Inspired by...: Inspired by . . . Day 7: His Character, Love

Inspired by . . . Day 7: His Character, Love

God is love.

The Greek word for love attributed most often to God in the NT is ἀγάπη / agapē / ag-ah'-pay, an affectionate and benevolent {kind, charitable} love. A similar form, ἀγαπάω / agapaō / ag-ap-ah'-o is used often in the NT when speaking of the love between believers and means to love in a social and moral sense. This word is closely related to phileō, brotherly love.

As a writer, I’m often frustrated by the English language. I mean, one word to express all the different feelings of love, really? I love God. I love my husband. I love penguins. Do I love penguins like I love my husband? Do I love my husband like I love God? I could say I like penguins, or I delight in them and both those statements would be true. But the affection I have for penguins does go a bit further than like, but not into the realm of love.,

My point is, when we say God is love I’m not certain that, to the English mind at least, the full import of the meaning is clear.

The depth of God’s love, and greatness of this Truth, is best exemplified in the gift and sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son,

that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. Joh 3:16

Not only does this act of love encompass the world, but it embraces each one of us personally and intimately. God is the Author, Source and Commander of love. It is the sum total of His law and gospel.

Anyone who loves, with a holy love, is born of God. Anyone who does not love, does not know God.

Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God,

and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God.

Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.

In this the love of God was made manifest among us,

that God sent His only Son into the world, so that we might live through Him.

In this is love, not that we have loved God but that He loved us

and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1Jn 4:7-10

The Spirit of God is the Spirit of Love.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Gal 5:22-23

If I had to guess I would say that there is probably at least one person in your life that you would die for. I’m guessing that person is someone whom you love and who loves you in return.

Christ didn’t die for those who loved Him.

He died for us when we were still in our natural state of sin. Enemies of God.

For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.

For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--

though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die--

but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners,

Christ died for us.

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by His blood,

much more shall we be saved by Him from the wrath of God.

For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son,

much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by His life.
Rom 5:6-10

Are you starting to get a clearer picture of the nature and character of God, Beloved?

God is love. This truth is foundational to your relationship with Him. Love is the very essence of His being.

Matthew Henry said:

What attribute of the divine Majesty so clearly shines in all the world as His communicative goodness, which is love. The wisdom, the greatness, the harmony, and usefulness of the vast creation, which so fully demonstrate His being, do at the same time show and prove His love; and natural reason, inferring and collecting the nature and excellence of the most absolute perfect being, must collect and find that He is most highly good.

That we might live through Him. That we might live for all time in heaven with Him! In the eternal glory and blessedness with Him and through Him. O what a love!