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, study and search the scriptures to understand God’s love (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Tim. 2:5; John 3:16).
THE BIBLE REVEALS JESUS AS THE EXPRESSION GOD’S LOVE
The Bibles reveals Jesus Christ as the perfect manifestation of God’s love (John 5:39; John 3:16). Being in the form of God, Jesus took on the form of a human that he might die for the sins of mankind (Philippians 2:6-8). 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 DEMONSTRATES HOW WE SHOULD LOVE GOD
Jesus came down from heaven not to do his own will but the will of the Father (John 6:38). When Jesus was in human form and facing suffering of the cross, he said to the Father, “not my will but yours be done.” Jesus chose to love the Father more than himself. He always did the things that pleased his Father (John 8:29). He tells us to love the Lord your God with all our heart, soul and mind (Matthew 22:37). And he said if you love God you will obey his commandments (John 14:15).
JESUS TEACHES HOW WE SHOULD LOVE OTHERS
Our Lord Jesus Christ said: “Love one another; as I have loved you (John 13:34). By example, Jesus taught his disciples to feed the hungry, care for the sick and other needs of peoples. And he taught them that people’s greatest need is the salvation of their eternal soul, which he came to die for. To meet people’s need for salvation, he told his disciple to go into the world and proclaim the good news about the Lord Jesus Christ having come to die and being resurrected for their salvation. And whoever repent and believe in his redeeming sacrifice and resurrection would be saved. (John 3:16; Acts 2:38).
WORLDLY LOVE COUNTERS GOD’S LOVE
The Bible informs not to love as the world loves. For the love of the world may blind us to or interfere with our having God’s love (John 3:19).
- 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 disserted a ministry for the Lord, that he had with Paul, because he loved the things of this world more than he loved God (2 Timothy 4:10).
- A rich young man who obeyed much of the law, was not willing to give up his world’s wealth to follow the Lord (Matthews 19:16-22).
- Some of the covetous self-righteous leaders of Jesus’ time, who saw him do miracles which no one else had done, rejected him as the promised Messiah (Isaiah 9:6; 53:5; John 15:24). They did not accept him as the Son of God, whom God sent to save whoever believes in him (John 3:16). Jesus said except your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you shall not see God (Matthew 5:20).
- The Bible says, in the last days some people would have a form of godliness, but would not allow the power of God to change their lives (3 Timothy 3:5). And Jesus said, many would call him Lord, but not do what he says (Luke 6:46).
Having God’s love, as opposed to worldly love, inspires us believe in, and follow Jesus Christ and his commandments. (John 3:16; John 14:15).
