In this is love: not as if we had loved God, but that he first loved us, and so he sent his Son as a propitiation for our sins
Other versions
King James Version
Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.English Standard Version
In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.New International Version
This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.