In previous articles of this series, we have established what Christian love is, its importance and studying the various characteristics of it as found in 1 Corinthians 13 and other passages. It has been previously stated that every relationship in the life of a Christian involves love found in the Bible. In this article we will begin examining these and what better place to start than with God's love for us.

Everything about the Christian's life is based upon God's love for us. If He did not love us, we would be without hope. Our lives would be pointless. But He does love us! He is called the God of love. 2 Corinthians 13:11 says, "…and the God of love and peace will be with you." Let us notice some things about the love of God.

One thing the Christian learns quickly as he studies the Bible is his need to be like God as much as possible. This is not to say that he is God, but he tries to imitate His characteristics. Paul wrote, "Therefore be imitators of God, as dear children." (Ephesians 5:1). Jesus taught, "Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:48). In numerous passages we are told to emulate various characteristics of Him. Christian love is one example. Note 1 John 4:11, "Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another." John is stating our need to follow the type of love God has. Just prior to this, he identifies God with love. In 1 John 4:7,8, he says, "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." The expression, "God is love," means that in God you find what true AGAPE love is.

Understanding that God is love that brings us to ask, how does He demonstrate His love? We find the answer in numerous passages. Perhaps the most known is John 3:16 which says, "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." We find here the ultimate example of His love. In the same context that John said God is love (above), he also spoke of God manifesting His love. Note 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." Let us contemplate what this means for a moment. Jesus was with Jehovah God in heaven. When man sinned, He would accept nothing less than the sinless sacrifice of Jesus. So He sent Jesus to this earth to be ridiculed and persecuted and eventually murdered in a cruel fashion, so that OUR sins might be forgiven. How many of us would be willing to give up our son for a good cause. Romans 5:8 says, "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. " God did because He loved us SO much.

And His love does not end there. As a result of this sacrifice, we have the hope of salvation and eternal life. Ephesians 2:4-5 states, "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)". Paul here stated that because of His love, we have been made alive (from the spiritual death of sin). Titus 3:4-7 teaches, "But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, …that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life." Thus God's love leads to our justification and eternal life in heaven with Him. There is no greater demonstration of love than God's.

We can also see God's love for us in numerous other areas. For instance, the Bible reveals to us all that He has done in love and what He expects of us. Without His word, we would be without hope. His Gospel is "the power of God unto salvation." (Romans 1:16-17), and that which is able to make us wise unto salvation and "complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Timothy 3:15-17). His love is seen in His care for believers. We read in Hebrews 12:6, "For whom the LORD loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives." This shows that God shows concern for His disciples. In various ways He will punish one who needs it. As Christians we are aware of the fact that we cannot hide from God ever. (Hebrews 4:13). He has also promised to keep us from any temptation that we cannot bear and that with temptation, He will make the way of escape that we may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13). There are many other examples of God's love for us, but these are sufficient to show the extent of His love.

But what is our reaction to His love. John records in one verse what it ought to be. He said, "We love Him because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19). John's point is that when we properly understand how much God loves us and the extremes that He went to for us, it will move us to love Him in return. Our love for Him will result in a number of things: We will obey his commandments, love one another, sacrifice in our lives and put our trust in Him. In a future article, we will address this subject.

In this article we have seen that God does love us and His love is our example of how we should love one another. When we properly understand His love and respond to it properly, we can say as Paul, "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. (Romans 8:37-39) Do you believe that God loves you? What are you doing about it?