I.1. The most beloved and well-known verse in the Bible is John 3:16: The occasion for these words was a nighttime conversation between Jesus and Nicodemus, a Pharisee and teacher in Israel. Jesus explained that a new birth and faith in Him were required for entrance into God’s eternal kingdom. Then He gave a brief statement which summarizes the plan of salvation: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Packed into this one sentence is all the information anyone needs to be saved. Although most of us are very familiar with this verse and can probably quote it, the more important issue is whether we truly understand it.
I.1.1. (John 3:16): What does it mean to believe in Jesus? Does it mean that intellectually you agree with the fact that He was born in Bethlehem of a virgin and that He is a great teacher? Yes, but there’s even more to it than that. To have faith in Jesus Christ means to believe that He is God (John 1:1; 10:30; 14:9) and that He saves you by His crucifixion (Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Titus 3:5). If you continue to believe that you can somehow earn your salvation, you have never been truly born again. However, when you truly place your faith in Him, you receive His gift of eternal life ( John 6:40; John 17:3).
I.2. The Source of This Love—“For God”: There are a great many gods in this world who are worshiped by people of other religions, but the God in John 3:16 is the One who was in the beginning, the Creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 1:1). He is the source of all life, is continually present with us, and will someday bring all creation to a climax. The Lord has given us the Bible that is an expression of Himself and His love. And because He loves us so much, in His Word is a message, which can change our eternal destiny.
I.2.1. (Genesis 1:1): The Lord spoke the words that brought the heavens and earth into being; before that nothing other than God existed. Only He can create something out of nothing (Heb. 11:3). Think about all that occurred that first day — how He set the entire universe into motion by His power. Why? The Lord formed the world and everything in it to glorify Himself and so He could have a love relationship with us. And through the creation, He shows us who He is and what He can do.
I.3. The Character of God’s Love—“So Loved”: First of all, we must understand that God’s love is not like ours. Human love is an intense affection for another person which is based on feelings and which can change from moment to moment. In contrast, divine love is unconditional because it is not based on what we do or don’t do but on God’s nature. It’s also consistent. If Christ is our Savior, we never have to worry that the Lord may be angry with us. Perhaps the best example of the nature of God’s love is the story of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11-32). The father’s love never changed even though the son left home, wasted his wealth, and ended up destitute. As soon as the father saw his son returning, he ran to him and hugged him—not because he started to love him at that moment, but because he’d never stopped loving him. And that’s the kind of love God has for us. God’s love is also sacrificial. Because He is holy, true, and just, everyone who sins must bear the penalty for his sins (Ezek. 18:4). That’s why we all deserve to be separated from the Lord forever. Yet He also loves us and desires that we be saved. That’s why He sent His Son to pay the penalty for our sin. This was the only way He could remain true to His nature and still forgive sins. The Son of God was born of a virgin, grew up to manhood, and died on the cross as a substitutionary sacrifice for us. Jesus’ resurrection proved that His death was sufficient payment for all mankind’s sin. Now when we believe in Christ and repent of our sins, God is able to justly forgive us because the penalty for our sins has been fully paid by His Son. Without Jesus there would be no forgiveness of sins.
I.3.1. (Luke 15:32): By giving the son a ring, sandals, and a robe, the father restored the young man to his position in the family. Likewise, when we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, our relationship with Him is completely restored and we are given “the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of our inheritance” (Eph. 1:13-14). We are irrevocably adopted into His family, which brings gladness and joy, both for us and for the Lord for all eternity.
I.3.2. (Ezekiel 18:4): As our Creator, every human being belongs to God (Acts 17:28). Yet only those who place their faith in Christ have been adopted as members of His heavenly family (Rom. 8:14–17, 23; Gal. 4:4–7; 6:10; Eph. 1:5-6).
I.4. The Object of God’s Love—“The World”: Although the Lord created the world and all that is in it, this verse is not referring to the earth, but to mankind. “The world” encompasses every person who’s ever been born. God desires to have a relationship with us and wants us to respond by giving ourselves to Him in complete surrender and trust. He offers us salvation and the forgiveness of our sins, but that is only the beginning. From that point on, He works to sanctify us, enabling us to live righteously. This doesn’t mean we are perfect, but we have the life of Christ living within us through His Spirit. As we reflect His character and actions, we become a light in a dark world. Knowing that our salvation cost Jesus His life, His immeasurable love should motivate us to obey His commands and walk faithfully with Him in a way that brings Him honor and glory.
I.5. The Gift of God’s Love—“That He gave His only begotten Son”: Here is the gift that surpasses all others. The Lord didn’t give the world something but someone—His own Son who came to earth as deity in flesh to offer His life for us. It wasn’t a onetime gift but one that abides in us forever. Through His Holy Spirit, Jesus lives within the heart of everyone who believes in Him. This is not mere intellectual belief, but a firm conviction that Jesus is God’s Son who died for us. Genuine faith acknowledges sin and our need for a Savior and results in a life surrendered to Him.
I.6. The Purpose of God’s Love—“That whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life”: After death, there are only two possible destinies—we either perish and are forever separated from God, or we have eternal life in His presence. On that day it won’t matter how many good deeds we’ve done or how much money we’ve given away (Titus 3:5). There is only one way to be saved—through faith in Jesus Christ and His death on the cross as the payment for our sins. When we trust Him as Savior, our names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life, and we have no reason to fear death. When we stop breathing, we’ll start living in God’s presence. Jesus came to give mankind eternal life. We don’t have to understand all that’s involved in the process; we simply need to respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction, recognize our sinful condition, and ask Jesus to forgive us and become our Savior. At that moment, the Lord seals us for Himself with His Holy Spirit forever (Eph. 4:30). Nothing or no one can break His seal because it is held fast by His power. When Christ is our Savior, we are eternally secure, awaiting our redemption as children of God.
I.6.1. (Titus 3:5): There is not anything we could possibly say or do that would motivate God to save us. He offers us salvation completely because of His mighty grace, which was displayed on the Cross (Rom. 11:6). He cleanses us, imparts us with a new nature, and gives us eternal life because of His great love for us.
I.6.2. (Ephesians 4:30) Grieving the Holy Spirit: We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. That means that God has put His special mark of redemption upon us. The Spirit is our permanent identification, signifying that we are set apart for the Lord. And we will bear the evidence of our salvation by His presence until the day when we go home to Him in heaven. Did you know that we can short-circuit the effective work of the Holy Spirit in our lives by grieving Him? Paul wrote, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God” (Eph. 4:30).
How do we grieve the Holy Spirit? We grieve Him when we disobey God’s commandments and when we choose to act in unrighteous ways. In other words, we displease the Lord when we know what to do and then choose to do the opposite. The Ephesians knew very well that it was not godly to lie, steal, remain angry with one another, or speak cutting, hurting words to each other. They knew that such evil things “give place to the devil” (Eph. 4:27). Yet they became entangled in these very things, and they suffered in their relationships. Paul lived and ministered among them for two years, and his ministry had a powerful impact on the entire city of Ephesus. He admonished them not to compromise their faith by doing the things common among the non-believers. He began with the basics of the Christian faith and taught them how to live godly lives. When the Ephesians broke one of the most obvious of God’s commandments, they caused sorrow to the Holy Spirit. Paul said, in effect, “Your ungodly behavior breaks the heart of God.” The Holy Spirit is grieved not only because our conduct tarnishes God’s good name, but also because He loves us and deeply desires to reward us for our obedience. He longs to see the fruit of the Spirit alive and growing in our lives. He knows sin damages our relationship with God and with those we love. It saddles us with burdens that God never meant for us to bear. And He is grieved by our compromise and failure to live according to His standards. So how can we avoid grieving the Spirit of God? We can choose to keep His commandments and to lead a disciplined life by depending on the power of the Spirit. When we sin, we confess the sin immediately and repent of it, changing our minds and our behavior to conform to God’s Word. As we ask the Holy Spirit to lead us and help us every day, we gain His help to enjoy a successful Christian walk. He keeps our footing sure.
Response on “The Love of God”
Do you feel safe and secure in God’s unconditional love, or do you worry that you’ve done something to anger him? What does the story of the prodigal son teach you about the character of God’s love as demonstrated by the father (Luke 15:11-32)? How does this change your perception of His love for you?
The Lord wants us not only to receive His love but also to let it influence our lives. How has His immeasurable love motivated or changed you? How has it affected your relationships, your fears, and your sense of security?
To further enrich your appreciation for God’s love, read or sing the lyrics of the hymn entitled “The Love of God.”
II. Our Intimacy with God: (Psalm 63:1-8) Do you have an intimate connection with God? The Father designed us with the emotional and spiritual capacity to have a loving, personal relationship with Him. King David knew how to have an intimate relationship with the Lord. Although he was far from perfect, David had learned that only the Father’s love could satisfy his heart’s deepest longings (Psalm 63:3 “Because Your loving-kindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You.“). The king passionately sought God through prayer, repentance, and obedience. From his example, you and I can learn how to enjoy closeness with the Father. Do you long for God as David did? Do you seek Him earnestly and pursue Him throughout your day? Your intimacy with the Lord will determine the impact of your life. So go before His throne often with confidence because only He can fill the hunger of your soul (Psalm 63:1). When God brings a matter to your attention at bedtime, don’t ignore it. Pursue it. If He is causing you to feel restless, ask Him what He wants you to do. He always speaks when you make yourself available to Him (Psalm 63:6).
II.1. Relationship with God – Direct: The Lord is the ultimate authority over each and every person’s life—even those who refuse to acknowledge His sovereignty.
Distinct: If you have trusted in Jesus’ death on the cross to pay for your sin-debt, you’ve become one of God’s children and have a unique relationship with Him.
Distant: Sometimes God’s children allow their relationship with Him to suffer. They may attend church, but might not read their Bibles faithfully or know how to relate to the Lord in prayer. As a result, they excuse sin in their lives and don’t have a sense of oneness with Him.
Developing: Some believers passionately pursue a relationship with the Father on a continual, daily basis—regardless of life’s circumstances.
II.2. Requiring an Intimate Relationship with God A Spiritual Focus. For most people, the word “intimacy” is associated primarily with sexuality. But genuine fellowship with God involves relating to Him on an emotional and spiritual level rather than a physical one.
Personal Involvement: The Lord created humans in His image so that all people could relate to Him on an individual basis. The Holy Spirit lives within every believer, giving each one the ability to develop a personal friendship with Christ.
Trust: Intimacy cannot exist without trust. If you and I refuse to surrender to and obey God, we can’t expect to have an intimate relationship with Him.
Love: Oneness with God must be motivated out of love, not duty. Remember that God forgave you on the basis of Christ’s death on the cross. You don’t have to earn His affection. Let that fact motivate you to freely and genuinely devote yourself to knowing Him better.
II.3. Openness and Transparency: Confess specific sins and shortcomings to the Lord. Be honest with Him, and intimacy will grow.
Two-way Communication. Ask the Father to show you how to hear His guidance for your life, and set aside time to listen to Him.
Time and Effort. You must devote yourself to knowing the Lord if you want to experience the fullness of friendship with Him.
II.4. Benefits of Intimacy with the Father
Stability: In the midst of life’s storms, a solid relationship with God is your anchor.
Security: You can have the assurance that He is always with you, ready to help in any situation or circumstance.
Serenity: Intimacy gives you quietness and peace in your spirit, no matter what happens. You can trust that the Lord will guide you through difficulty.
Sensitivity. God will give you greater spiritual understanding and increased awareness to the needs of others.
II.5. Barriers to Intimacy
Pride: Some put their trust in themselves and pursue relationships, accomplishments, or possessions instead of a relationship with the Father.
Rebellion: When we deliberately disobey the Lord, we cannot have intimacy with Him.
Hurry: Some people never find intimacy with God because they are always impatient.
Response on “Our Intimacy with God“ I pray your relationship with God is characterized by unity, surrender, and joy. But if you aren’t experiencing intimacy with the Lord, He desires to reveal Himself in a personal way to you. Let go of pride, confess your sin and rebellion, and devote yourself to a relationship with Him. David wrote in Psalm 16:11, “In Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forever.” Only God can satisfy the deepest longings of your heart. Take time to discover the awesome depth of the Father’s love through an intimate relationship with Him.
III. Loving God
III.1 If you ask the average person if he loves God, his answer will probably be, “Yes.”: However, many people who sincerely believe they love the Lord are mistaken. Sadly, they may not even know Him. Words alone are no proof of love. In fact, we use the word love rather loosely, ascribing it to the most treasured people in our lives as well as our trivial preferences. When the Pharisees challenged Jesus to name the greatest commandment, He answered, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind’ ” (Matt. 22:37). That’s why the Lord should have a prominent place in our hearts and our love for Him should permeate every area of our lives. To love the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind simply means we express our love for Him continually in our innermost being—both emotionally and mentally. It’s an act of giving ourselves totally to Him for His purposes and joy. As He pours out His love to us, our eyes are opened to see His good purposes, and we desire to honor Him with obedience.
III.2. Misconceptions About Loving God: Tragically, many people don’t understand how to truly love God. Even sincere believers can miss out on this awesome experience because of several misconceptions such as:
Mistaking the fear of the Lord for love of Him. We can revere God by recognizing He is holy and just, but that doesn’t necessarily mean we have fully given our hearts, souls, and minds to Him.
Confusing our need with love. Most of us are quick to bring our cares and concerns to the Lord in prayer because we need His help, but that may merely be evidence of our need for Him, not our love for Him.
Equating serving God with loving Him. Instead of being motivated by devotion to Christ, some people simply enjoy the satisfaction that comes with serving. n Assuming that our giving is always a sign of love. If we simply put money into the offering plate because we’ve been taught it’s the right thing to do or from a sense of duty, that’s not showing true love for who God is to us personally.
Thinking that religious acts equal love for God. Singing, teaching, preaching, and sharing the gospel may not be expressions of love if they are done only out of obligation.
III.3. Why don’t people love the Lord? Some people say they love God, but want nothing to do with Jesus. However, since the Father and Son are one, no one who rejects Christ can love God (John 14:1). Although the Lord’s love extends to all people, many reject Him because:
They don’t know Him.
They’re afraid of the Lord’s judgment.
They’re uncomfortable because their sin doesn’t mix with His holiness. n They don’t want to alter their lifestyles. n They think loving the Lord would inhibit their conduct and lifestyle choices.
They feel uncertain about God and the future because they have no assurance about what awaits them after death. n They can’t understand why the Lord allows tragedies and disasters to happen. They don’t realize God has a definite, loving purpose in whatever He permits.
III.4. Why should we love God? The Lord is an awesome heavenly Father, and if we don’t love Him, we lose out on the greatest relationship we can experience. Furthermore, we can’t truly love other people until we first love the Lord because He enables us to love the unlovely. The Lord has made Himself very real and knowable through the pages of Scripture and in the person of Jesus, and the more we learn about Him, the more reasons we’ll discover to love Him. Consider that:
The Lord created us. The sovereign Ruler of the universe made each one of us, and He is the only reason we exist. n He’s given us His Son. Jesus came into the world to show us how our heavenly Father is loving and forgiving, and to give His own life as a ransom so we could be forgiven and have an intimate relationship with the Lord. n God has made commitments to us. This alone should provide the motivation we need to love Him with all our hearts. For example, we know: • The Lord will never leave nor forsake us (Heb. 13:5): Nothing in the world can give you the confidence and security that you need. Only God can do this. He is the only One who can promise that His presence will be with you eternally, no matter where you go or what you do. Therefore, do not fear whatever challenge may come. Keep your eyes on Him. He will certainly lead you in the very best way possible.
He’ll supply all our needs (Phil. 4:19): Paul had experienced God’s glorious provision through the believers in Philippi, and he assured the church that the Lord was going to bless them for their generosity. Sometimes believers fail to give what God calls them to because they are afraid they will not have enough for themselves. We can never outgive the Lord. Be confident that He can and will meet every need that you have — especially as you are following Him in obedience.
He’ll answer our prayers (Matt. 7:7): God has a wonderful plan for your life. But you must humble yourself before Him and ask Him to reveal this to you. When you knock on the door of His heart through prayer and thanksgiving, He opens Himself up to you. The greatest blessings we can receive are not material in nature. They are the blessings of His infinite love and care for us. He delights in showering us with good things — but we must present our requests to Him.
• He has forgiven our sins (1 John 1:9): When you pour out your heart in genuine confession and repentance, how does God respond to you? He says that you are completely forgiven and reminds you of how Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross paid the penalty for all of your transgressions. You have been declared justified — no longer guilty in His eyes. The Lord understands your struggles, and He wants you to find victory in them — not continue to feel shame because of them (Heb. 2:14–18). He is merciful and loving, which is why once you confess and repent, you are absolutely forgiven.
He has given each of us at least one spiritual gift that enables us to live productive, fruitful lives and accomplish whatever He asks. • He fills us with the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to live in a way that pleases and honors God. • Christ has prepared a place for us in heaven and will someday come again to take us there (John 14:2-3).
The Lord will give us beautiful and perfect resurrected bodies. • Through Jesus, we can have personal relationships with God that transcend any other human relationships. In the Jewish culture, it was customary for a young man to prepare a house for his bride-to-be. At an unspecified time, the bridegroom would return to fulfill the marriage covenant with his wife and take her to their new home. As the Bride of Christ — the church — we know that Jesus is preparing an everlasting home for us in heaven. And one day, He will return to claim us and take us to the wonderful place He has created for us to love and worship Him for the rest of eternity (John 14:3;Rev. 19:7–9; 21:9–27).
III.5. The evidence of our love for God: When we genuinely love the Lord, our lives and lifestyles will be transformed. We will:
Desire to obey and serve Him.
Delight in sharing Him with others.
Trust Him. n Crave fellowship with Him.
Desire to worship and give to Him.
Want to defend Him and the gospel.
Make time to study His Word.
Be willing to suffer for Him.
Response on “Loving God”
Does your life show others that there is something different and special about you? Is the difference due to a closer relationship you now have with the Lord than the way it was in your past?
Do you have inner satisfaction and contentment that no amount of success, prosperity, or popularity can provide?
As you learn more about your heavenly Father, does your love for Him grow? Does this love permeate your life in ways that will demonstrate to others that you live for His glory and purpose in everything you say and do?
IV. Starved for Love
IV.1. The Lord doesn’t want anyone to feel starved for love: In fact, He’s made provisions for us to experience the joy and fulfillment of being loved by Him. Yet many people miss out on a satisfying relationship with Him because they are trying to fill the empty place in their lives with things, money, sex, or prestige. Every human relationship will disappoint, but God’s love will never fail.
IV.2. What does it mean for a person to be starved for love? Those who feel unloved are likely to display some of the following characteristics:
Become involved in immoral situations. When someone is looking for a satisfying relationship, it’s easy to confuse sex with love. In reality, sex is a roadblock to genuine love when it’s practiced outside the marriage relationship.
Commit crimes. Some people’s deep emotional needs cause them to become desperate for recognition, even if it comes in the form of a crime report on the news. n Don’t love themselves. Those who feel unloved have trouble loving themselves, and therefore, cannot love others.
Engage in excessive spending. Some people turn to shopping in an attempt to fill what’s lacking in their relationships.
Experience loneliness. Those who are starved for love may feel isolated even when they’re with others. They think marriage is the solution, but only Jesus can fill a lonely heart.
Become critical of others’ relationships. Although dissatisfied people find fault in others, the truth is that they desire what the other person has—a relationship with someone else.
Get angry. Because of a lack of love, some people develop an angry spirit. They may not be upset with anyone in particular, but are simply frustrated because all their attempts to meet their emotional needs have failed.
Become self-absorbed. A person who doesn’t feel genuinely loved could become inwardly focused on his or her longing for a relationship. But self-centeredness only leads to unhappiness.
Try to buy love. Although there is nothing wrong with giving gifts, those whose generosity is motivated by neediness for love in return are actually trying to purchase another affection.
Are overly complimentary. Some people lavish compliments on others, hoping to receive a response in return which will fill up the emptiness in their hearts.
Emphasize being in agreement. When people don’t understand true love, they might make the false assumption that love means always being in agreement.
Do what others want. The desire for a relationship can be so strong that a person may serve someone in an attempt to earn love.
Make personal sacrifices to receive love. Emotional neediness leads people to say, do, or give whatever is necessary to make the other person love them.
IV.3. Why do people remain starved for love? God has placed a hunger for love in every human heart, but He’s also provided a way for us to have that need met through Him. However, instead of turning to the Lord, many people remain stuck in a place of emotional deprivation because they try to satisfy their longings with substitutes. Another reason for remaining starved for love is because of past rejection—especially if it occurred in childhood. It manifests as a feeling of unworthiness to receive love and an inability to give it and maintain a healthy relationship.
IV.4. The Lord is the true source of love: There is no substitute for the Father’s love. The Bible says that God is love—it’s His nature. He not only pours His love into our hearts, but He also lets it flow through us to others so we can have genuinely loving relationships.
IV.5. What is true love? Love is a commitment to the satisfaction, security, and development of the one loved and a commitment to the fulfillment of their needs—whatever they are— always asking what’s best for the other person.
Love is a commitment to another person. It requires faithfulness and is motivated by a desire to see the loved one become who God wants him to be.
There is a difference in loving and desiring someone. Affection and desire are often equated with love, but they are not necessarily the same thing. Sometimes what we’re feeling is really a need to be loved, but only God can fill our empty souls with His love.
There’s only one true, genuine love, and it’s born of Almighty God. He is the source, the fountain from which it flows into our lives. As we abide in Him, His love reaches others.
It’s an unselfish, sacrificial giving of oneself. The goal of true love is not to have our needs met, but to seek out ways to meet the needs of the other person.
IV.6. What is the nature of love? You’ll find that God’s love is active and it: n Brings healing. Genuine love heals the hurts and sorrows of life.
Builds a sense of self-worth. Being loved makes us feel valued as God’s creation.Produces a feeling of emotional completeness. When God’s love fills us up, we don’t require things or people to complete us.
Gives a feeling of security. His love calms our fears and is adequate for whatever we face.
Helps us to love those who have wronged us. It motivates us to forgive.
Enables us to be kind toward those who have misunderstood or misjudged us. In Christ, we have the ability to love others no matter what they say or do.
Empowers us to serve others joyfully. We can share God’s love by serving them.
Enables us to develop an intimate relationship. When we have intimacy with Christ, we’ll be fulfilled and experience His peace and joy.
Enables us to reach other people and share God’s love. His passion in us flows to others.
IV.7. Where do we begin? This kind of fulfilling love is only found in a personal relationship with Christ. At the moment of salvation, He plants His love in our hearts. Then as we grow, His love within us matures. He overcomes our negative feelings and enables us to love those we might not naturally like. The deposit of God’s love fills the empty places in our hearts.
Response on “Starved for Love”
What things have you tried as a substitute for God’s genuine love in your life?
Have you seen the difference between love as a commitment to others compared to that of emotional neediness?
Can you see the nature of God’s love overflowing in your life today?