Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 4:16

"And we know and have believed the love which God hath in us. God is love; and he that abideth in love abideth in God, and God abideth in him." — 1 John 4:16 (ASV)

God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

This is not mere benevolence; there are many benevolent people who still do not dwell in love. They wish well to their fellow human beings; but not to all. They are full of indignation at certain people for the wrong that they have done them.

John's words teach us that there is a way of living in which you are in accord with God and with all humanity; you have passed out of the region of enmity into the realm of love. When you have come there, by the grace of God, then God dwells in you, and you dwell in him.

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us.

How far is this true of all of you? How many here can join with the beloved apostle, and say, "We have known and believed the love that God hath to us"? We know it; we have felt it; we are under its power. We know it still; it remains a matter of faith to us; we believe it. We have a double hold of it. "We know," we are not agnostics. "We believe," we are not unbelievers.