The verb or the noun ‘‘love” occurs in twenty-six of the 105 verses of First John. In all cases, it is the familiar root agape. The leading idea is that God is love by nature and that he revealed this by sending Christ into the world. (4:9) We are not love by nature, and therefore God loved us first. The measure of this love was the death of Christ on our behalf (3:16) and therefore the Father could call us children. (3:1) This makes possible our own response of love and so if we abide in love, we abide in God. (4:16) The writer does not allow us to remain misty-eyed over love, however, for he gives sharp content to the word. We love God by keeping his commandments. (5:3) We are to do rather than to feel. We are to believe in Christ and to love one another. (3:23) There are teeth placed in…