God is Love

“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.” (1 John 4:7–11)

Several years ago, a popular song contained the phrase: “What the world needs now is love…”. That sentiment has never been truer than it is at this present time. Over the past several years, it appears as if the hatred in society as a whole has escalated to a fever pitch. People are divided over many things, and it seems that no one has the ability any longer to disagree on certain topics and still remain civil if there is a disagreement. If one is aligned with a particular political view, then anyone with a differing view is treated inferior (this is seen on both sides). Currently, companies are being removed from social media if someone from that company holds to a view that is different from others, and then vilified for holding such a view. News media and social media is filled with interviews and opinions and it seems that through the constant battle of trying to prove one side to be right and the other side to be wrong, we have forgotten how to love. Perhaps the song is right and what the world is in need of right now is love. Consider 1 John 4:7-11 as it states that “God is love”. When we examine the Source, the Savior, and the subjects of love and apply them to our lives, then we may be able to change the world for the better.

God is the source of love. A study of 1 John 4:7-11 would reveal two words that are seen throughout the passage. The first of these words is “love”. The original Greek word translated “love” is the word “agape”. Agape is the deepest form of love possible, it is more than a friendly love, or a brotherly love, but is a type of love that is sacrificial. The second word that is repeated in the passage is the word “God”. Of course, this is a reference to Jehovah, the Father, and it is impossible to discuss sacrificial love without discussing God. The passage under consideration states “God is love”. God is the source of love. The Holy Bible is a 66-volume library that proves the point that God is love. In the book of Genesis alone we have numerous examples of the love of God (creation, sparing mankind from sin, the promise of Christ, the keeping of the promise through providence in the life of Joseph). Throughout the Old Testament His love is seen in preparing the way for Christ, through the Gospel accounts His love is seen in the sending of Christ, from the book of Acts through the book of Revelation His love is seen in preparing those that obey His will in order to enter into the kingdom that will dwell with Him forever. God is the source of love and if we want to love like God commands us, we must spend time studying His Word. When a man begins to fall in love with a woman, he will begin to study her, he will know what makes her happy, what makes her angry, what she likes and dislikes, he will know what to say and when to say it, and he does all of this because he loves her. Christians must apply the same tactics toward God and study His Word in order to know how to please Him and begin to understand the source of love.

The extent of God’s great love for us is seen in the Savior that was sent for us. God “so loved the world” (John 3:16), commending His love toward us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8), being rich in mercy (Eph. 2:4-5), sending His Son to die in order that we may be called His children (1 John 3:1). 1 John 4:9 states that God’s love is made apparent (“manifested”) in the sending of His Son so we might live through Him. God’s love is put on display when we examine the Sacrifice given for us (1 John 4:10). Because of our sins we are separated from God (Isa. 59:2; Proverbs 15:29), and there is nothing that man would ever be able to do in order to justify ourselves and redeem ourselves from sin, therefore we rely wholly upon the love of God that was made manifest in sending our propitiation, Jesus Christ our Savior. When we continually reflect on the Savior given for our redemption, given by the Father, which is something we did not deserve but was freely given that we might be justified, then we will deepen our love for God and one another.

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another” (1 John 4:11). Within the discussion of the source of love and the Savior sent because of love, there is an encouragement to the subjects of love. The world is filled with people that disagree with one another, people that hate one another, people that commit violent acts towards one another, and of all the people in the world there is not one soul that Jesus did not die for. Consider the love God has for all people. He loves everyone equally, and everyone is able to be redeemed by the love of God through Jesus Christ. The one that does not love does not know God (1 John 4:8), and perhaps that is the reason many fail to love one another the way we should. God has sent His Son to be the redeemer of our souls and His desire is that we love one another. Those that obey God’s commands become the children of God (1 John 3:1). Do parents desire that their children love one another? Would parents delight in seeing their children act violently towards one another, or do parents delight when their children love each other? Apply the same reasoning to God. God delights when we love one another, and considering the amount of love that God has extended towards us why would we not love one another?

What does the world need right now? The world needs love. The world needs God. The world needs to obey the commands of Jesus and be saved by Him. The world needs to love one another as we have been commanded by God to do so.