God is Love


Nowadays there is a tremendous emphasis on the love of God. It is talked about and preached about to the exclusion of almost every other theme. It seems to encourage a soft and sentimental type of Christianity. Many of those who speak most about it show least of it. Certainly the Bible tells us that "God is love" (lJn.4:16). It stands at the very heart of the "good news". But do people understand what it means?

1. What it does not mean
Every precious truth of God's Word has been distorted by Satan in his efforts to destroy souls. It is necessary to clear away the errors so that we can get at the real sweetness of this truth.
(1) Some think that there is nothing but love in God. But another verse tells us that "our God is a consuming fire" (Heb.12:29). He burns up all that is sinful and opposed to Him. "Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity" (Hab.l :13)
(2) Some think that God is so full of love that He loves all. He cannot but love. Yet the Bible makes plain that God's love is selective: "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated" (Rom.9:13). With regard to Israel, His people, He says: "You only have I known (loved) of all the families of the earth: therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities" (Amos 3:2).
(3) Some think that God is so loving that He will send no one to hell. Yet this is contrary to the plain teaching of Scripture where Jesus speaks of a broad road on which many are, that leads to destruction (Mat.7:13), and of people ending up in a place where "there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth".(Mat.24:51).
(4) Some think that God's love controls all His other attributes. Yet Scripture lays at least equal emphasis on the holiness of God: "Be ye holy; for I am holy" (lPet.l:l6). Isaiah heard the seraphim cry "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory" (Is.6:3).

2. What does "God is love" mean?
(1) God's love is infinite. This love is so immense that it cannot be measured. It is so great that God "spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all" (Rom.8:32).
(2) God's love is eternal. Our love, like ourselves , always has a beginning, but God loved us before time began. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love" (Eph.l :4).
(3) God's love is unchangeable. His love, unlike ours, does not come and go. "Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Rom.8:38-39).
(4) God's love is sovereign. There is nothing in us to attract His love but He freely bestows it upon us. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Rom.5:8).
(5) God's love is wise. His infinitely wise love fmds for us the only possible way of salvation through the death of His own Son in our room and in our place. By becoming man He is able to suffer and by being God He gives infinite value to the sacrifice and atonement which He made for us.
(6) God's love is powerful. We have many enemies yet we are secure in His loving arms. Satan is mighty but God is Almighty.
(7) God's love is holy. It is consistent with His nature. "Follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb.l2:14).
(8) God's love is righteous love. He finds a suitable substitute who suffers for our sins so that God "might be just and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus" (Rom.3:26).
(9) God's love is practical love. Because of this "Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever" (Ps.23:6).
(10) God's love is true and faithful. Every promise is kept. He says "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb.l3:5). "For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the Lord that hath mercy on thee" (Is.54:10).

3. Practical Lessons
(1) If you are not a Christian, cease to be an enemy of this wonderful God. Make your peace with Him. Repent of your sins and receive the salvation that He freely offers in the Gospel.
(2) Fellow-Christian, dwell in the love of God. Bask in its sunshine. Delight yourself in God and His love.
(3) Love God with all your heart and serve Him to the best of your ability. Your holiness and piety of life is the measure of your love.
(4) Love your fellow-Christians because God loves them. The closer they walk with God the more you should love them. Jesus says: "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another" (Jn.13:35). "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love" (lJn.4:8).
(5) Love poor sinners and do all you can for their salvation. Christ, who loved His enemies, is our example. "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth" (Lk.15:10), and surely there is great joy amongst us here on` earth too. "Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in" (Lk.14:23).

Any comments or questions please E-Mail me or Rev William Macleod the editor.

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