“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

When John writes “God is love,” (1 John 4:8,16) he is telling us about more than the extent or depth of His love. He is telling us that the nature of God is love. When we take time to meditate upon God’s nature as being love, we will be astonished of what His love does. His love comes to us unconditionally, no matter if we receive it or reject it. He is love.

In Jesus’ encounter with Nicodemus, we are shown the expanse of God’s love. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) He loves everyone. He loves us in spite of our sin. All of us have sinned, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Roman 3:23) Sin separated us from God, but not from God’s love for us. Jesus came and took the judgment for our sin, which is death.

We deserve judgment, yet Jesus showed us God’s love. “All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (Ephesians 2:3-5)

It is in accepting God’s love where we learn to love. Our new life in Jesus Christ transforms us to where we can love, by learning to love has He loved us. “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.” (1 John 4:11-12) His desire is that we will love each other as He has loved us. When we live in God’s love, expressing love to those around us, this world will learn that God does love them. Jesus said our love for each other will show the world we are His disciples.  Now, as His disciples we will show the world that God does love them.

“We love because he first loved us. Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen. And he has given us this command: Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.” (1 John 4:19-21)

When God infuses His Divine life into us through Jesus Christ, He brings new life to our fellowship with each other, He then is able to tell the world that He loves them. He desires to do for others, what He has done for us. All because God is love.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block