1 John 4:15-21

English Standard Version

¹⁵^(A)Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. ¹⁶So ^(B)we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. ^(C)God is love, and ^(D)whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. ¹⁷By this ^(E)is love perfected with us, so that ^(F)we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because ^(G)as he is so also are we in this world. ¹⁸There is no fear in love, but ^(H)perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not ^(I)been perfected in love. ¹⁹^(J)We love because he first loved us. ²⁰^(K)If anyone says, “I love God,” and ^(L)hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot^[a] love God ^(M)whom he has not seen. ²¹And ^(N)this commandment we have from him: ^(O)whoever loves God must also love his brother.