The Bible is often quoted as saying that God is love, but where exactly does it say that? It’s actually mentioned a few times, especially in the New Testament. In 1 John 4:8, for instance, we read: “Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love.” Here, the author of the letter named John is saying that the very nature of God is love.
God’s love isn’t just a feeling or emotion, but an action. In other words, God gives love to others, even when it might not be deserved or requested. The Bible shows us this in a variety of ways, but Romans 5:8 is especially inspiring: “But God proves his love for us in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us.” Here, we are reminded that, even when we were in our worst state—sinful—God still showed us love in sending His Son, Jesus Christ, to die for us.
God’s love is also all-encompassing, or, as the Bible puts it in Ephesians 3:18-19, “…may have the power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge.” It is a kind of love that is not restricted to just one person, but extends to every person, regardless of race, rank, gender, or station.
Moreover, God’s love is unconditional. As we are reminded in 1 John 3:1, God “loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” This means that God does not love us because we are good people, but because He is good, and His love is given to us without prerequisite or qualification. We can always count on God’s love, no matter what we do, because it is eternal and unchanging.
Although the Bible is clear and consistent in its assertion that God is love, some people still struggle to see how a loving God and an imperfect world can coexist. The answer can be found in 1 John 4:10 where it says, “This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.” Here, the Bible is reminding us that, although the world may be flawed, God still loves us and offers a way for us to be redeemed from our sins and live in a perfect world.
Ultimately, no matter how difficult it might be to understand at times, the Bible is clear and consistent in its assertion that God is love. Through its words, we can be reminded of God’s unconditional love for us and be reassured that, no matter what we do, He still loves us and offers a way for us to be saved.
God’s Love and Forgivenss
In the Bible, God’s forgiveness is often depicted as an extension of His love. For instance, when He forgives us, not only is He saying that He loves us, but He is also reminding us that we are valuable and worthy of His affection. Throughout Scripture, God makes it clear that He is willing to forgive our sins, no matter how great they may be. Psalm 103:12 declares, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” This is a beautiful picture of God’s willingness to forgive us when we turn to Him in repentance.
The Bible also shows us that God’s love and forgiveness go hand in hand. When Jesus was on earth, He had the opportunity to forgive people for their sins. He did this out of love for them (as well as for God’s glory), but He also did it out of the knowledge that God is the one who ultimately forgives those who turn to Him. In the famous parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32), the father welcomed his son back, out of love and forgiveness.
God’s love and forgiveness are also displayed in His willingness to provide us with second chances. Even when we mess up, God’s love and mercy never fail; He is always ready to give us another chance to turn back to Him. The prophet Isaiah reminds us of this in Isaiah 43:25 where he declares: “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.” This is a powerful reminder of just how forgiving God is.
Finally, the Bible also shows us that God’s love and forgiveness go hand in hand in the way He works with us even after we have sinned. He doesn’t simply forgive us and turn away; He stays with us, guides us, and helps us grow. This is displayed in the pattern of the prodigal son, who not only received his father’s forgiveness, but was also given the opportunity to learn and grow in his relationship with his father.
God’s Love and Justice
The Bible also teaches us that God’s love and justice go hand in hand. In fact, justice is a vital part of God’s love. As the Bible says in Micah 6:8: “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” God’s justice and mercy are integral to His love.
To truly understand God’s love, we must recognize that it is based on justice. The Bible tells us that justice is a part of who God is and that He always does what is just. In Psalm 37:28, for example, we are reminded that “The Lord loves justice and will not forsake his faithful ones.” Here, the Bible is telling us that God’s love and justice always go hand in hand.
The Bible also shows us that God’s justice is not only to be found in His relationship with us, but also in the way He interacts with the world at large. In Isaiah 30:18, we are reminded that “the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice.” Here, the Bible is telling us that God’s justice is maintained, even in the midst of chaos and suffering.
Finally, God’s justice and love are also powerfully demonstrated in His willingness to forgive us and extend grace and mercy to us, even when we don’t deserve it. This is beautifully portrayed in the parable Jesus tells in Luke 18:10-14, in which He speaks of a tax collector who, though he has done many wrongs, humbly cries out to God for mercy and is pardoned. In this story, we see both justice, in that the tax collector is pardoned only after acknowledging and repenting of his sins, and love, in that God is willing to extend grace even to those who have done wrong.
God’s Love and Provision
The Bible also teaches us that God’s love also extends itself in the form of provision. According to Deuteronomy 8:18, “Remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your ancestors, as it is today.” Here, the Bible is teaching us that God’s provision is an expression of His love and faithfulness to us.
God’s provision is also seen in the way that He takes care of us. In Isaiah 41:10, we receive this promise: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Here, the Bible is telling us that, no matter what we may be facing, God will provide for us and strengthen us.
God’s provision is also seen in His gift of the Holy Spirit. In John 14:26, Jesus says, “But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” In this passage, God is not only providing us with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit, but also with peace, strength, and encouragement.
Finally, the Bible also teaches us that God’s provision is seen in our relationship with Him. In Matthew 6:25-27, Jesus tells us not to worry about food and clothing because “your heavenly Father knows that you need them.” Here, Jesus is telling us that, just as our earthly fathers provide for us, so too does our heavenly Father provide for us. By taking care of our essential needs, God is expressing His love for us and His commitment to us.
God’s Love and Holiness
The Bible also makes it clear that God’s love and holiness are interrelated. God is not only loving, but also holy, and He calls us to reflect this holiness in our lives. According to Leviticus 19:2, “You must be holy because I the Lord your God am holy.” Here, God is telling us that, just as He is holy, so too are we to be holy.
God’s holiness is also seen in His perfect justice. As we read in Isaiah 30:18, “The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice.” Here, we are reminded that, although God loves us, He is also righteous and just, and will not turn a blind eye to the sin that is in our lives. He desires to forgive us, but He will not ignore our wrongdoing.
God’s holiness is also seen in our relationship with Him. In 1 Peter 1:16, we are reminded that “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” This verse makes it clear that, in order for us to draw near to God, we must pursue holiness. If we want to experience the fullness of God’s love, we must become more like Him—holy and righteous.
Finally, the Bible also shows us that God’s holiness and His love cannot be separated. In John 3:16, we read, “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.” Here, we see that, although Jesus died in our place, it was out of God’s perfect love and holiness. His holiness demanded justice and His love provided mercy; together, they created a way for us to experience true love and, in turn, be made holy.
