A loving being needs an object of love. Love can only be between real persons. Therefore, our loving God wanted to be in relationship with loving beings. So we were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). In love we were endowed with purpose and purity. However, because love can only be love if it is freely given, love requires genuine choice-to love or not to love, to be in relationship with God or not. That's where the whole issue of sin comes in.