He So Loved Us

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another." (1 John 4: 11)

The word "so" makes all the difference.

God so loved us. The intensity cannot be calculated:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

The first mention of "so" in the New Testament is found in this verse:

"Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise [so]: When as his mother Mary was espoused to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost." (Matthew 1: 18)

Here we find that Jesus, Lord at His birth, first blessed Mary, as she was highly favored among (not above) women:

"30And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God." (Luke 1: 30)

We receive favor as a gift, and this favor is imparted to us by the power of the Holy Spirit.

What Mary received in order to conceived and bring forth the Son of God into the world, we have today because of the Holy Spirit, who causes us all to be born again, to become sons of the living God.

"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 33)

and then

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: (Colossians 1: 27)

and

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

This Holy Spirit does not witness of Himself, by of the Son:

"But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:" (John 15: 26)

And

"For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 15)

Which then reveals:

"1Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not." (1 John 3: 1)

And of course:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

He so loved us, taking away our sins, the condemnation, the curse, fulfilling the law, granting us His life, His Son's standing before Him, and thus we love others.