1 John 4:9

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.

(v9, NIV)

In the last chapter, John uses the example of Jesus to show that this is how we know what love is. Jesus' actions were an example to show us what love is. This time, focusing on God the Father, we see that this is how God showed his love among us. Using the same example, but it was God who is the focus this time. God is the one who sent his son into the world. The reason why he did this was so that we might live through him. It is only through him that we are able to live. Aside from this, there is no way that we could live. We are dead in our trespasses and sins. It is only by this love that God showed to use that we might be able to live through him.

Love comes from God. This is the example for which love comes from God. From God was this outpouring of love through his sending of his son for our sake. It is through this act of love that we might live through him.