God is Love: What Does This Mean for Us?

The Bible’s declaration that “God is love” carries with it profound spiritual significance.

How often does the Bible declare that “God is love?” It appears in two separate passages in the New King James Version:

• “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8)
• “And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16)

Some Passages That Reflect That God is Love

Several additional passages in the Bible reiterate this reality, which is God’s depiction of His essential character.

The passages from John are also often used as an example of this: 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) 

John 16:27 also reads: “For the Father Himself loves you.” The apostle provides another instance in 1 John 3:1, “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us.”

These passages are only a small representation of the numerous places in the Bible where this reality is stated. God is love, and there are various ways in which God shows His love to us.

When discussing the meaning of “God is love,” people often refer to God as “the essence of love” or “the very embodiment of love,” not just a loving Father.

Five Interpretations of God’s Incredible Quality

“Nothing God ever does, or ever did, or ever will do, is separate from the love of God,” said theologian A.W. Tozer. All of His actions have been driven only by love. Here are a few major impacts of the truth that God is love for all people today.

We may put our faith in God’s love.

Several definitions of love may be found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8: “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, 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.” 

The unyielding and unflinching nature of love lies at the heart of these characteristics. God has often shown humanity that He is holy and just. Since the beginning of time, he has kept his promise of a covenant with mankind. God’s love and tolerance for us endured even when we sinned.

Soon after Adam and Eve erred, but before they were expelled from the Garden of Eden, God tenderly supplied garments to conceal their nakedness. God’s covenant bonds with Israel survived the Israelites’ rebellions because of God’s unfailing love and mercy. God saved Jonah from the large fish when he ran away from the Lord. God’s love has been consistent throughout time, and that should give us confidence that He will keep working in the same way in our own lives.

Trusting in God’s love will bring us peace.

God’s love is limitless since love itself is God’s essence. Due to His foresight of our disobedience, He planned ahead and made arrangements for our redemption (Ephesians 1:4-5). We, His children, may take heart from this.

It is not necessary for us to see God as our “Punisher,” but instead as our Heavenly Father who loves us and has a good plan and purpose for us. Christ Jesus embodied this message and beckoned his followers to relax (Matthew 11:28-30). God’s love becomes more tangible when we accept Christ as our Advocate.

God’s love for us is revealed in our salvation.

The Bible says in John 3:16 that “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.”

God sent Christ not as a trophy for the obedient, but as a sacrifice for the disobedient. Every aspect of Jesus’ life and work is a demonstration of his love for the world. He cured those who couldn’t afford treatment without expecting compensation. Despite being the King of Kings, He exhibited humility. Jesus asked God to pardon those who had crucified Him even as He hung helplessly there (John 3:16, 1 John 3:16, 4:10, Romans 5:8). Those who put their faith in Christ have access to salvation, and all people are included in God’s unconditional love.

God’s love is real, and it’s something we can rely on.

The everlasting love of God is vividly depicted in Psalm 136. In this psalm, the author recounts (no less than 26 occasions) how the Lord lovingly supports His creation and His children via His authority. We may be more certain that God will strive to protect His children and develop His kingdom when we consider His loving constancy from the start of time.

When we experience God’s love in its fullness, it compels us to return that love.

The Bible teaches that contemplating God’s love in all its fulness is never an end in itself. Finding peace in God never satisfies us on our own terms, but rather compels us to reach beyond ourselves, both to God and to our fellowmen. It is not enough to just study and talk about God’s love. 

Our hearts are able to love God and others because of his great love for us. If we genuinely receive the Word of love found in the Bible, it will dwell in us and not return void as we, through God’s grace, show others glimpses of God’s infinite love.

Final Thoughts

If we allow ourselves to be filled with God’s love, we will be able to do and see and comprehend things that would be impossible otherwise. When we are filled with His love, we are able to persevere through suffering, overcome fear, forgive freely, avoid dispute, regain our strength, and bless and aid others in ways that we never imagined.

Check out some of our other posts!

• Is God Selfish? A Look at the Concept of Divine Self-Interest
• How to Cope When Your Wife Leaves You: A Guide for Men
• 40 Days of Fasting: Why Jesus Chose to Go Without Food