Understanding the nature of God is foundational to our faith, and at the core of His nature is love. The Bible consistently presents God’s love as His most primary attribute, shaping His actions and His relationship with humanity. As we explore how God’s love is central to His character, we acknowledge that His love is inexplicable. As the song so famously says “Should we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skys of parchment made, though every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade, to write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry, nor could the schol contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.” His unconditional love is irresistible.
1. Biblical Emphasis on God’s Love
The Bible explicitly states that God is love, making it clear that this is a fundamental aspect of His nature.
- 1 John 4:8: “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”
- John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”
These verses highlight that God’s love is not just an attribute among others but is essential to who He is.
How does knowing God’s love motivate you to respond?
2. God’s Love in Creation
From the very beginning, God’s love is evident in His creation of the world and humanity.
- Genesis 1:31: “Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good.”
- Psalm 136:1: “Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”
God’s loving intention is reflected in the goodness and order of creation, showing His care and provision for all He has made.
How does creation around us reflect God’s love and goodness?
3. God’s Love in Covenant and Law
God’s love is foundational in His covenant with Israel and in the giving of the Law, which guides His people in living rightly.
- Deuteronomy 7:9: “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments.”
- Exodus 34:6-7: “And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, ‘The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”
These passages show that God’s laws and covenants are grounded in His steadfast love and mercy.
How do God’s laws and boundaries reveal His love for us?
4. God’s Love in Redemption
God’s love is most profoundly demonstrated in the redemption of humanity through Jesus Christ.
- Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
- 1 John 4:9-10: “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
These New Testament scriptures reveal the sacrificial nature of God’s love, providing salvation through Jesus. The greatest picture of love is found at the cross.
John 15:13 ESV
[13] Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
How does the price Jesus payed for you at the cross reveal the value he places on us?
5. God’s Love in Our Lives
God’s love continues to impact believers, transforming their lives and guiding their actions.
- Galatians 2:20: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”
- 1 Corinthians 13:4-7: “Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.”
These passages illustrate how God’s love is meant to be reflected in the lives of believers, shaping their relationships and actions.
Can you share how God’s love has changed your actions toward others?
God’s love is His most primary attribute, as evidenced by its foundational role in creation, covenant, redemption, and the transformation of believers’ lives. His love motivates. God’s unconditional love is truly irresistible! By understanding and embracing God’s love, we can better reflect His character and fulfill His purpose for us in the world. Thank God for His love. B