God Is Love Series

The Character of God: God Is Love

Psalm 139:17,18 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 Were I to count them, they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.

I. God loves you—this is why the Psalmist spoke of precious thoughts.

If we had to describe the one true God in one word what would it be? We know so many of his attributes: all-powerful, all-knowing, all-present, just… But as John described him, “God is love.” (1 John 4:16) This doesn’t diminish his other attributes, but his love shines through all of the others. When the Lord appeared to Moses on Mt. Sinai, he came in great power, he did speak of his justice in punishing sin—but the overall tone of his statement on this momentous occasion was love.

Exodus 34:5,6 “Then the LORD came down in the cloud and stood there with him and proclaimed his name, the LORD. 6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,”

And all throughout Israel’s history, this verse is repeated. They knew that they were rescued from their sinfulness on so many occasions by only one thing: his love.

Lamentations 3:22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

I’m sure that we know the doctrine of the love of God. But it is important for us as believers to understand—to truly realize—God’s great love for us; the supremacy of his love.

II. God intends for us to find salvation in his love.

A. In fact we know that it is God’s love for us that provided Jesus.

John 3:16 "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.

1 John 4:9,10 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. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

His justice requires payment for sin—but his love compelled him to pay the ultimate price—so that he might restore us to his love.

B. God does not punish us in spite of his love—he punishes us because he loves!

Revelation 3:19a Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.

There are times when we may feel that God is disciplining us. We cannot ignore that and try to muster up peace—we must deal with it, so that we can be reconciled to God. We feel way so that we will be compelled to repent and return.

However, in these times, we must realize that God still loves us—even as we still love our children while we discipline them.

C. God even called Israel “not his loved one in Hosea.” But he demonstrates that even as he told them he did not love them—it was for the purpose that they might return so he could say:

Hosea 2:23a I will plant her for myself in the land; I will show my love to the one I called `Not my loved one. ’

I. God intends for us to find security in his love.

A. God’s love is a proved love.

How many times do we say in relationships that we don’t want people to tell us they love us; we want them to show us they love us. God’s love is a love that has been demonstrated.

Romans 5:8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

A certain medieval monk announced he would be preaching next Sunday evening on "The Love of God." As the shadows fell and the light ceased to come in through the cathedral windows, the congregation gathered. In the darkness of the altar, the monk lighted a candle and carried it to the crucifix. First of all, he illumined the crown of thorns, next, the two wounded hands, then the marks of the spear wound. In the hush that fell, he blew out the candle and left the chancel. There was nothing else to say.

To give your life for a friend is amazing love. To give your life for a stranger is incomprehensible love. To give you life for an enemy is God’s love.

B. God’s love is an eternal love.

Psalm 136:1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good. His love endures forever.

This entire psalm ends every verse with the same words: his love endures forever. It is not like the love of man: here today and gone tomorrow—we can count on his love.