09/11/2025
TITLE: UNDERSTANDING THE LOVE OF GOD
MAIN TEXTS: Rev. 2:1-5, 1 Jn. 4:19
Introduction
According to the scriptures, every believer begins their journey in salvation from the foundation of the love
of God for humanity. There is no salvation without the basis of God’s love for all men. Neither do we have
the capacity to love God, were it not for the reality of God’s love for us. In Jn. 3:16, Jesus makes the
emphatic statement, eternal life is founded upon the Love of God for us. 1 Jn. 4:19 also gives credence, as
John writes that we love God because he first loved us. This means our love for God can be seen as simply
our response to the actions of love that God demonstrated towards us.
Therefore, it is sacrosanct that for a believer to respond appropriately to the love of God, he/she must
understand the Love of God.
The Nature Of God’s Love
1. 2. The very fabric of God’s nature and character is Love. 1 Jn. 4:8
God’s Love towards mankind is everlasting. Jer 31:3, John 3:16. God will never give up on loving
humanity. Because He created us in His own image and for His own pleasure. Rev. 4:8. This is why
he continually extends his mercy and salvation to everyone and anyone who will receive His love.
Psa.118:1-3, Psa. 136:1-3
3. God’s love is His great strategy for winning/persuading humanity to His salvation. Jer 31:3, Romans
5:8, 1 John 4:10. We could not love God by ourselves in our sin, so God first demonstrated His love
towards us to win our hearts to Himself in salvation.
4. God’s love is sacrificial – He demonstrated His love in the sacrifice (death) of Jesus for the sins of
mankind. Jn. 3:16-18, 1 Jn. 4:9-10, Jn. 15:13, Rom. 5:8. Love is an action word; love is shown in
actions. Jesus took the greatest step that anyone could ever take in Love; He gave Himself for us.
5. God’s love offers assurance. It is assuring. 1 Jn. 4:17-18, Rom. 8:31-39. We can be assured that if
God can deliver up Jesus in death, because He loves us, we know that He will give us all other things
He promised us in His word, as it relates to our salvation and welfare, when we receive His love.
6. The full benefits of God’s love will only be experienced by anyone when they receive salvation
through faith in Christ. If you have received the gospel, then all the full benefit of the Love of God
towards humanity can be yours to enjoy. Rom. 8:37, Psa. 103:17
Responding To The Love Of God
God has already spoken and demonstrated how much He has loved us. In His love, He has made provision
for our redemption from destruction, our rescue from hell, our deliverance from sin. The onus is on mankind
to respond to His love by receiving and growing in His love for us. We also must obey His instructions
from the word as proof that we have responded to His love by loving Him in return. We respond in the
following ways;
1. BELIEVE IN HIS LOVE – Jn. 3:16. The first step to responding to God’s love is by putting our
faith in Christ, and receiving eternal life, His salvation. Every one of us who has believed in the
gospel is saved, and thus has responded to his love. Rom. 5:1-5
2. 3. 4. 5. Vision 2032
KNOW AND UNDERSTAND HIS LOVE – Eph. 3:17-19, 2 Tim. 1:7. Paul prayed for the church
to know the love of God, so that they can receive the fullness of God. Many benefits come with the
salvation that we have received by grace, through the love of God. Knowing and understanding the
Love of God through the pages of the scriptures helps us, not only to know what is available for us,
but also to have the boldness to lay hold on it, being confident in the love of God for us. 1 Jn. 4:17-
18.
PRAISE AND THANK HIM FOR HIS LOVE – Psa. 103:1-5, Psa. 136:1-4, Eph. 5:18-20. As
our eyes open to the depth of His, we are instructed by the word of God to continually praise and
thank Him for his love – all He has given us through His love – our salvation, our deliverance from
evil, provision, protection, etc. Gratitude is our response to His love.
IMITATE AND WALK IN HIS LOVE – 1 Jn. 3:16-18, 1 Jn. 4:11, Jn. 13:34. As we behold the
sacrificial love of God in Christ, the bible teaches us to imitate Jesus in His love, by living a life of
sacrifice as well. In giving, in commitment to the course of Jesus and to other believers, even if it
means we will sacrifice our comfort, by forgiving others as he forgave us Eph. 4:31-32, etc., if we
love him, we will obey Him.
TELL OTHERS OF HIS LOVE – this is the great commission. Mk. 16:15-17, Matt. 28:18-20, Jn.
15:12-16. It is not enough to believe in His LOVE and be saved; it is equally important that we obey
His commandment to tell others about His love. Knowing that great danger lies ahead of anyone
who rejects His love, we must burn with the zeal for the salvation of others. 2 Cor. 5:11
Conclusion
We love Him because He first loved us. We know that God has drawn us to Himself by love. Our response
is to love Him in return by obeying his word, to live like Him, and to tell others about Him.
Altar Call and Prayers
