This passage is one of only two in the New Testament declaring the great description of God's nature and being: "God is love." The riches of divine truth in this passage can be summarized as follows: v. 7 - The Command, the Source and the Power of Love v. 8 – The Unfortunate Truth and the Great Declaration v. 9 – The Manifestation of the Love of God v. 10 – Propitiation Is the Divine Remedy for Our Sin v. 11 – Jesus' Work of Love is our own Model of Love v. 12 – God's Love is Seen in the World When We Love One Another Christ's example of sacrificial love in going to the cross is our model as to the extent of sacrificial love to which we should go in loving our brothers and sisters in the church.