"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
— 1 John 4:16 (NIV)
1 John 4:16 is the verse people mean when they search the reference for "God is love" with living in love. This page is the passage and a plain reading. The longer study on this site is God is love Bible: 1 John 4:16. The shorter twin claim is 1 John 4:8 and God is love Bible verse. Perfect love and fear in the same chapter are 1 John 4:18 and Perfect love casts out fear. The God who is love loved us first, which 1 John 4:19 names.
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The verse
1 John 4:16 (NIV) reads: "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them."
The King James says, "And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him." Same claim: God's love is known and trusted, and living in love is living in God.
What the verse is saying
John has already said "God is love" in verse 8. Verse 16 repeats it and adds two moves: we know and rely on that love, and whoever lives in love lives in God and God in them. The verse is not a romance slogan. It is about abiding — a settled life of love that matches God's own nature. Agape love in the Bible and Unconditional love Bible: 1 John 4:19 stay with that chapter.
Verse 18 then shows what that love does to fear of punishment. See 1 John 4:18.
How people use 1 John 4:16
People look up the reference for assurance, sermons on abiding, and the fuller "God is love" line after 1 John 4:8. Churches teach 4:8 and 4:16 together. Related pages are 1 John 4:8 meaning and What does the Bible say about love.
Questions people ask
What does 1 John 4:16 say?
It says we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.
How is 1 John 4:16 different from 1 John 4:8?
Both say God is love. Verse 8 ties that claim to knowing God. Verse 16 adds relying on God's love and living in love as living in God. See 1 John 4:8 and God is love Bible: 1 John 4:16.
What does whoever lives in love lives in God mean?
It means a life shaped by love is not outside God. Loving others is how abiding shows up in this letter. See Agape love in the Bible.
How does this relate to perfect love casts out fear?
The same chapter moves from living in love to perfect love driving out fear of punishment. See 1 John 4:18 and Perfect love casts out fear.
Where should I read next?
For the longer study, read God is love Bible: 1 John 4:16. For the shorter twin, read 1 John 4:8. For fear and love, read 1 John 4:18.
