The Love Of God: Proclaimed, Proven, Practiced

The writings of the Apostle John are a treasure trove of theological insight, and within his inspired words we find three definitive statements about the nature of God: “God is spirit” (John 4:24, ESV), “God is light” (1 John 1:5, ESV), and “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16, ESV). These sweeping declarations encapsulate distinct but inseparable aspects of God's being and character. Among them, the reality of God's love stands out as both the most wondrous and incomprehensible.

John, the beloved disciple, was profoundly impacted by the knowledge that God loved him. Time and again, he refers to himself in his Gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved” (cf. John 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7, 20, ESV). This was not arrogance, but rather the outflow of deep amazement that the Lord of all creation would single him out for such affection and grace. For John, the core truth that seized his heart and shaped his life was that Jesus loved him—personally, sacrificially, and eternally.

Echoing this same realization, the renowned theologian Karl Barth was once asked to summarize his vast theological contemplation. His reply was simple, yet profound: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so” (Barth, cited in Christianity Today, May 21, 1965). In essence, the wonder of the Christian faith is that we are loved by God. This truth is at once “darkness to my intellect, but sunshine to my heart,” as an ancient poet once penned (Cowper, William. "God Moves in a Mysterious Way," 1774). While finite minds may never fully fathom the depth of God’s love, our hearts can nevertheless rejoice in the experience and reality of it.

John’s writings invite us not only to marvel at God’s love but also to allow that love to transform our relationships and our witness to the world. He presents three movements through which the love of God is revealed and our response to it is shaped: Love Proclaimed, Love Proven, and Love Practiced.

1. Love Proclaimed (1 John 4:7–8)

John asserts that love is from God, and that “everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love” (1 John 4:7–8, ESV). Here, love is not merely an abstract virtue or sentimental emotion, but the chief identifying mark of the Christian. If God’s nature is love, then those who truly know Him will inevitably reflect that nature in their own lives.

This becomes the litmus test for our faith. When the world sees professing Christians, it naturally wonders: “How do I know you are truly a follower of Christ? What is the evidence that God has changed your life?” John’s answer is unequivocal: the presence or absence of love is the chief evidence of our relationship with God. Our testimony is only as strong as our love in action (cf. John 13:35, ESV).

2. Love Proven (1 John 4:9–10)

John goes on to show how the love of God is not just proclaimed but also proven in history:

“In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

(1 John 4:9–10, ESV)

Two aspects stand out: God’s intention and God’s initiative.

A. God’s Intention (v. 9)

God’s purpose in sending His Son was so that “we might live through Him” (1 John 4:9, ESV). His love is not passive, but actively seeks our highest good—a restored, abundant relationship with Himself. God loves us as we are, but not enough to leave us unchanged. So too, our love for others should imitate this pattern, desiring not merely their comfort, but their ultimate good: a growing relationship with God.

B. God’s Initiative (v. 10)

John emphasizes, “not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son” (1 John 4:10, ESV). Paul echoes this in Romans 5:8: “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” The initiative is God’s. Unprompted by anything in us, He pursued us and sacrificed for us. As recipients of such love, we are called to go and do likewise—seeking out opportunities to love others, especially those who do not yet know Christ. As Jesus said, “Look, I tell you, lift up your eyes, and see that the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35, ESV). God’s love is meant to be shared.

3. Love Practiced (1 John 4:11–16)

John concludes by showing us what it looks like when God’s love is lived out in real life. This happens in two primary contexts: within the Christian community, and as part of our mission to the world.