“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:9-10)
Our ideas of love often involve words—saying, “I love you,” writing a love note, sending a card, or singing a love song. God has said that He loves us, but it goes beyond words.
Often we think of love as a special feeling we have—and doubtless God has an incredible feeling of compassion towards us, but it goes beyond a feeling.
Love is an action. God did something—and the giving of His Son is the indescribable demonstration! We may be tempted at times to doubt God’s love, when we face trials and tragedies, but I ask you to look at Calvary and you cannot question God’s love!
That love was not given to the deserving, but to the damnable. He loved us when we did not love Him!
Many try to make Allah the same as Yahweh. They are not. Islam’s god loves those who love him. He gives his love to those who earn it. Christianity’s God loves all—even the infidel.
He has paid the price for our sins. That is the meaning of “propitiation.” It declares God’s wrath that we merit has been appeased because of Christ’s death in our place.
Although God loves all people, those who are His children receive a special love. “Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.” (1 John 3:1-2)
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