InstaStudy

God is Love

This study explores the profound truth that God's very nature is love, examining how this love is revealed throughout scripture and how it calls us to respond.

1. The Intrinsic Nature of God's Love

1.1 God Is Love

Verses: He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8); And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16)
  • Love is not merely an attribute of God, but His very essence.
  • To understand God is to understand love, and vice versa.
  • God's actions flow from His loving nature.

1.2 God's Unchanging Love

Verses: The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. (Psalm 103:8); Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee. (Jeremiah 31:3)
  • God's love is eternal and constant, not subject to change.
  • His mercy and grace are expressions of His enduring love.
  • This unchanging love provides security and hope.

1.3 God's Love as the Source of All Good

Verses: Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. (James 1:17); And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)
  • All true goodness originates from God's loving heart.
  • Even in difficult circumstances, God's love works for our ultimate good.
  • His love is the foundation of His benevolent providence.

2. The Manifestation of God's Love in Creation and Redemption

2.1 Love in Creation

Verses: And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. (Genesis 1:31); The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork. (Psalm 19:1)
  • The beauty and order of creation reflect God's loving design.
  • God's provision for humanity and all life demonstrates His care.
  • Creation is a testament to God's benevolent power.

2.2 Love in the Covenant with Israel

Verses: The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers... (Deuteronomy 7:7-8); The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin... (Exodus 34:6-7)
  • God's choice of Israel was an act of unmerited love.
  • His faithfulness to His covenant reveals His enduring love.
  • He provided laws and guidance out of love for His people.

2.3 Love in Sending His Son

Verses: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16); But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
  • The ultimate expression of God's love is the giving of Himself in Jesus Christ.
  • This act of redemption demonstrates love for a sinful humanity.
  • Through Christ, God provided the way to eternal life.

2.4 Love in the Indwelling Spirit

Verses: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Romans 5:5); But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith... (Galatians 5:22)
  • God's love is poured into our hearts through His Spirit.
  • The Spirit cultivates love as a primary fruit in believers.
  • The indwelling Spirit is God's personal presence guiding and empowering us.

3. The Love of God Revealed in Jesus Christ

3.1 Jesus as the Fullness of God's Love

Verses: For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. (Colossians 2:9); To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself... (2 Corinthians 5:19)
  • Jesus is not merely a messenger of God's love, but God's love incarnate.
  • In Jesus, we see the complete revelation of God's character and love.
  • God Himself, in Christ, accomplished reconciliation.

3.2 Jesus' Sacrificial Love

Verses: And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. (Ephesians 5:2); Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16)
  • Jesus' death on the cross is the ultimate demonstration of God's sacrificial love.
  • He willingly gave Himself to redeem humanity from sin.
  • This act of love provides forgiveness and access to God.

3.3 Jesus' Compassionate Love

Verses: But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. (Matthew 9:36); And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not. (Luke 7:13)
  • Jesus' ministry was characterized by deep compassion for the suffering.
  • He healed the sick, fed the hungry, and comforted the sorrowful.
  • His actions reveal the tender heart of God toward humanity.

4. Our Response to God's Love

4.1 Loving God in Return

Verses: Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38); And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. (Deuteronomy 6:5)
  • Our primary response to God's love is to love Him completely.
  • This love involves our entire being: heart, soul, and mind.
  • Loving God is the greatest commandment and the foundation of all obedience.

4.2 Loving Others

Verses: Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (1 John 4:7); A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. (John 13:34-35)
  • Our love for God is demonstrated by our love for fellow human beings.
  • Loving others is a mark of true discipleship and a witness to the world.
  • This love should be sacrificial, mirroring God's love for us.

4.3 Obedience as an Expression of Love

Verses: If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15); For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous. (1 John 5:3)
  • True love for God is expressed through obedience to His word.
  • Keeping His commandments is not a burden but a joyful response to His love.
  • Obedience demonstrates our trust and devotion to Him.

4.4 Living in God's Love

Verses: Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:21); That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. (Ephesians 3:17-19)
  • We are called to continually abide and grow in God's love.
  • Being rooted in His love enables us to comprehend its vastness.
  • Living in His love leads to being filled with His fullness.