In part 2 (click here to read it), we looked at the text in 1 John 4 through the eyes of the new and old testaments. Here we seek to establish God's kind of love and how it differs from ours.

(I). "God is love, and anyone who doesn't love others has never known him." (1 John 4:8 CEV)

This is a crucial starting point for understanding God. It does not suggest that God considers love very important, it states that Love is the essence of who God is. It is what motivates Him in all interactions with us. He created us as the object of His love.

(II). "Real love isn't our love for God, but his love for us. God sent his Son to be the sacrifice by which our sins are forgiven." (1 John 4:10 CEV)

We tend to evaluate God’s love by our perception of the predominant understanding of love that we see around us. This would do a great dis-service to God’s love. The scripture above makes it quite clear that human love and God’s love are different, so we are not to confuse the two. This mix-up is the reason many are not experiencing the fullness of God’s love, as they have a perverted view of God’s love based on their experiences and what religion has taught. It then goes on to intimate that the sacrifice of Christ for our sins was a clear demonstration of this love. Let us look then at what is so different about God’s love. God’s love is infinitely greater than any we can muster

(III). "God showed his love for us when he sent his only Son into the world to give us life." (1 John 4:9 CEV)

His love is unconditional, intense and unrelenting. It is the expression of Who He is, He cannot be otherwise disposed. God‘s love is not an emotion but an act of His will. He loves us because He chooses to and therefore nothing we can do can change Him. His love has no conditions attached and is therefore not subject to failure. Conditions change but His love does not.

1. "Christ died for us at a time when we were helpless and sinful. No one is really willing to die for an honest person, though someone might be willing to die for a truly good person. But God showed how much he loved us by having Christ die for us, even though we were sinful." (Romans 5:6-8 CEV)

2. "Can anything separate us from the love of Christ? Can trouble, suffering, and hard times, or hunger and nakedness, or danger and death? It is exactly as the Scriptures say, "For you we face death all day long. We are like sheep on their way to be butchered." In everything we have won more than a victory because of Christ who loves us. I am sure that nothing can separate us from God's love--not life or death, not angels or spirits, not the present or the future, and not powers above or powers below. Nothing in all creation can separate us from God's love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord!" (Romans 8:35-39 CEV)

3. "God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die." (John 3:16 CEV)

4. "Instead, immense in mercy and with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all this on his own, with no help from us!" (Ephesians 2:4-5 MSG)

5. "Love is kind and patient, never jealous, boastful, proud, or rude. Love isn't selfish or quick tempered. It doesn't keep a record of wrongs that others do. Love rejoices in the truth, but not in evil. Love is always supportive, loyal, hopeful, and trusting. Love never fails! Everyone who prophesies will stop, and unknown languages will no longer be spoken. All that we know will be forgotten."(1 Corinthians 13:4-8 CEV)

6. "He brought me to his banquet hall and raised the banner of love over me." (Song of Solomon 2:4 GNB)

Beware the great big con

Eye candy to bring you in

Introduced to the ever-loving God

His love unconditional

Come just as you are

Stepped inside

Drawn by such a great deal

Would be a fool to miss out

Just could not loose

A perfect win-win

Something’s not quite right

When did it all change?

God's love, no longer everlasting

His blessings, now conditional

Have to be good enough to make it

Is this the same God?

The one that does not change

Can't help but believe

I must be hearing double talk

Will the real God, please show up

I'm sticking with true God

The one I fell in love with

He loves me unconditionally

From His love none can separate me

I'm His beloved and He is mine

His banner over me will always be love

Clearly this is a far cry from our own display of love which tends to be conditional, emotional, temporal and subject to failure. This is no surprise that Paul said

"I realize that I don't have what it takes. I can will it, but I can't do it." (Romans 7:18 MSG)

What then is the answer, we are clearly to walk in God’s love, it is our emblem of identity with Christ. As Christ said "If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples." (John 13:35 CEV)

In the next installment, we will look at walking in His love, the new covenant way.

Every Blessing

(To be continued...)

Breadoflife

click here to read part 4

To view others instalments in the series, click here