We don't need God to love. Even the most sinful and evil people love some people. However, I've found that the indwelling of the Holy Spirit enables me to love much more and with fewer restrictions than I could on my own.

What we need God for is the forgiveness of our sins. God is totally Holy and can't abide even the smallest of sin. The smallest of sin separates us from God and makes fellowship with Him impossible. Jesus was sinless and pure, but He took on all past and future sins when He died on the cross so we could have renewed fellowship With God. A good illustration is that when Jesus died, the heavy curtain that separated the Holy of Holies from common folk like us was torn asunder. Before that, only the chief priests were allowed to enter, and even then a rope was tied to their leg so that if they were found to be unworthy and struck dead by God, their body could be pulled out since no one else could enter. By the curtain being torn, that meant any old sinner, even you and me, had direct access to God!!!! I think that's totally awesome that though we are sinners, we have DIRECT access to God. Pretty heavy stuff if you ask me.

Dakota