I John 4:7- 5:1  John continues to emphasize the truths that help us  to "know that we have eternal life".(5:13)   Chapter 3:23 says, "and this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as He commanded us."  John now expands on these two traits... 

 In 4:7, John says, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God."  Then in 5:1 he writes, "Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God; and whoever loves the Father loves the child born of Him."   

Love and Faith. These two traits are evidence of one "born of God".   If we say we believe in Jesus, but have no love.. we are missing the mark.  Likewise, if we are full of "love".. acting with even the most generous of hearts.. but do not fully trust in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.. we are lost and without hope. 

The evidence of God's presence in our lives.. our faith and our love.. is produced by the Holy Spirit.. "By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." (4:13) 

John presents the basic beliefs that we must acknowledge and live by.. 

v7  ".. love is from God"

v8 ".. God is love"

v9 God manifested His love.. "God  has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him."

v10 .. "this is love... that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins." 

v11 since God loved us " we also ought to love one another." 

v12.. "if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us." 

By the power of the Spirit of God in us we are able to "bear witness that the Father has sent the Son to be the Savior of the world." 

We confess that "Jesus is the Son of God", revealing His presence in us and our presence in Him. v15

We believe in His love for us. 

We abide in His love. 

We abide in Him. 

We gain confidence as love is perfected in us. 

We lose fear, which is cast out by that love. 

"We love because He first loved us." 

Father in heaven, how glorious is Your Name in all the earth!  You loved us and sent Your Son to save us. We give You praise and offer thanks for Your most gracious gift.  Teach us by Your Holy Spirit to keep abiding in these truths.  Fall fresh on us, Spirit of God, that we might be perfected.. complete.. in the fullness of the love of our God and Father and of the Son. Abide in us that we might have true faith and true love, in the Name of Jesus, our Lord. Amen.