God's Love

“Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:8, ESV)

God Is Love

Of all God’s attributes, this is the most well-known AND the most misunderstood. You can walk up to anyone on the street—it doesn’t matter I they believe in God—and the vast majority will know the passage I quoted at the top of the post—at least the last three words: God is love. 

The Loving Old Testament God

Yet, there are many people who do not believe the God of the Old Testament is love. They believe the God of the Old Testament is wrathful and vengeful, but the God of the New Testament is all about love. This is a common misconception that comes from not reading the Bible fully. As you read the Old Testament, you will see BOTH God’s love AND God’s wrath. As you read the New Testament, you will see the same thing—just read Revelation—because it’s the same God and he never changes. 

Since we’re focusing on God’s love, I want to share some passages from the Old Testament that speak of God’s love. We read the promise that “He will love you, bless you, and multiply you” (Deut 7:13). We are told that God “set his heart in love on” his people and choose them as his own (Deut 10:15) and that God loves his people with “an everlasting love” (Jer 31:3). God blesses his people because he loves them (Deut 23:5; Isa 43:4) and God SAVES his people because he loves them (Isa 63:9). I could keep going, but I think that’s sufficient to prove my point. God IS love in the Old Testament. 

The Loving New Testament God

This loving God doesn’t change in the New Testament. However, Herman Bavinck says, “This love of God stands out much more vividly in the New Testament, now that God has given himself in the Son of his love” (Reformed Dogmatics, p. 215). God’s love doesn’t change in the New Testament. The change comes in us. We see God’s love more clearly in Jesus Christ. 

We see the same promises/truths about God’s love from the Old Testament echoed in the New Testament. God choose us and adopted us as his children because he loves us (Eph 1:4-5). God sent Jesus to bring salvation because he loves us (Jn 3:16, Ro 5:8; 1 Jn 4:10). God continues to show us mercy because he loves us (Eph 2:4). We’re told that Jesus’ love surpasses knowledge (Eph 3:19). 

We also see a mutual love between the Father and the Son. When speaking to the Father, Jesus says, “you loved me before the foundation of the world” (Jn 17:24) and in another place says, “I love the Father” (Jn 14:31). Then we’re brought into this mutual love when Jesus says, “I made known to them your name, and I will continue to make it known, that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.” (John 17:26, ESV). 

Love Defined

Much of the misunderstanding around God’s love comes from a misunderstanding of love. Many take our cultural definition/understanding of love and hold God to that standard—which is backwards. Since God IS love, he is the one who defines what love is—not us. If we ever find ourselves thinking God is not loving, then we have misunderstood love and need to change our understanding. 

Thankfully, the New Testament gives us clear teaching on love. In John we read, “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13, ESV). We also heard Jesus say, “For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” (John 10:17, ESV). Then, as Christians, we are commanded, “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:1–2, ESV). These passages give a clear definition: “God’s love means that he eternally gives of himself to others” (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, p. 199). God’s love is sacrificial. 

Our Call to Love

Since God’s love is sacrificial, God calls us to love sacrificially—to give ourselves to others. It’s important to apply this understanding of love the Great Commandment: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” (Matthew 22:37–40, ESV).

So, how do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? You give yourself to Him—all of yourself. You give God your heart, soul, mind, and strength. You trust Him with every aspect of your life. You trust him to forgive your sins and renew your life. You trust him to deal with your family, your church, and your job. You trust him with EVERYTHING. That’s what it means to love God—to give yourself to Him. 

The same idea applies differently when it comes to our neighbor. How do we love our neighbor? We give ourselves to them in that same way that Christ gave himself for us. We offer them salvation in Jesus Christ. We carry their burdens. We suffer on their behalf. We lay down our lives for them. That’s what it means to love your neighbor—to give yourself for them. 

Connected Commands

As I wrap up, it’s important to remember we cannot disconnect these two realities. The Bible doesn’t give us that option. John writes, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar” (1 John 4:20, ESV). The flip side of that coin is also true. If anyone says “I love people” but hates God, they are ALSO a liar. We cannot separate these. 

You must first love God if you are going to love people. To say it another way, you must first give yourself to God before you can truly give yourself for other people. But then John’s rebuke comes into play. If you’ve given yourself to God, you WILL give yourself to other people—otherwise you’re lying.