New Revised Standard Version
In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Contemporary English Version
Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven.

New American Bible
In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as expiation for our sins.

Douay-Rheims Bible
In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

In this is charity: not as though we had loved God, but because he hath first loved us, and sent his Son to be a propitiation for our sins.

Herein.

1 John 4:8,9 He that loveth not knoweth not God: for God is charity. . . .

1 John 3:1 Behold what manner of charity the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called and should be the sons of God. Therefore the world knoweth not us, because it knew not him.

not.

1 John 4:19 Let us therefore love God: because God first hath loved us.

Deuteronomy 7:7,8 Not because you surpass all nations in number, is the Lord joined unto you, and hath chosen you, for you are the fewest of any people: . . .

John 15:16 You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

Romans 5:8-10 But God commendeth his charity towards us: because when as yet we were sinners according to the time. . . .

Romans 8:29,30 For whom he foreknew, he also predestinated to be made conformable to the image of his Son: that he might be the Firstborn amongst many brethren. . . .

2 Corinthians 5:19-21 For God indeed was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, not imputing to them their sins. And he hath placed in us the word of reconciliation. . . .

Ephesians 2:4,5 But God (who is rich in mercy) for his exceeding charity wherewith he loved us . . .

Titus 3:3-5 For we ourselves also were some time unwise, incredulous, erring, slaves to divers desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful and hating one another. . . .

and sent.

1 John 2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.

Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are shortened upon thy people, and upon thy holy city, that transgression may be finished, and sin may have an end, and iniquity may be abolished; and everlasting justice may be brought; and vision and prophecy may be fulfilled; and the Saint of saints may be anointed.

Romans 3:25,26 Whom God hath proposed to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, to the shewing of his justice, for the remission of former sins, . . .

1 Peter 2:24 Who his own self bore our sins in his body upon the tree: that we, being dead to sins, should live to justice: by whose stripes you were healed.

1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also died once for our sins, the just for the unjust: that he might offer us to God, being put to death indeed in the flesh, but enlivened in the spirit,