Love, that mighty and blessed and unknown thing, might be at work.”
–Zane Grey (The Light of the Western Stars)
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
“For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.”
–1 John 5:3 (NKJV)
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Last week we looked at the first of the moral attributes of God. Remember, these are characteristics of God that we can share and should try to obtain. This week I want to share some thoughts about the love of God. Love–such a misunderstood term. I am not going to discuss love per se, but look at some characteristics of the love of God. We know that God is a spirit, the He is light, that He is a jealous God, and that He is a consuming fire, but He is also love.
It does not say that God loves, but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but it is His very nature. That should grip us. If God loves me because He knows me–shouldn’t I know Him so I can love Him better and more completely? We see then that the love of God is uninfluenced. There is nothing in the objects of His love, you and me, to call it into exercise. His love is free, spontaneous, uncaused. Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NKJV) John writes that most famous verse, “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.” (John 3:16, NKJV) John also wrote in his first epistle, “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NKJV)
The love of God is eternal. He isn’t going to change His mind regarding love in the eons of eternity. Since He is love this is of necessity–God is eternal, God is love, therefore, His love is eternal. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.'” (Jeremiah 31:3, NKJV) In this we see that His love is sovereign and His love is infinite. “His love is without limit. There is a depth to it which none can fathom; there is a height to it which none can scale; there is a length and breadth to it which defies measurement, by any creature-standard.” (Arthur W. Pink) Paul declares, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, 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 8:38-39, NKJV)
Our hearts should rejoice, our faith should rest secure in this love. For as God is immutable, so is His love. Divine love is strong as death. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealously as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” (Song of Solomon 8:6-7, NKJV)
The love of God is gracious and full of mercy. It is holy; His love never conflicts with His holiness. That was one of the main purposes of the cross. Justice, righteous, holiness demanded a guilty verdict and death. Jesus Christ, the love of God incarnate became that sacrifice to appease the holiness of God yet should His marvelous, divine love. I would point you again to John 3:16. Ponder the words of Arthur Pink, “Here then is abundant cause for trust and patience under Divine affliction. Christ was beloved of the Father, yet He was not exempt from poverty, disgrace, and persecution. He hungered and thirsted. Thus, it was not incompatible with God’s love for Christ when He permitted men to spit upon and smite Him. Then let no Christian call into question God’s love when he is brought under painful affliction and trials. God did not enrich Christ on earth with temporal prosperity, for ‘He had had not where to lay His head.’ But He did give Him the Spirit ‘without measure.’ Learn then that spiritual blessings are the principal gifts of Divine love. How blessed to know that when the world hates us, God loves us.”
“The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure–
The saints’ and angels’ song.”
–Frederick M. Lehman
————————————-
Last week we looked at the first of the moral attributes of God. Remember, these are characteristics of God that we can share and should try to obtain. This week I want to share some thoughts about the love of God. Love–such a misunderstood term. I am not going to discuss love per se, but look at some characteristics of the love of God. We know that God is a spirit, the He is light, that He is a jealous God, and that He is a consuming fire, but He is also love.
It does not say that God loves, but that He is Love itself. Love is not merely one of His attributes, but it is His very nature. That should grip us. If God loves me because He knows me–shouldn’t I know Him so I can love Him better and more completely? We see then that the love of God is uninfluenced. There is nothing in the objects of His love, you and me, to call it into exercise. His love is free, spontaneous, uncaused. Paul writes, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8, NKJV) John writes that most famous verse, “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.” (John 3:16, NKJV) John also wrote in his first epistle, “We love Him because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19, NKJV)
The love of God is eternal. He isn’t going to change His mind regarding love in the eons of eternity. Since He is love this is of necessity–God is eternal, God is love, therefore, His love is eternal. The Prophet Jeremiah wrote, “The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying: ‘Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.'” (Jeremiah 31:3, NKJV) In this we see that His love is sovereign and His love is infinite. “His love is without limit. There is a depth to it which none can fathom; there is a height to it which none can scale; there is a length and breadth to it which defies measurement, by any creature-standard.” (Arthur W. Pink) Paul declares, “For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, 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 8:38-39, NKJV)
Our hearts should rejoice, our faith should rest secure in this love. For as God is immutable, so is His love. Divine love is strong as death. “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealously as cruel as the grave; its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised.” (Song of Solomon 8:6-7, NKJV)
The love of God is gracious and full of mercy. It is holy; His love never conflicts with His holiness. That was one of the main purposes of the cross. Justice, righteous, holiness demanded a guilty verdict and death. Jesus Christ, the love of God incarnate became that sacrifice to appease the holiness of God yet should His marvelous, divine love. I would point you again to John 3:16. Ponder the words of Arthur Pink, “Here then is abundant cause for trust and patience under Divine affliction. Christ was beloved of the Father, yet He was not exempt from poverty, disgrace, and persecution. He hungered and thirsted. Thus, it was not incompatible with God’s love for Christ when He permitted men to spit upon and smite Him. Then let no Christian call into question God’s love when he is brought under painful affliction and trials. God did not enrich Christ on earth with temporal prosperity, for ‘He had had not where to lay His head.’ But He did give Him the Spirit ‘without measure.’ Learn then that spiritual blessings are the principal gifts of Divine love. How blessed to know that when the world hates us, God loves us.”
“The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.
Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure–
The saints’ and angels’ song.”
–Frederick M. Lehman