1 John 4:16

16 We know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

1 John 4:16 Meaning and Commentary

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed
Or have a full assurance and knowledge of, and faith in,

the love that God hath to us;
shown as in many instances, so more especially in sending his Son to be the propitiation for our sins, to be the Saviour of us, and that we might live through him.

God is love; (See Gill on 1 John 4:8):

and he that dwelleth in love;
who dwells by faith upon the love of God as displayed in Christ, and abides in the exercise of love to God and to the saints:

dwelleth in God, and God in him; (See Gill on 1 John 4:13); the last clause, "and God in him", is left out in the Syriac version.

1 John 4:16 In-Context

14 We have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as the Savior of the world.

15 Whoever will confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.

16 We know and have believed the love which God has in us. God is love, and he who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.

17 In this love has been made perfect with us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as he is, even so are we in this world.

18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment. He who fears is not made perfect in love.