The Love of God

1. Introduction: The Foundation of God’s Love

Revelation of the love of God is foundational to the Christian faith.

1 Corinthians 13:1-3

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

1 Corinthians 13:13

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Galatians 5:6

For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

Ephesians 3:14-19

For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, from whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height— to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

2. The True Nature and Character of God

1 John 4:8

He who does not love does not know God, for God is love [agapē].

1 John 4:16

And we have known and believed the love [agapē] that God has for us. God is love [agapē], and he who abides in love [agapē] abides in God, and God in him.

In the New Testament, different Greek words are used to describe different types of love. The Greek word used in the statement, “God is love”, is agapē (ἀγάπη). It refers to a self-giving, unconditional love that seeks the highest good of others, not based on merit, but flowing from grace.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Love [agapē] suffers long and is kind; love [agapē] does not envy; love [agapē] does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil [keeps no accounts of evil]; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love [agapē] never fails…

The Word explicitly states: God is good, God is light, God is just, God is faithful, and God is love. Though we may have questions and sometimes face deep struggles in this life, we must not let what we don’t understand overshadow what Scripture has clearly revealed.

Psalm 100:5

For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

1 John 1:5

This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.

Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock, His work is perfect;
For all His ways are justice,
A God of truth and without injustice;
Righteous and upright is He.

Hebrews 10:23

Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

The ultimate revelation of God Almighty is found in Jesus Christ. Jesus showed us the Father perfectly; the fullness of God dwelt in Him. He was the Word made flesh. Therefore, the true heart of all Scripture is revealed in Jesus. The goodness, compassion, and love of God are displayed through His life and sacrifice. Jesus Christ is the lens through which the entire Bible must be read and understood.

John 5:19

Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

John 14:9

… He who has seen Me has seen the Father; …

Colossians 1:15

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.

Hebrews 1:3 (AMPC)

He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, …

Colossians 1:19

For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

3. The Love of God Revealed in Christ

Though pain and suffering exist in the world, God did not remain distant or detached; He humbled Himself and entered into it in the form of a man.

John 1:1, 14

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

…

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Philippians 2:6-8 (ESV)

who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Jesus paid the price for our redemption. He bore our sins, punishment, and indeed sicknesses, pains, and infirmities in His own body on the Cross—not because He had to, but because of His great love for us.

John 3:16-17

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. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Isaiah 53:4-5

Surely He has borne our griefs [Lit. sicknesses]
And carried our sorrows [Lit. pains];
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.

Matthew 8:16-17

When evening had come, they brought to Him many who were demon-possessed. And He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:

“He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”

1 Peter 2:24

who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed.

The ministry of Jesus Christ revealed the true heart of the Father towards a broken and hurting world.

Luke 4:17-21

And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Matthew 4:23-24

And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people. Then His fame went throughout all Syria; and they brought to Him all sick people who were afflicted with various diseases and torments, and those who were demon-possessed, epileptics, and paralytics; and He healed them.

Mark 1:40-42

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”

Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.

Acts 10:38

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him.

1 John 3:8

He who sins is of the devil, for the devil has sinned from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that He might destroy the works of the devil.

Jesus never put sickness or any form of oppression on anyone, nor did He ever tell someone that they needed to suffer a little longer (in order to learn a lesson) before He would help them.

Jesus never required people to remove a sin from their life before He would help them. In fact, He ministered first and only then said, “sin no more”.

John 5:8-9, 14

Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath.

…

Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

John 8:10-11

When Jesus had raised Himself up and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?”

She said, “No one, Lord.”

And Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Throughout His ministry, Jesus consistently helped and healed all who came to Him.

Matthew 9:35

Then Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Matthew 12:15

But when Jesus knew it, He withdrew from there. And great multitudes followed Him, and He healed them all.

Luke 4:40

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.

After hearing of the beheading of John the Baptist, Jesus sought solitude. However, the multitudes afforded Him essentially no time alone. In response, Jesus did not become angry or discouraged. Instead, He demonstrated compassion and love towards them.

Matthew 14:10-14

So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.

When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick.

Mark 6:33-34

But the multitudes saw them departing, and many knew Him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to Him. And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

The following verses are from the account of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead:

John 11:32-35

Then, when Mary came where Jesus was, and saw Him, she fell down at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”

Therefore, when Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her weeping, He groaned in the spirit and was troubled. And He said, “Where have you laid him?”

They said to Him, “Lord, come and see.”

Jesus wept.

Jesus didn’t just have a few tears run down His cheeks; He wept. His sorrow was heartfelt and sincere. He knew that He was about to raise Lazarus. Therefore, He wasn’t weeping for the loss of this man’s life. He was weeping because of the pain and destruction that sin had brought upon His creation.

4. The Abundant, Generous Love of God

Jesus desires that we prosper, not for selfish gain, but to live free from lack and to abound for every good work. He is an abundant and generous provider. While we must not love money, God delights in blessing His children so they can be a blessing.

1 Timothy 6:10

For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

Matthew 6:24 (ESV)

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

3 John 1:2

Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers.

2 Corinthians 8:9

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

2 Corinthians 9:6-8

But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Proverbs 3:9-10

Honour the Lord with your possessions,
And with the firstfruits of all your increase;
So your barns will be filled with plenty,
And your vats will overflow with new wine.

Luke 6:38

Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you.”

A wedding in Cana of Galilee ran out of wine. This would have resulted in significant and lasting shame and social embarrassment for the bridegroom and his family. Jesus, demonstrating His abundant care and generosity, turned six large waterpots into the finest wine (John 2:1-11).

John 2:6-7, 9-10

Now there were set there six waterpots of stone, according to the manner of purification of the Jews, containing twenty or thirty gallons apiece. Jesus said to them, “Fill the waterpots with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. … When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

Jesus fed five thousand men (not counting women and children) with just five loaves and two fish. The people ate as much as they wanted, and twelve baskets of leftover fragments were gathered (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17; John 6:1-14).

Matthew 14:20-21

So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.

John 6:11

And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.

Later, Jesus again fed a large multitude—four thousand men, not counting women and children—with just seven loaves and a few small fish. Everyone was filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments (Matthew 15:32-39; Mark 8:1-10).

Matthew 15:32

Now Jesus called His disciples to Himself and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with Me three days and have nothing to eat. And I do not want to send them away hungry, lest they faint on the way.”

Mark 8:8

So they ate and were filled, and they took up seven large baskets of leftover fragments.

Jesus twice caused a miraculous and overwhelming catch of fish. The first instance was at the beginning of His ministry (Luke 5:1-11). The second was after His resurrection (John 21:1-14).

Luke 5:4-6

When He had stopped speaking, He said to Simon, “Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.”

But Simon answered and said to Him, “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net.” And when they had done this, they caught a great number of fish, and their net was breaking.

John 21:6

And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

God Almighty delights in us receiving and living in good things. Human parents love taking care of and abundantly providing for their children. How much more our Father in Heaven!

Matthew 7:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

5. Misconceptions About God’s Love

It is true that in the Old Testament, God did sometimes strike people with sickness and disaster. But these actions were never a blessing, they were a curse or judgement. In the Old Covenant Law, God clearly distinguished between what He deems a blessing and what He deems a curse.

Deuteronomy 28:15-68 lists the curses for disobedience to the Law. All sickness is included. Deuteronomy 7:12-15 and Deuteronomy 28:1-14 list the blessings for obedience to the Law. Health is included.

And through faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour, born-again believers are redeemed from the curse of the Law. God will never inflict any of the curses of the Law, including ill-health, on any Christian believers.

Galatians 3:13

Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”),

Romans 6:14

For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.

Hebrews 8:12-13

For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their lawless deeds I will remember no more.”

In that He says, “A new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete. Now what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away.

Through Christ, New Covenant believers have escaped the wrath of God and instead have peace with God and live in His grace and love.

John 3:36

He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

Romans 8:1

There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.

1 Thessalonians 5:9

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 5:1-2

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:5

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

2 Corinthians 5:21

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

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.

The Old Testament Law may at times seem harsh or even brutal, but it served a vital purpose in God’s redemptive plan. And it’s important to note that even after the Fall, and throughout the time of the Old Covenant, God’s true heart and nature was evident. It has always been His will that His people walk in His love and blessings. In fact, He specifically urged those under the Old Covenant Law to “choose life”.

Deuteronomy 30:19

I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live;

Exodus 15:26

… For I am the Lord who heals you.”

Exodus 23:25-26

“So you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water. And I will take sickness away from the midst of you. No one shall suffer miscarriage or be barren in your land; I will fulfil the number of your days.

We cannot gain a complete understanding of the true nature of God by studying the Old Testament in isolation. During that period, a perfectly holy and just God was dealing with sinful mankind before the redemptive work of Jesus.

However, through Christ, we have a perfect and complete revelation of God Almighty. Because of what Jesus showed us, we should absolutely give God the benefit of the doubt in every situation.

Even when we don’t have all the answers, He deserves that we trust His love, and that we attribute to Him good, not evil.

James 1:16-17

Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

Imagine how you would feel if someone you truly loved questioned your willingness to free them from oppression and take away their pain and suffering. It would break your heart.

No one desires to see their loved ones suffer, not even for a moment. But where does this deep desire come from? It certainly doesn’t come from the devil. He only comes to steal, kill, and destroy.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

Our longing to see others free, joyful, and sound in body and soul comes from our loving Father in Heaven, the very One who created us in His image.

Genesis 1:26-27

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Today, many born-again believers think that God is the author of their suffering. People are led to believe that God’s love is so great that He would put cancer on a child in order to humble and teach them.

Many believe that it’s God will for people to experience things like divorce, poverty, murder, rape, and even Hell. This is absolutely not what the Word reveals about the true nature and heart of our Father in Heaven.

God is almighty and His plans and purposes cannot fail. However, within these truths, Scripture is clear that His will does not automatically come to pass: The Word clearly affirms that it is God’s will and desire that every person receive eternal life through Jesus Christ. However, Jesus Himself said that narrow is the gate that leads to life and few find it.

1 Timothy 2:3-4

For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

2 Peter 3:9 (ESV)

The Lord is not slow to fulfil his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.

Matthew 7:13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.

Luke 13:23-24

Then one said to Him, “Lord, are there few who are saved?”

And He said to them, 24 “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I say to you, will seek to enter and will not be able.

We may have questions, and it may be difficult for us to comprehend all the truths of Scripture. We surely do not fully understand all the dynamics and realities of the spiritual realm. However, we must not let what we don’t understand get in the way of what has been clearly revealed to us. We must never let our beliefs or doctrines get in the way of what the Bible actually teaches.

6. We are Called to Trust God and His Word

There are aspects of our faith that we may not yet fully understand. We may have questions, and we may deem God difficult to understand, especially in the Old Testament. However, there are perfectly good and just answers to our questions, regardless of whether we comprehend them or not.

Scripture tells us to trust in the Lord and to not rely on our own understanding. For even the “foolishness” of God is wiser than the wisdom of men. We should be careful never to dishonour God by trying to reduce Him, or His eternal truths, into a neat, man-made theological framework.

Proverbs 3:5-7

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

Do not be wise in your own eyes;
Fear the Lord and depart from evil.

Isaiah 26:3-4

You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the Lord forever,
For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

1 Corinthians 1:20-25

Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

7. God’s Love For Us

God calls us by His love and goodness.

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:
“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

Romans 2:4

Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?

God’s love is a free gift. It is not based on works. Jesus loves us and has compassion on us.

Matthew 10:8

Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Luke 11:9-13

“So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”

Titus 3:4-5

But when the kindness and the love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

1 John 4:19

We love Him because He first loved us.

It is never too late to turn to God. No matter how far one may have strayed, His arms are wide open to welcome those who come to Him. His mercy and love endure forever.

Luke 15:11-13, 17-24

Then He said: “A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the portion of goods that falls to me.’ So he divided to them his livelihood. And not many days after, the younger son gathered all together, journeyed to a far country, and there wasted his possessions with prodigal living.

…

“But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you, and I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Make me like one of your hired servants.” ’

“And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

“But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. 23 And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; 24 for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ And they began to be merry.

Psalm 103:8

The Lord is merciful and gracious,
Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

Psalm 136:1-3

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the God of gods!
For His mercy endures forever.
Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords!
For His mercy endures forever:

Psalm 145:8-9

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion,
Slow to anger and great in mercy.
The Lord is good to all,
And His tender mercies are over all His works.

Hosea 3 (NLT)

Then the Lord said to me, “Go and love your wife again, even though she commits adultery with another lover. This will illustrate that the Lord still loves Israel, even though the people have turned to other gods and love to worship them.”

So I bought her back for fifteen pieces of silver and five bushels of barley and a measure of wine. Then I said to her, “You must live in my house for many days and stop your prostitution. During this time, you will not have sexual relations with anyone, not even with me.”

This shows that Israel will go a long time without a king or prince, and without sacrifices, sacred pillars, priests, or even idols! But afterward the people will return and devote themselves to the Lord their God and to David’s descendant, their king. In the last days, they will tremble in awe of the Lord and of his goodness.

Matthew 11:28-30

Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle [meek] and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

8. Living in the Love of God

We were dead in our sins and had no love for the Lord, yet God loved us so much that He sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, so that we might be justified and reconciled to Himself.

Romans 5:6-9

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

Ephesians 2:4-5

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

John 3:16-17

John 15:13

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.

Through Jesus Christ, God, has given us His Kingdom and everything we could ever need. It is His good pleasure to freely give us all things.

Romans 8:32

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Luke 12:32

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 15:31

“And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours.

Ephesians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

Philippians 4:19

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

2 Peter 1:2-4

Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

1 John 4:4

You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

As born-again believers, Christ and His love dwell within us. Through Jesus, we are now children of God Almighty.

John 14:23

Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

Colossians 1:27

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Corinthians 6:17

But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him.

Galatians 4:6-7

And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.

1 John 3:1

Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.

Romans 5:5

Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

1 John 4:12-16

No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him, and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit. And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Saviour of the world. Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.

As born-again believers, Jesus Christ will never leave us nor forsake us. Nothing can separate us from Him and His love.

Matthew 28:20

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Romans 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written:

“For Your sake we are killed all day long;
We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.”

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hebrews 13:5

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

9. For our sake, Jesus experienced great suffering and rejection. He loves us, and everything He did and endured was for us.

Romans 5:8

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Matthew 26:36-39

Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and said to the disciples, “Sit here while I go and pray over there.” And He took with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and He began to be sorrowful and deeply distressed. Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch with Me.”

He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”

Mark 15:16-20

Then the soldiers led Him away into the hall called Praetorium, and they called together the whole garrison. And they clothed Him with purple; and they twisted a crown of thorns, put it on His head, and began to salute Him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they struck Him on the head with a reed and spat on Him; and bowing the knee, they worshiped Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took the purple off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him out to crucify Him.

Luke 22:63-65

Now the men who held Jesus mocked Him and beat Him. And having blindfolded Him, they struck Him on the face and asked Him, saying, “Prophesy! Who is the one who struck You?” And many other things they blasphemously spoke against Him.

John 19:1

So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him.

Isaiah 53:3-7 (NLT)

He was despised and rejected—
a man of sorrows, acquainted with deepest grief.
We turned our backs on him and looked the other way.
He was despised, and we did not care.

Yet it was our weaknesses he carried;
it was our sorrows that weighed him down.
And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God,
a punishment for his own sins!
But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.

He was oppressed and treated harshly,
yet he never said a word.
He was led like a lamb to the slaughter.
And as a sheep is silent before the shearers,
he did not open his mouth.

Mark 15:34

And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which is translated, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?”

Isaiah 52:14 (NLT)

But many were amazed when they saw him.
His face was so disfigured he seemed hardly human,
and from his appearance, one would scarcely know he was a man.

10. Our Response: Loving God and Others

Matthew 22:36-40

“Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?”

Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the Law and the Prophets.”

Mark 12:28-31

Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

John 13:34-35

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Colossians 3:12-14

Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

1 John 3:16-19

By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him?

My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. And by this we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our hearts before Him.

11. True understanding of the love of God comes through knowing Him.

Doctrines and theology can be endlessly discussed and debated, but true revelation comes through knowing God personally. As we open our hearts to Him and allow the Holy Spirit—not preconceived ideas or man-made frameworks—to guide and teach us, He will lead us into all truth.

John 16:13

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

We must renew our minds to the Word of God. To live a fruitful and victorious life in Christ, we must intentionally fill our hearts and minds with the spiritual truths of Jesus, rather than the carnal influences of this fallen world.

Romans 12:1-2

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Romans 8:5-6

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

John 15:5

“I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

In our pursuit of a deeper revelation of God's love, we should not rely on emotional experiences. While emotions can accompany our walk with God, our foundation must be faith. Scripture teaches us to walk by faith and not by sight, and reminds us that without faith it is impossible to please Him.

Romans 1:17

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

2 Corinthians 5:7

For we walk by faith, not by sight.

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Therefore, as we study and meditate on the truths of God’s Word, let us allow Him to shape and transform our inner being. The goal is not a fleeting feeling, but lasting transformation through a true and intimate relationship with our Father in Heaven.

12. Meditating on the Love of God

1 John 4:7-21

Knowing God Through Love

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 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. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.

Seeing God Through Love

The Consummation of Love

Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgement; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us.

Obedience by Faith

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.

13. Conclusion

God’s love for us is not based on our works or merit. It is freely given. We could never earn or deserve it. Through faith in Jesus, we escape the wrath of God and instead abide in His abundant love and grace.

Nothing can separate us from the love of our Father in Heaven. As born-again believers, God and His love dwell within us. He is kind, compassionate, and generous. As His children, He has given us everything we need to live a victorious life because He loves us.

1 Corinthians 16:14

Let all that you do be done with love.

Spiritual Investing