall have an unselfish concern for others and do things for their benefit].”

1 Thessalonians 4:9

Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you, for you have been [personally] taught by God to love one another [that is, to have an unselfish concern for others and to do things for their benefit].

1 Peter 3:8

Finally, all of you be like-minded [united in spirit], sympathetic, brotherly, kindhearted [courteous and compassionate toward each other as members of one household], and humble in spirit;

1 Peter 4:8

Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

1 John 3:14

We know that we have passed out of death into Life, because we love the brothers and sisters. He who does not love remains in [spiritual] death.

1 John 3:18

Little children (believers, dear ones), let us not love [merely in theory] with word or with tongue [giving lip service to compassion], but in action and in truth [in practice and in sincerity, because practical acts of love are more than words].

1 John 3:23

This is His commandment, that we believe [with personal faith and confident trust] in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and [that we unselfishly] love and seek the best for one another, just as He commanded us.

1 John 4:11

Beloved, if God so loved us [in this incredible way], we also ought to love one another.