Charles Spurgeon Commentary 1 John 4:9-10

"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. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son [to be] the propitiation for our sins." — 1 John 4:9-10 (ASV)

In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:9–10)

Sometimes people say, "How can we love a person who is not lovable, one who will not love us in return?" Yet God did so; he loved us when we did not love him, he loved us when there was nothing lovable in us; and we ought to take God as our pattern in all things.