Love

God is love — and we love because He first loved us.

First Mention in Scripture

Original Word: אָהֵב (’āhev)

Reference: Genesis 22:2

Meaning: To love, to have affection for, to choose with devotion.

First used when God speaks of Abraham’s love for Isaac — showing that love is tied to relationship, sacrifice, and deep affection.

Love is not just an emotion or abstract concept — it is the very nature of God. Scripture declares that 'God is love' (1 John 4:8), meaning that love isn’t just something He does; it’s who He is.

Biblical love is not sentimental or passive. It is active, sacrificial, and committed. It seeks the good of others, regardless of cost. At the cross, God displayed the fullest expression of His love — not because we were lovable, but because He is love.

Love is also the defining mark of those who belong to Him. Jesus said that the world would recognize His followers by their love for one another (John 13:35).

This love does not come naturally. It is poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) and grows as we abide in Christ, walk in the truth, and die to self. Love is not just a feeling we chase — it’s a way of life we learn by staying close to the God who first loved us.

God Is Love: His Nature, Not Just an Attribute

Love is not a trait God developed — it is who He has always been. Before creation, the Father, Son, and Spirit lived in eternal, perfect love. This means that God did not create humanity out of need, but out of overflow — inviting us into the love that already existed in Himself.

Everything God does is shaped by this love: His justice, His mercy, His discipline, and His grace. To know God is to know love — not a vague idea, but a powerful, personal reality.

Love in Action: The Cross as the Ultimate Expression

1 John 4:10 says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son.” The cross is not only where sin was judged — it’s where love was most clearly seen.

Jesus laid down His life willingly. He loved His enemies, forgave His executioners, and bore our sin. This is the gold standard of love: self-giving, truth-telling, and never failing.

Love Commands and Transforms

When Jesus was asked the greatest commandment, He responded with love: love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:37–39).

True love transforms the way we treat people — from strangers and enemies to friends and family. It reshapes marriages, communities, and churches. Love does not compromise truth, but it always seeks redemption and peace.

Love Is the Fruit of the Spirit

In Galatians 5, love is the first fruit listed — because without it, all other virtues unravel. Love is not optional in the Christian life. It is the evidence that God is at work in us.

This love doesn’t originate in us. It flows from the Spirit who enables us to forgive the unforgivable, embrace the unlovable, and persist in kindness even when it’s costly.

We Love Because He First Loved Us

1 John 4:19 reminds us that our love is always a response. We are not the initiators — God is. The more we grasp how deeply we are loved in Christ, the more we are empowered to love others.

Even in seasons of dryness or pain, the call to love remains — not as pressure, but as the outflow of grace. We don’t love to earn anything; we love because we’ve already received everything in Christ.

Scripture References

Love is the greatest command, the highest virtue, and the clearest sign of God’s presence in a person’s life. It is not self-generated but Spirit-powered. And it always begins with God — the One who loved us when we were unlovely, so we could love in return. Love is not weakness — it’s strength. Not convenience — but covenant. And in the end, it is love that will remain (1 Corinthians 13:13).

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