ISB ~ 1 John 4 v19

because he first loved us:The love we receive from God gives us the capacity to return his love and spread it to others. So what was impossible for sinners alienated from God’s love is now possible because of God’s initiative and forgiveness (4:10, 21). True love, John is saying, originates, not in the human heart, but in God (Rom 5:5) (CCC 604, 733).