Becoming a theologian: God's love

Today we will be looking at God's love. As we examine God's love, we will be looking at three things.

1. God is the source of love
2. God's love for us is unconditional
3. God wants us to love Him and to love others

God is the source of love

⁷Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. ⁸Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

• In verse 8 (which we've read before), we see that "God is love." The Greek word used here is agape. This word is used to describe
• The love Christians should have for other Christians
• The love men should have for God
• The love God has for men
• The love of God for Christ
• The love of Christ for men
• I would describe this as meaning godly love which includes affection, good will, and doing good to others.
• In verse 7 we see that "love comes from God." When we look at the Greek words here, we see that love comes out of God. Love comes "out of God" in much the same way as light comes "out of a flashlight" - a flashlight is a source of light and God is the source of love.

God's love for us in unconditional

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ

Ephesians 1:4b-5a

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

• John 3:16 is probably one of the most famous verses in the Bible. "God so loved the world." It doesn't just say God loved some of the world, does it?
• God loves us enough that He adopted us as His children.
• Furthermore, God loves us, even though we are sinners!
• If God loves you, even though you're a sinner, is there anything you can do to make Him NOT love you?

God wants us to love Him and love others

³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

Mark 12:30-31

• Here Jesus is answering a question about what the greatest commandment is. What does He say?
• Who are we to love?
• What are some ways that you can show affection, good will and do good deeds towards God?
• What are some ways that you can show affection, good will, and do good deeds towards others?

Two final things to remember about love. 1 John 4:7-21 (some of which we read earlier) is a great passage to read and learn about love. Verse 19 gives us reminds us that 'We love because he first loved us.' And verse 21 gives us this commandment 'Whoever loves God must also love his brother.'