The Love of God
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· 160 viewsWhat is the real definition of love? What does God's love mean for us? Also, learn what God's love is not.
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What It Is
What It Is
The definition of love.
Love is not getting whatever you want, or fulfilling your own desires. The world may define “love” as this and then try to justify actions that are in violation of God’s law as being highly moral because they are “love.” For example, homosexual couples may try to justify their disobedience to God’s laws based on the “love” they have for each other.
The real definition of “love” is doing what is best for the other person, even if it means you don’t get what you want.
God is love.
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
God demonstrated His love for mankind by sending His Son to die on the cross and pay the penalty of sin that we owed.
Jesus, the Son of God, became the perfect sacrifice to give back the perfect man that God had lost.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Before giving His life as the perfect sacrifice, it was obvious that Jesus did not relish the idea of going through with it.
Matthew 26:38-39
Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.
And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.
Even though Jesus did not relish the idea of going through more agony, He did so because He loved us. That meant that He did what was best for the other people even if it meant He did not get what He wanted.
John 15:13
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
Romans 5:8
Jesus not only did this for those he considered friends, He did it for His enemies.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Christians are told to love others like themselves...
Luke 10:27
And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.
and esteem others better than themselves.
Philippians 2:3
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
What It Means For Us
What It Means For Us
It means that even though we have offended God by sinning and rebelling against His commandments, God loved us enough to die for us.
John 3:16
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
It means that God expects us to show that love back to Him.
We show that love back to God by stopping our sinning and rebelling against Him and turning to obey His commandments.
John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.
It means that God expects us to show love to our fellow man.
Philippians 2:3-8
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God:
But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men:
And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
1 John 4:20-21
If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?
And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
1 John 3:16
Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
That means doing what is best for them, even if it means we do not get what we want.
If you really love someone you will put their eternal soul ahead of your own fleshly desires. If you really love someone you will want what is best for them, not what is best for you. Christians that warn against homosexuality, adultery, or any other sin are not less loving than others because they warn, they are actually following the definition of love by putting the other person’s welfare first, even if it means the Christian will suffer persecution and ridicule or a loss of friendship.
When you are young you may have a crush and mistake that for love. Lust is not the same thing as love. A mature and correct definition of “love” is doing what is best for the other person, whether your desires are fulfilled or not.
What It Is Not
What It Is Not
The only attribute of God
God is love
1 John 4:8
He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
But God is also Just, Righteous, Merciful, etc.
Isaiah 45:21
Tell ye, and bring them near; Yea, let them take counsel together: Who hath declared this from ancient time? who hath told it from that time? Have not I the Lord? and there is no God else beside me; A just God and a Saviour; there is none beside me.
Psalm 7:9
Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: For the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.
Deuteronomy 4:31
(For the Lord thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
A license to sin
God’s grace is unmerited favor. We did not deserve the sacrifice of Jesus Christ offered to us, but God loved us and gave it to us anyway.
Titus 2:11
For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Romans 6:1-2
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Yes, God loved us, but don’t forget His other attributes, including Justice. God offers us a chance at salvation, but we will be judged and condemned if we refuse to conform to His commandments.
John 12:48
He that rejecteth me, and receiveth not my words, hath one that judgeth him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
Matthew 7:21
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Proof of salvation
God loved us enough to offer the perfect sacrifice for our sins, but that sacrifice is not automatically applied to us. We have to use our freewill in order to accept it, and wash away the sins that separate us from God.
Matthew 7:21-27
Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.
Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.
And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:
And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Acts 22:16
And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.
Matthew 7:14
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.