1 John 4:20-21

If anyone says, "I love God," yet hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. 21And he has given us this command: Whoever loves God must also love his brother.

(v20-21, NIV)

It is from God that we receive love; he shows us what love is by sending his son that we might live through him. God is love and love is made complete through living in love. God loves us and we must love our brothers. It is not God who loves us because we love, but God loves us first and then we love.

There are those who claim to love God. However, John states clearly that if that same person hates his brother, he is a liar. You cannot both hate your brother and love God. It doesn't make sense. In fact, we are even given the command that whoever loves God must also love his brother. God loves us and thus we can love our brothers and love God. However, you cannot love God without loving your brother. It doesn't make sense; we are commanded to love our brothers. John presents it as such: if we cannot even love our brothers who we can actually see, how can we love God who we have not seen?

Back in verse 17, when love is made complete among us, John also mentions that in this world we are like him. In addition, these people abide in God and God abides in them. Therefore, if these people are like God and have God abiding in them. We see these brothers who are Christ followers and emulating his likeness through him and we are called to love them. If we are unable to love these who has God abiding in them, how can we love the very same God when we can't even see them? Love God and love your brothers.