What Does The Bible Say About The Love of God?
God's word is crystal clear—God IS love. Not just that He has love, or shows love, but that love is His very nature. First John 4:8 says, "He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love." That's not just a slogan, that's the foundation of everything! But here's the kicker: it's not about us loving God first, or us trying to muster up some holy feelings. First John 4:10 lays it out—"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins."
See, the gospel is the ultimate proof and display of God's love. Jesus laying down His life for sinners—THAT is love in action. John 15:13 says, "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." That's what Jesus did for you, for me, for the whole world. All the commandments, all the prophecies, every single thing in the Bible points to this: God's love revealed in the gospel of Jesus Christ.
So when people talk about loving God or loving others, it's not about us trying to keep a checklist or impress God. We can't even do it on our own! True love—God's love—comes from receiving what Jesus did for us. That's why the gospel isn't just a message, it's the very heartbeat of God's love for broken people. If you want to know what love is, look at the cross. If you want to love others, share the gospel. That's how it all ties together—God's love, the gospel, and our lives.
