1 John 4:12-21

12 No one has ever seen God. But if we love one another, God lives in us. His love is made complete in us.

13 We know that we belong to him and he belongs to us. He has given us his Holy Spirit.

14 The Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. We have seen it. We give witness to it.

15 God lives in anyone who agrees that Jesus is the Son of God. That kind of person remains joined to God.

16 So we know that God loves us. We depend on it. God is love. Anyone who leads a life of love shows that he is joined to God. And God is joined to him.

17 So love is made complete among us. We will be bold on the day God judges us. That's because in this world we love as Jesus did.

18 There is no fear in love. Instead, perfect love drives fear away. Fear has to do with being punished. The one who fears does not have perfect love.

19 We love because he loved us first.

20 Anyone who says he loves God but in fact hates his brother or sister is a liar. He doesn't love his brother or sister, whom he has seen. So he can't love God, whom he has not seen.

21 Here is the command God has given us. Anyone who loves God must also love his brothers and sisters.