God is love. If God is love, it makes sense that Christians would love God and love others. This is the second time that John wants to address this issue. John is facing a church that is divided by conflict and tension. In this passage, we can see the true heart of a pastor as he exhorts and encourages the fractured congregation to reflect on God's love for them. John teaches that the motivation and inspiration of Christians' love for one another is the healing work God has done in their lives. The work of God in our lives leads to a natural outpouring of love within the church.