Attributes of God on F.I.R.E.نموونە

Attribute #8 - Love

God is love (1 John 4:16)

The essence of God’s character is love (1 John 4:16), as shown through His actions. God’s love is conspicuous. In Romans 5:8, Paul affirms, “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The present tense verb translated “demonstrates,” which literally means to stand with, reveals an unmistakable act of the Father’s will, continually displaying His love for earth’s inhabitants.

From the Father’s eternally loving heart comes an unimaginable display of personal affection for every person ever born. John 3:16 captures the essence of the worldwide love of mankind. Not only is the Father’s sacrifice for the souls of men unfathomable, but it is also unlimited; He directed the unique Son of God to wrap Himself in humanity with the intent to lay down His life for us!

Having the same eternally loving spirit likewise the Son reveals a focused, deliberate, devoted, and limitless passion for people. John records, “… having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end” (John 13:1). Jesus loved His followers with all His being. The eternal Son of Man loved them with His service (John 13), instruction (John 13 – 17), and through His death (John 19:30).

With the wonderful nature of a tenderhearted Father, God reached out to humankind through Jesus Christ and gave us what we didn’t deserve: His mercy. He liberated us “because of His great love with which He loved us” (Ephesians 2:4). Even when cataloged among the spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1), led by Satan (Ephesians 2:2), and saturated with the filth of this world’s system (Ephesians 2:3), He manifested two of His great attributes toward us: mercy and love.

Employment Point: God has demonstrated His love for mankind.