Love is that divine attribute that causes God the Creator of all things to give of himself to his creatures. In short, love is:

1. Unselfish concern about another’s welfare.

2. That act of one person seeking the highest good for another person.

This is the most universally known and universally misunderstood attribute of all. Millions have simply equated love with God, thus weakening or totally denying his other perfections. A man and woman may have an affair hidden from their spouses and justify their adulterous relationship by their great “love” for each other. But God’s love cannot be separated or isolated from his holiness and hatred for sin.

Having said all this, however, it must be admitted that of all his attributes, God’s love is probably more quickly seized upon by seeking sinners than any other perfection. The smallest child can sing with great understanding, “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so!”

1. It is impartial (Deut 10:17; Acts 10:34; Rom 2:11).

To illustrate:

In the New Testament the three most godless men were Herod, Judas, and Pilate, while the three most godly were John the Baptist, Peter, and Paul. But God’s love was equally extended to all six individuals!

2. It is universal.

God’s love and care includes:

a. Angels. Although the Bible never specifically says God loves angels, he undoubtedly does, for they are referred to as holy and elect (Matt 25:31; 1 Tim 5:21).

b. Sea and fresh-water life (Ps 104:25–26).

c. Plant life (Matt 6:28–29).

d. Bird life (Ps 104:12, 17; Matt 6:26; Luke 12:6).

e. Animal life (Ps 104:10–11, 14, 18, 20–21).

f. Human life (John 3:16).

3. It is everlasting (Jer 31:3).

4. It is shared within the members of the Trinity:

a. The Father loves the Son (Matt 3:17; 17:5).

b. The Son loves the Father (John 14:31).

c. The Holy Spirit loves the Father and Son and is in turn loved by both. Even though unstated, this is true.

5. It is independent.

The Greek word used in describing God’s love for man is agape. This kind of love is absolutely unique, for it is not dependent upon the beauty of the object being loved. Naturally, human love does not function this way. We love others because they love us or because we see some beauty or value in them. But note how and when God loved us: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom 5:8). (See also Deut 7:7–8.)

6. It is inexhaustible (Eph 3:17–19).

7. It is ever seeking.

This is to say God’s love seeks out the sinner, not the sinner seeking out God’s love! (Luke 19:10; Rom 3:11). Thus, the Bible is not the record of man seeking after God, but rather God seeking after man!

8. It is sacrificial.

Sacrifice, in the long run, is inseparable from love (Eph 5:25; Heb 7:27). One may thus give without loving, but one cannot love without giving!

9. It is (has been) proven (1 Jn 4:9–10).

10. It is ever forgiving (Matt 18:21–22).

11. It is joyful. God has much joy in loving his people (Isa 62:5; Zeph 3:17–18).

12. It is guaranteed (Rom 8:35, 39).

13. It is shed abroad in our hearts (Rom 5:5).

14. It is foundational. God’s love settles us (Eph 3:17; 4:15–16).

15. It is cleansing (Rev 1:5).

16. It is reassuring and perfecting (1 Jn 2:5; 3:14; see also 1 Jn 3:18–19; 4:7–8, 12; 5:2).

17. It is victorious (Rom 8:37).

18. It is the supreme summary of his divine law (Matt 22:37–38; Rom 13:8).

In the Bible, God is said to love many people and things.

A cynic once remarked:

“How odd of God to choose the Jews.”

Be that as it may, God once loved, now loves, and evermore will love Israel!

1. Corporately (John 13:1, 34; Rom 8:35–39; 1 Jn 3:1, 16).

2. Individually. Here are but a few examples:

a. David (Ps 89:20, 32–33).

b. Solomon (2 Sam 12:24).

c. Daniel (Dan 9:23; 10:11, 19).

d. John the apostle (John 20:2).

e. Mary, Martha, and Lazarus (John 11:5).

f. Paul (Gal 2:20).

g. Each cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7).

This testimony perhaps says it best:

Probably the most qualified Old Testament linguist of all time was Robert Dick Wilson. His skill along this line staggers the imagination. Dr. Wilson was born in 1856 and took his undergraduate work at Princeton University, graduating in 1876. He then completed both the M.A. and the Ph.D. After this, two years were spent at the University of Berlin in further postgraduate studies. Wilson taught Old Testament courses at Western Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh and returned to Princeton where he received international fame as a Hebrew scholar without peer. He was perfectly at home in over forty ancient Semitic languages!

One of the stirring moments in the experience of his students occurred when, after a dissertation on the complete trustworthiness of Scripture, the renowned scholar said with tears:

“Young men, there are many mysteries in this life I do not pretend to understand, many things hard to explain. But I can tell you this morning with the fullest assurance that—
Jesus loves me, this I know
For the Bible tells me so.”