The Greatest Love Ever Shown

“Love is love”

The phrase has become a common one in our culture today. I suppose it is an attempt to open this noun to endless possibilities. But circular definitions like this only create confusion. The Bible gives us a clearer, more straightforward, and much better definition of “love” that we can build our lives on. That definition is God Himself.

“God is love” (1 John 4:8).

Any ideas we may have about love can only be true if they are based on who God is. We cannot understand or know love unless He shows us who He is. And He has.

Repeatedly throughout the Bible, God is revealed as the One who is “merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy [steadfast love]” (Psalm 103:8). He has shown us what love is through His actions toward us – specifically, by providing a way to be saved. This is something we could never have done for ourselves:

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

He did not wait for us. He acted first, because He knew we could not come to Him on our own. This kind of love is the greatest security we could ever have. We are not loved by God because of what we’ve done or can do, but because He loves us – plain and simple!

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

This is the greatest love that could ever be shown. Without it, we would all be destined, without hope, for eternal separation from God in Hell. Our natural state, as soon as we are born, is “condemned”, because we are born into sin (see John 3:18). We are born wicked. The only thing that will leave us in that state is to not believe in, or to reject, Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers. In His death and resurrection, He overcame sin and death on our behalf.

Know that God’s greatest desire is for you to receive this salvation.

“For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved” (John 3:17).

“I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways” (Ezekiel 33:11).

This idea of “turning” is called “repentance”. Repentance is necessary to receive salvation, because you first must recognize that you need to be saved and to turn from the sin in your life, and to know that you cannot save yourself. By trusting in Jesus, you can be forgiven of those sins and be “born again” (John 3:3) into a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), a spiritual rebirth that assures you eternal life in Heaven when you die.

God is love, and the goodness of God has been shown in His mercy, patience, and love, as revealed most fully in the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to die in your place to free you from the power of sin and death.

Will you reject this love of God, or will you accept it? His goodness is meant to lead you to repentance and salvation (see Romans 2:4).

Call out to Him now and experience His love that is the greatest love of all.

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).

“Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).