God's Love

"...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Ephesians 5: 2 NIV)

"Live a life of love." That is something surely that ought to be the desire of every man. It is also a divine requirement. Christ has shown us the way to do this, for surely, if any man did, he "lived a life of love." Christ loved, and gave, and sacrificed. He loved his neighbor as himself, yea, better than himself.

What men often call "love" is really not love at all, but lust. The "love" men have generally, and naturally, is all for the wrong things. The object of man's love and affection is himself, he being given to and guided by self pleasure and the love of sin.

There are various kinds of "love," and this is evident in the Greek language, where several different words were used to express the variety of loves. There was eros, philadelphia, and agape, for instance, which are erotic love, brotherly love, and spiritual or divine love.

Divine or agape love is the highest love, the love that characterizes God himself, the love that is most pure.

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us...AND the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." (I John 4: 7-12, 16 NIV)

"Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him." What a word of instruction! What a promotion for living a life of love! In no superior way do creatures resemble their God and Creator than when they practice love, when they live a life of love from day to day. Those who have learned how to love, how to "practice" love, and how to "live a life of love," are they who have been born of God, who have been given a heart of love for God and righteousness.

"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." (Romans 5: 5 NIV)

The scriptures are clear. God "gives," and "pours out," or "places" or "puts within" the heart this divine love. When one is "born of God," he is born TO divine or spiritual "life," and "faith," and "love." Truly "love is OF God."

John's words about the divine love are potent and pregnant. "Love is of God." "God is love." "Whoever loves is born of God" (thus, a child of God). Christ, the Son of God, has shown or demonstrated this kind of love. Men can have no better picture of the life of love than as they behold it in Christ.

"But the man who loves God is known by God." (I Corinthians 8: 3 NIV)

Thus, Paul and John both agree - the person who possesses the divine love in his heart, soul, and mind, is a person who is known (love or favored) by God and one who himself knows God.

John speaks of the growth of love, how it may be imperfect, or incomplete, versus its eventually becoming perfect. The divine love in one's heart is never static or dormant, but is always alive, increasing, growing, and active. Christians, as they gain experience in serving the Lord, also gain maturity in love. Their love becomes purer, stronger, and more potent and beautiful.

"But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly made complete in him." (I John 2: 5 NIV)

"This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome..." (I John 5: 3 NIV)

But, man naturally is averse to God and righteousness, preferring a life of sin and self indulgence. This is evidence of his lack of spiritual and divine love, and of the fact that he is no child of God, nor knows God. It is evidence of his alienation from God in his heart and life. One who has had the love of God poured out into his soul is one who will delight to do what the Lord says.

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (II Timothy 1: 7 NIV)

Notice a few points about love from these words of Paul. Spiritual love is a gift from God. No man will ever love God unless God attract him or draw him. No man will have love in his heart for God and righteousness unless Lord God put it there. Also, Paul speaks of the "spirit of love," as he does the "spirit of faith" and the "spirit of self-discipline." Does he not refer to what we might call a "lovely spirit" (or disposition)?

"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." (I Corinthians 13: 4-8 NIV)

Only a man inspired by the Holy Spirit of God could have uttered such words! They need little comment. God has said so much in so little! Philosophers have written thick books on "love," but who can improve on what is here written?

"for love is strong as death. Many waters cannot quench love, neither can the floods drown it: if a man would give all the substance of his house for love, it would utterly be contemned." (Song of Solomon 8: 6, 7 KJV)

Love is more valuable to a man than all the gold and silver in the world. Jesus said the same, saying - "what is a man profited if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" And why else does he lose his soul if it is not for this very lack of spiritual love in his heart? A man that has the love of God in his heart, and who is living a life of love, is one who has a love that cannot be quenched or drowned. Once one "falls in love" with God, with the divine being and beauty, he cannot ever "fall out of love." The divine love in one's heart "never fails," but guarantees final and complete perseverance, and perfected love.

"May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance." (II Thessalonians 3: 5 NIV)

Those who love God and righteousness, who love Christ and his word, are they who have had their hearts "directed" or "led" INTO "God's love." Their hearts have been "turned" by God, so that the object of their thoughts and affections are no longer focused upon sin, but upon God, Christ, and the way of salvation. Their hearts have been made to love what they once hated and to hate what they once loved. The heart that loves God is one that has been worked upon by God.

"Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all other kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and the love of God. You should have practiced the latter without leaving the former undone." (Luke 11: 42 NIV)

The divine love is that which can be seen in the fruits or activities of love. The divine love is acted out, is "practiced." It is the chief requirement of the law, summed up, to love God supremely, and our neighbors as ourselves.

"But I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts." (John 5: 42 NIV)

"...treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God." (II Timothy 3: 4 NIV)

"...for they loved praise from men more than praise from God." (John 12: 43 NIV)

These are words that describe man in his sinful, unforgiven, alienated state. He does not love God and what is good and right. He rather loves himself and loves rebellion and sin. He is possessed of a heart that is fixated on evil. What do sinners love more? God or sinful pleasures? The praise of other sinners or the praise of God? God or themselves?

"But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness." (I Timothy 6: 11 NIV)

There are things that men are to "flee" or "run" FROM, and there are things men are to flee or run TO, or to "pursue." Men should flee from self and vain love, from the love of sin, to lay hold of the love of God in Christ. All men have to do is to confess that they lack this divine love, and that they need it, and desire it, and seek it from the Lord, and the promise is that it will be given to those who ask in faith.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?" (I John 3: 17 NIV)

Man's lack of love for his fellow man is but a symptom and result of his lack of divine love in his heart. Those who love God will love their neighbors and their brothers.

"Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other." (I Thessalonians 4: 9 NIV)

It is proper to speak of "learning" to love. The heart not only has the love of God "shed" or "poured out" into the heart, but the heart is taught to love, taught by God himself.

"God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them." (Hebrews 6: 10 NIV)

God remembers the love his people show to him in their service and devotions. God delights in his people as they live a life of love.

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." (II Corinthians 13: 14 NIV)