The Love of God

What is God declared to be?

“God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.”  1 John 4:16.

How great is God’s love for the world?

“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.” John 3:16.

In what act especially has God’s infinite love been manifested?

“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” 1 John 4:9.

God’s Delight

In what does God delight?

“Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.” Micah 7:18.  

How are the mercies of Heaven continually manifested to the sons of men?

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22,23.

Upon how many does God bestow His blessings?

“That you may be sons of your Father in Heaven. He causes the sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.” Matthew 5:45.

In view of God’s great love, what may we confidently expect?

“He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all – how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things.” Romans 8:32.

Fellowship, Sonship, and Trust

What did Jesus say of the one who loves Him?

“Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21.

Into what relationship does God’s love bring us?

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God? And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” 1 John 3:1.

As sons of God, to what will we submit? How may we know that we are the sons of God?

“Because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry “Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” Romans 8:14-16.

How is the love of God supplied to the believer?

“And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he gave to us.” Romans 5:5.

When men appreciate God’s love, what will they do?

“How priceless is your unfailing love! Both high and low among men find refuge in the shadow of your wings.” Psalm 36:7.

Fellowship of Believers

In view of God’s great love for us, what attitude should we take toward one another?

“Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:11.

With what measure of love should we serve others?

“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.” 1 John 3:16.

What exhortation is based on Christ’s love for us?

“And live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” Ephesians 5:2. 

Love’s Wise Way

Upon what ground does God’s work for sinners rest?

“But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions – it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” Ephesians 2:4-6. (See Titus 3:5,6.)

What is God’s love able to do for His children?

“However, the Lord your God would not listen to Balaam but turned the curse into a blessing for you, because the Lord your God loves you.” Deuteronomy 23:5.

In what other way is God’s love sometimes shown?

“Because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.” Hebrews 12:6.

Love Everlasting

How enduring is God’s love for us?

The Lord has appeared to us from the past, saying, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3.

Can anything separate the true child of God from the love of God?

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present or the future, nor any powers, neither height or depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” 

Romans 8:38,39.

Unto whom will the saints forever ascribe praise?

“And for Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and father – to him be glory and power forever and ever! Amen.  Revelation 1:5,6.

He Made All These

God made the sea, the sky, the granite hills;

He hung the stars and planets in their place.

His hand designed the wrens and whippoorwills

As well as dainty snowflakes trimmed in lace.

“Tis He who formed the tulip and the rose,

Who painted leaves in autumn, red and gold;

Our God sustains the lonely flower that grows

In desert wastes through heat and bitter cold.

He brought the smile that plays on baby’s face,

And formed the hands, so tender and so true,

Of one who comforts in life’s solemn race.

God made all these to show Himself to you.

But here’s another thing that’s greater yet:

A new heart – pure and sinless as a dove,

Like Christ’s – He will create in all who’ll let

Him prove the wondrous scripture: “God is love.”

                                                      - James Joiner.

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