The phrase, "God is love" is found in 1 John 4:8, "Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love." What does the author mean?
1. "Anyone who does not love does not know God...": If a person lacks love, he is unchanged at the core of his being by God. The implication here is you cannot say you know God if you do NOT love others. Remember the more you know a person, the more that person's values will influence your life (e.g. decision, behavior, thoughts, etc.). Therefore, the way you know whether someone loves God or not is whether she is influenced by him - if she loves others as He does.
2. "...because God is love." The author is not saying that God is ONLY love (because God has many other attributes), nor that love is God (i.e. the emotion or feeling of love equals God). "God is love" means that God always gives of himself to others and seeks their goodness. The most visible way He shows us this attribute is through the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ (1 John 4:9). God came into our human world to suffer with us and die for us - demonstrating the greatest act of love.
Also consider the community and intimacy between God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. This is the perfect example of love, servanthood and humility. Indeed, God shows love, but more importantly, God IS love.
[Answered by Pastor HM & Elvin Wong, Agape Counselor]
