1 John 4:10

“Herein is love, &c.] The love of God, free love, love that cannot be matched: herein it is manifested, as before; this is a clear evidence of it, an undoubted proof, and puts it out of all question: not that we loved God: the love of God is antecedent to the love of his people; it was when theirs was not; when they were without love to him, yea, enemies in their minds, by wicked works, and even enmity itself, and therefore was not procured by theirs; but on the contrary, their love to him is caused by his love to them; hence his love, and a continuance in it, do not depend on theirs; nor does it vary according to theirs; wherefore there is good reason to believe it will continue, and never…”

“Herein is love--love in the abstract: love, in its highest ideal, is herein. The love was all on God's side, none on ours. not that we loved God--though so altogether worthy of love. he loved us--though so altogether unworthy of love. The Greek aorist expresses, Not that we did any act of love at any time to God, but that He did the act of love to us in sending Christ.”

“Herein is love - In this great gift is the highest expression of love, as if it had done all that it can do. Not that we loved God - Not that we were in such a state that we might suppose he would make such a sacrifice for us, but just the opposite. If we had loved and obeyed him, we might have had reason to believe that he would be willing to show his love to us in a corresponding manner. But we were alienated from him. We had even no desire for his friendship and favor. In This state he showed the greatness of his love for us by giving his Son to die for his enemies. See the notes at Romans 5:7-8. But that he loved us - Not that he approved our character, but that he desired our welfare.…”

“Herein: Jo1 4:8, Jo1 4:9, Jo1 3:1 not: Jo1 4:19; Deu 7:7, Deu 7:8; Joh 15:16; Rom 5:8-10, Rom 8:29, Rom 8:30; Co2 5:19-21; Eph 2:4, Eph 2:5; Tit 3:3-5 and sent: Jo1 2:2; Dan 9:24; Rom 3:25, Rom 3:26; Pe1 2:24, Pe1 3:18 1 John 4:11”