John 3:16 says, “God so loved the world…” 1 John 4:10 says, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” Jesus bore the wrath of His Father for us. Through His mercy we can have a personal relationship, because our sins are covered in Jesus’ shed blood. Ephesians 1:7.

Let’s look at Jesus’ priestly prayer. John 17:24 says, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.”

Verse 26 says, “And I have declared them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them.”  John 15:9 says, “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.”

1 John 4:19 says, “We love Him because He first loved us.” He gave it ~ we receive it.