God is Love

God is love – 1 John 4:8

The love in the bible is unconditional love, love that has no conditions or strings attached to it. This love respects the freedom of the one loved. It is defined as such: Love is a desire for, and a delight, in the well-being of the one loved, leading to active and self-sacrificiing efforts on his behalf. This love is further defined in 1 Cor 13:4 – 8: it suffers long, is kind, does not envy, is not proud, behaves appropriately,not self-seeking, no easily irritated, rejoices in the truth, bears, believes, hopes and endures all things.

The origin of this love is GOD. Love is not only in GOD, but GOD IS LOVE. This moral quality of GOD is influenced by the character of GOD’s infinity and eternality. This means that GOD’s love is eternal and infinite. Genuine love originates in GOD, and can only originate in GOD. All the ability to love in this world comes from GOD and GOD alone.

The extent of GOD’s love covers every human person created in this world: FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD … this indicates the extent of GOD’s love: He loves everyone regardless of who they are or what they have, for GOD is no respecter of persons. From the poorest to the richest in this world, the little child to oldest man that ever lived, from the
east to the west, everyone has been loved and loved greatly by this Creator. His love involved everyone in this world.

The demonstration of His love is clearly seen at the Crucifixion. When GOD, who knows the eternal misery men will face in the lake of fire, sent His only Son into this world to die for condemned undeserving sinners like us, it was a plain display of the extent of His love for us… ‘For God commendeth His love towards us in that while we were yet sinner, Christ died for us…” Ro 5:8. The agony of a crucifixion and the infinite pain of separation from a loved one, are not good reasons for GOD NOT to send His Son to die for condemned sinners like us: the only reason can be that of love.

Christian, do you see the love of GOD? Are you living a life of expressing His love to others as you see the love of GOD for you?? GOD is love, and everyone that loves is born of God and knows GOD. Do you know GOD? If you do, you will love as GOD loves because GOD IS LOVE.

Evangelist – Pastor Johnny Tan
Ambassador Baptist Church