God had “Agape” love and sent His only begotten Son to die for us.

Because of His love for us, we ought to also love one another. The word used for “one another” is unique to the New Testament and refers to a mutual exchange between others and us.

“Ought” may sound like a suggestion, but it actually refers to something we owe or are indebted to do.

This does not negate the fact that it is a choice we must make. Rather, it expresses the earnest requirement for us to do what is expected of us by God.

“No man hath seen God at any time.”

This is a sentence that seems out of place with the rest of the surrounding scriptures.

It is said that this is the writer’s attempt at reminding us that because no man has seen the invisible God, we demonstrate His love and make His existence apparent by loving those around us. We represent Christ as ambassadors, and we are His hands and feet.

“If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

“God dwelleth in us” is talking about God abiding in us and finishing the work in us.

His love being perfected in us is not about a process of perfection that we must attain by our efforts, but a statement of His one time forever perfection of His love in us when we are born again. He is the source of the perfection of love in us, because He dwells in us. If we love another, we show that God dwells in us.

If you don’t love other people, it doesn’t mean that God doesn’t dwell in you, it just means that you have not come to the realization of His love being made perfect in you. As long as you try to love in your own strength, you aren’t letting His love work through you.

What the Law could not do to make us perfect, Christ has done for us.

His perfection brings perfect love in us, not by anything we can do to perfect ourselves or perfect our love for others.

The more we realize that our love for others is sourced and rooted in what He has done in us and through us, the less it becomes about something we must struggle to receive.

Remind yourself:

God’s love is made perfect in me.

I love because I am loved.

Jesus is God’s love in me.