Herein was the love of God manifested in us, that God hath sent his only begotten Son into the world that we might live through him.
God's love manifested itself in our creation, in His compassion toward us in our apostasy when He said Live instead of Die, and supremely in sending His only begotten Son that we might live through Him. Love exercised with such condescension after our provocation obliges us beyond all measure.
AI summary
God's special love to His elect was secret from eternity, but now at the sending of His Son it broke forth and shone out in glory. That the Father, against whom we have sinned, the Lawgiver of purer eyes than to behold iniquity, should send His only begotten Son to be Saviour of sinful men is an amazing instance of love.
AI summary
Love descends from heaven itself, it is God's nature and the fruit of His Spirit. Whoever loves with genuine holy affection is born of God and knows Him truly. But whoever loves not, knows not God; such a soul shows by its very coldness that true knowledge of the divine nature has no dwelling place within it.
AI summary
Commenting on 1 John 4:7-13