I John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
With respect to this God-given “love”, there are two possibilities, “every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God” (I John 4:7) or “He that loveth not knoweth not God”. “He that loveth not” has no sincere affection for “God”, the Children of “God”, the Word of “God”, the Church of “God”, the kindness of “God”, the morality of “God”, or the integrity of “God”. Not having the Spirit of God, “He that loveth not” is solely motivated by carnal lusts and the desire to satisfy their most base human nature; they have no interest in such social graces as morality, integrity, and kindness. Some deceitfully present themselves “in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves” (Matthew 7:15); that is, they put on a mantel of Christianity to deceive and take harmful advantage of the faithful Children of God. Many are exceedingly hateful and coldhearted toward others and will employ the most odious methods to subdue the Children of God. But, the “God” we love has already “overcome the world” (John 16:33) of the wicked; they just don’t know it yet. Our Lord will certainly deal with these wicked on the “last day” of the earth; but, He even limits their power as we live. For when the “heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things” (Acts 4:25) and thrust unbearable things upon the Children of God, then we come before “the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords” (I Timothy 6:15) and cry out to Him in prayer, and then, in a time and manner pleasing to Him, He mightily shakes things up and sends His Holy Spirit to Comfort and empower His Children (Acts 4:31). Knowing this to be true, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” (Hebrews 13:5).