God Is Love

"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

God Is Love This is such a popular saying, and belief Christians hold firmly to. The title itself seems self explanatory, and yet many Christians can’t further elaborate the meaning of this other than “ that God loves us”. I began writing this blog: Dwell+Delight to share the basics of the faith, because when I was stepping deeper into my beliefs, it seemed I challenged everything and everyone. For years I would challenge my Husband on his theology (which just means knowledge of God). You see, my Husband based his theology of God through the word of God. What differed, was that my “theology” was merely based on my feelings, and assumption without fully acknowledging truth. I was spiritually ignorant, and (now I can admit) prideful. I deconstructed the faith and questioned everything, which ultimately lead me to finally ask God.

I would like to express one thing before I continue here, and that is that for 35 years of my life I did not accept the full Gospel. I mean, I heard the Gospel hundreds of times throughout my life, but never the Gospel in its entirety. So, I’d like to elaborate on this topic and provide some context.

“The bible doesn’t say that love is God. It says that God is love. Seems to suggest that our definitions of love are to be defined by God, not the other way around” unknown

A couple years ago I had a dear friend go through a series of hardships. She was struggling mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. It was so hard to witness and at the time I was out of advice. I didn’t know what else to say to encourage this friend so I asked a woman who is a believer who, what advice I should offer this friend of mine. Though I couldn’t personally relate to my friends struggles, I wanted to provide her with some uplifting words at the very least. The advice she shared was simply that “God loves her”. So comforting and encouraging. I thought, what if she doesn’t get it? Do I get it? Do I want to sprinkle this into our conversations without its context? If I recognize that God loves us in that He sent us His one and only son to save the world, shouldn’t I know how to share this basic pillar of the faith as a follow up to the very statement I am sharing with her?

Let’s look at how the Bible describes love, and then we will see a few ways in which God is the essence of love. One of the first scriptures that comes to mind is the ever so popular

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails”.

Years ago my Husband bought a wall decal for our new home. I had a feeling it was a verse of some sort, and surely I was correct. As he unwrapped the packaging and unrolled the protective covering, I read out loud “Love never fails”. I smiled at him, and asked where he wanted to hang it. We decided above our patio doors. After we hung it I chuckled under my breath. During this time a close friend of mine was going through a difficult breakup. I myself have also witnessed love fail many times in my life. I mentioned this to my husband and he said "the difference is that these words represent Gods love". It was clear, this was not my general notion of love, or lack there of.. This wasn’t about my negative experience either. No, this verse wasn’t regarding the failed marriages, or infidelity. This wasn’t representing those left abandoned and alone, when love failed them. This wasn’t self seeking, self sabotaging, and selfish kind of love. No, this was a picture of Gods love and was so simply put. Right before my worldly eyes “Love never fails”. Now, when reading or hearing 1 Corinthians 13 I am reminded of Gods perfect love. Even in our greatest attempts of achieving this standard of love, we fail. But God doesn’t.

“So, what does it mean that God is love? Love is an attribute of God. Love is a core aspect of God’s character. God’s love is in no sense in conflict with His holiness, righteousness, justice, or even His wrath. All of God’s attributes are in perfect harmony”. via gotquestions.com

God demonstrated His love to us, in that :

“While we were sinners Christ died for us”

Romans 5:8

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

Sadly there are many love stories that end in tragedy. Some we’ve read, and some we've heard where lovers sacrificed their lives for the other. Love aside, there’s been heroic stories of lives lost to save the other. God showcased His love for us in the ever so popular verse: John 3:16

This verse means so much to me. When my Mom was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer the first few weeks were a complete blur. You know where you kind of go off autopilot, and things begin to set in later on. Well, as I was processing and beginning to grieve, (after all this was an incurable diagnosis) which made it all the more difficult to accept. Months later Moms initial diagnosis Steven Hawkins passed away. It appeared everyone on social media was paying homage to his life and legacy. It got me thinking.. This man was literally one of the smartest human being in the world. He was brilliant. And yet he didn't believe in God.. how so? was I wrong? Steven Hawkins faced adversity and disability. I briefly thought perhaps life’s hardships can affect our beliefs/trust. How can life be so unfair if there is a loving God in charge?. During this time I was wrestling with faith. Eventually, I told God I was struggling, and that I didn’t know what to believe anymore. I wanted answers, and perhaps even proof.

I can’t say I was angry at God during this time.. but I was disappointed and heartbroken at my circumstances. I didn’t want to lose my beloved Mother, we were so very close. Growing up all I wanted to do was protect my Mother, after all the suffering I seen her endure both emotionally, physically and at times financially. She faced so much disappointments and hardships in her life thus far, why now is she is faced with this incurable death sentence. Even the smartest man in the world didn’t believe in God, why should I? I can’t remember how many times the verse John 3;16 came up, but probably over 7 times in the course of 2-3 days. Over and over and over.

This is how God speaks to us. It is through His very word.

" God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten son, so whomever shall believe will not parish but have ever lasting life". John 3;16

This is the core of Christianity, Gods love for us is displayed through the Gospel. The cross gives us hope.

“Whoever believes in the Son of God accepts this testimony. Whoever does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because they have not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son".

1 John 5;10-11

When I was questioning my faith because someone who was as smart as Steven Hawkins didn't believe, I came up with the conclusion; that it was because he lacked trust. We want proof, we want to see the evidence but faith is believing what is unseen. Truth is when we are closed off to the concept of God, we are putting our hope elsewhere. Whether that's in science, evolution, or what have you. Rather than recognizing we are spiritually blinded when we reject God, I had elevated this mans disbelief.

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:6

Fellowship

Jesus is the only way to the Father, yet throughout the centuries people have attempted to form other paths to God through false religions or living in such a way as to some how merit His approval. Truth is: we cannot have fellowship with God if we reject His Son. Scripture also says "If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth.” 1 John 1:6

“Beware of manufacturing a God of your own: a God who is all mercy, but not just; a God who is all love, but not holy; a God who as a heaven for every body, but a hell for none; a God who can allow good and bad to be side by side in time, but will make no distinction between good and bad in eternity. Such a God is an idol of your own, as truly an idol. The hands of your own fancy and sentimentality have made him. He is not the God of the Bible, and beside the God of the Bible there is no God at all.” J.C Ryle

If you felt convicted after reading that, you are not alone. This quote once struck me hard. A necessary wake up call. Listen, I always believed in God… can’t remember a time when I didn’t. But I’ll admit this belief was surface level. My idea of a relationship with God consisted of my nightly prayers before bed. I based my faith off feelings, but this relationship was anything but intimate. I believed in Jesus too.. ever since a little girl I understood He died for our sins. These were beliefs I grew up with, and yet there was never a call to live life in obedience. I figured what’s the point when HE paid the price right?..

John 3:16 begins by stating “ God so loved” did you catch that?

Interesting to note the word “Loved” is in past tense. God didn’t love us when we started loving Him. No He loved us before the foundations of the world. Jesus was always the plan. Plan of redemption

God in His initiating love had purpose before the foundations of the world. There was a plan of redemption. 1 Peter 1;20 acts 2;23

Jesus was always the plan of God, Jesus came while we were weak. He went to the cross while we were rebellious and ungodly. When we were broken and depraved. When we were lost in our sins, without hope. He loved us when we were far from Him. And yet God in our broken, and helpless state He chose us when we were incapable of choosing Him. God demonstrated His love for us right here!

Jesus came to carry out the sovereign plan of God. He came to save. He came to redeem. The love of God is hard to make sense of to the human mind. Perhaps this love could make sense if likened to the love stories we’ve read when lovers sacrifice their lives in the name of love, or the story with some heroic ending. But here, in the Gospel we see a love story like none other. This story captures Gods love. He offers us Himself which is everything. It is the gift of salvation. The sacrifice. The willingness to die for the world, was to offer us life. Eternal life.

Part 2 in continuation to this blog is: Jesus Saves