J. I. Packer, Knowing God (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 1973), p. 111. Turning to God ’s Word, we can see God ’s benevolence and affection toward people flow through the pages of Genesis. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. After all, the Bible affirms God is love (1 John 4:8). Love is integrated into God ’s very character. Psalm 32:1-5 NTE If someone says, ‘I love God’, but hates their brother or sister, that person is a liar. God reveals His love by making believers part of God's family. 110 Packer defines the love of God this way: God’s love is an exercise of His goodness towards individual sinners whereby, having identified Himself with their welfare, He has given His Son to be their Saviour, and now brings them to know and enjoy Him in a covenant relation. Yet the Bible says God’s love is far different—and greater. Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. John 14:2-3 promises, "In my Father's house are many rooms. whom. 3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. First John 4:7-11 gives us this classic statement with respect to the love of God: Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. As 1 John 3:1 declares, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are." Deuteronomy 8:5 Thou shalt also consider in thine heart, that, as a man chasteneth his son, so the LORD thy God chasteneth thee. In our day the abuse extends to the point of their becoming gods – false substitutes for the One True Trinitarian God to whom practicing Christians, formerly the majority of society everywhere in the West, cleave. In truth, bent to their proper purpose they are goods, but like all goods, even including love, they can be abused. For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and whips every son whom he receives. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love…. Hebrews 12:6 Context. 1 John 4:20 gives a telling message: "If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?" God reveals His love for believers particularly by preparing an eternal home with Him. Exodus 34:6 ESV / 626 helpful votes Helpful Not Helpful. If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. 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