16
We have known and believed that God loves us. God is love. Those who live in God's love live in God, and God lives in them.
17
God's love has reached its goal in us. So we look ahead with confidence to the day of judgment. While we are in this world, we are exactly like him [with regard to love].
18
No fear exists where his love is. Rather, perfect love gets rid of fear, because fear involves punishment. The person who lives in fear doesn't have perfect love.
20
Whoever says, "I love God," but hates another believer is a liar. People who don't love other believers, whom they have seen, can't love God, whom they have not seen.
21
Christ has given us this commandment: The person who loves God must also love other believers.