GOD’S LOVE

Dictionaries may have different definitions of love. People may have different understandings of love–even when they say, “God is love.” However, those who believe the Bible is the inspired written words of God, look to the scriptures for understanding of God’s love and how it relates to them (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Tim. 2:5).

THE BIBLE REVEALS JESUS AS THE EXPRESSION GOD’S LOVE

The Bibles reveals that Jesus Christ is the manifestation of God’s love– For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16). Jesus said, “search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me (John 5:39). The scriptures tells us that In beginning Jesus was in the form of God (John 1:1-3, 14); but in his love for mankind Jesus agreed to take the form of a human that he might die for the sins of mankind (Philippians 2:6-8). Jesus said to the Father, “Here I am–it is written about me in the scroll– I have come to do your will, my God” (Hebrews 10:7). God sent his sinless and only begotten Son to die for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5:8). Jesus died on a cross in agony to atone for our sins and to redeem us to God. The Lord said, greater love has no one than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends (John 15:13).

JESUS PROVIDES INSTRUCTIONS ON HAVING GOD’S LOVE 

Jesus provides the perfect example of  God’s love in sacrificially dying to atone for the sins of the world; and he gives instructs on how we should exemplify God’s love.  Jesus said. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27). Then he added, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another” (John 13:34).

The Lord God said, “If you love me, keep my commands” (John 14:15). And, in showing love for the souls of others, he commands those who have saved from sin by his blood: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned” (Mark 16:15-16). The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to enable believers to obey his commands and love as God loves (John 14:15-17; Acts 1:8)).

WORLDLY LOVE COUNTERS GOD’S LOVE

The Bible informs us not to love as the world loves. For the love of the world  hinders us from having God’s love.

• All that is in the world is the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, which come not from the Father (1 John 2:16).
• Demas, who was co-worker with the apostle Paul n the ministry of the gospel, disserted  the ministry of the Lord because he loved the things of this world more than he loved God, and the souls of others (2 Timothy 4:10).
• A rich young man who obeyed many of the laws of God, did not love the Lord enough to give up his world’s wealth to follow the Lord  (Matthews 19:16-22).
• The Bible says it was because of “self-interest” that religious leaders had Jesus crucified; although the Son of God loved the world enough to die for their sins. (Matthew 27:18-20; John 3:16). Jesus said except one’s “ righteousness or “self-interest”  exceeds that of the Pharisees, they shall not see God (Matthew 5:20).
• The Bible tells us, in the last days many people would have a form of godliness, but would not allow the power of God to change their ungodly lives (3 Timothy 3:5). Jesus said, some would call him Lord, but not love him enough to do what he says (Luke 6:46).

For those who desire to have the love of God as defined in the Bible, God gives the Holy Spirit to help them, and empower them to love like the Son of God (John 14:16-17; Acts 1:8). By repenting of our sins and believing in the sacrificial atonement of Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit indwells us and enables us to be conformed to the likeness of our loving Savior and Lord God (Acts 2:38; Romans 8:29).