[irishtenor]

1John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us." We can't love God without first being born of God and knowing God.

[fortheDeclaration]

1John 4:19 "We love because he first loved us." We can't love God without first being born of God and knowing God.

You must be using the wrong Bible, the verse reads

We love him because he first loved us

(That omission is from the corrupt Westcott/Hort/Nestle/Aland text)

Moreover, God showed His love for us by dying for us that is the love that is being spoken of here (Jn.3:16,Rom.5:8) and that we are responding to.