Understanding God's Love

The difficult doctrine of the Love of God. 

This is written in a Bible Study format form.

Note: Most of my thoughts are contributed to D A Carson and his book on God's love. You can click here to read the book online. 

What the culture thinks, “God is love” and what the Bible actually teach about God’s love is different.

How does the culture view love?

How does the culture view God’s love?

Is the any difference between the two.

Here are questions or comments I have heard unbelievers say concerning God’s Love:

These are common questions or statements concerning God's love that will be addressed: 

1.      The love of God, in our culture, has been purged of anything the culture finds uncomfortable.

a.       What the world needs now is love sweet love

b.      Why shouldn't God love me?

2.      Some people believe if God is love all people will go to Heaven.

3.        If God is love there would be no evil in the world. 

The Cultures view of God

• God is love, so he won’t hold this against me.
• God is love so it is His job to forgive.
• You’re too judgmental. God just wants us to love people.
• I can’t confront them about sin. We are supposed to love, not judge.
• There must be a different God in the OT than the NT.
• As long as I try hard, God will accept me. He has to.

How does the Bible speak of the Love of God?

• 1 John 4:7-21, Romans 5:6-8, Ephesians 1:4-5
• What is true about God from this passage?
• God is love. This means we must look at Him to see what true love looks like. It does not mean God has to fit into our view of love.
• God is not the great grandfather in the sky who just showers down gifts on everyone.
• Does God love us because we deserve to be loved?
• The love of God is shown perfectly on the cross.
• The love of God does not require that God love everyone exactly the same. Such a notion would practically nullify other aspects of His character.

Different Aspects of God’s Love

• God’s perfect love within the Trinity. This is an amazing thing since it shows love within the Godhead. Matthew 3:17, Luke 20:13, John 3:35, 5:20
• God loves believers. This is an electing and sanctifying kind of love that is unique. This love is not based upon what we do, but rather based on Jesus Christ alone. John 16:27, 14:21-27, 17:23. Titus 3:3-7, Ephesians 5:25, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 1 Peter 2:9-10, Ephesians 1:4-5
• God loves all creation, even unbelievers. We see this in many ways. First, we see that He loves His enemies by providing the sun and the rain on all. This is a great model for us. Second, He actually provides for the birds and the flowers. Third, He provided a way for people to be saved from their sins. Matthew 5:43-48, 6:25-32, John 3:16
• His love in Jesus Christ is overwhelming and impossible to lose. Romans 8:37-39
• God loved us when we hated Him. Revelation 1:5, Romans 5:8

What About All the Evil?

Typically there are two main ways unbelievers view God in relation to evil…….

1. Either God is not loving and this is why there is so much evil because he doesn’t care or actually enjoys causing evil.

OR

2. He is not all-powerful. He would love to stop evil, but He just can’t.

Both of these are incorrect according to Scripture. God is clearly presented as all powerful throughout Scripture. He can bring anything to pass anything He wishes.

God’s plan (predestination), in a way we cannot understand, includes evil. Acts 4:27-28, Genesis 45:4-6, 50:20-21,1 Kings 22:19-23. Those who actually do the evil are always blamed for the evil.

Relating the Love of God to His Other Attributes

Love and immutability = He will always love

Love and wrath = He punishes sin for His Glory

Love and justice = The cross

Love and Sovereignty = He promises to always do what is best for us.