In our last post, Our Faith is a Gift, we arrived at a humbling conclusion: we didn’t even come up with the faith to believe on our own. It was handed to us. But that leads us to the “Why?” behind the gift. Why would the Creator of the universe bother to ignite a flame in a human heart?

The answer is the most used—and perhaps most misunderstood—word in the human language. Today, we look at the engine of the Gospel: What is God’s Love?

The Definition vs. The Identity

We often try to define love by our feelings, but the Bible gives us a checklist of actions. In 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, we see that love is patient, kind, and keeps no record of wrongs. It never fails. But for We “the Faith People,” love isn’t just something God does; it is who He is.

1 John 4:8 tells us plainly: “God is love.” It is His very essence. Before the world was made, love existed within the Trinity. And because He is Love, He doesn’t just tolerate us—He pursues us.

An Ancient, Personal Pursuit

God’s love didn’t start at the New Testament. It is a thread woven through the entire story of Scripture. Everytime when God reaches out to HIS people, God’s abundant love is in display. In Exodus 34, when God makes a covenant HE proclaims,

6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7 maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Exodus 34:6-7

In Nehemiah 9:17, we see a God who is “gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love,” even when His people were rebellious.

He speaks with a tender intensity in Isaiah 43:1-3: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine… because you are precious and honored in my sight, and because I love you.” This isn’t a generic, “I love humanity” sentiment. This is a “I know your name and I’m coming to get you” kind of love.

The Voluntary Sacrifice

The most expressive statement and act of love is John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son…” But notice the way He gave Him. Love isn’t love if it’s forced.

Jesus didn’t go to the cross because He was trapped by Roman soldiers; He went because He was compelled by love. As He said in John 14:31, He did exactly what the Father commanded so the world would know His love. Romans 5:8 reemphasizes this staggering truth: God didn’t wait for us to clean up our act. He demonstrated His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Agape: The Love That Gives Life

The New Testament writers used a specific word for this: Agape. It’s a selfless, sacrificial, unconditional love.

Ephesians 2:4-5 tells us that because of His “great love” for us, God made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our transgressions. It is a love that adopts. 1 John 3:1 invites us to stand in awe: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!”

A Call to Spiritual Growth

Spiritual growth is often stunted because we are trying to perform for a God we think is “disappointed” in us. But if God is love, and His love is Agape (unconditional), then you cannot make Him love you more by your successes, and you cannot make Him love you less by your failures.

Reflect: If you truly believed you were “precious and honored” in God’s sight today, how would that change the way you talk to yourself and God? How would you reflect God’s love to People around you?

Next Step:

Love is the motive, but how is that love applied to our messy, broken lives? Join me in the next post as we look at the beautiful result of love: What is Grace?