GOD IS LOVE

Mike Johnson

1 John 4:8 says, “He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.”   This verse shows the importance of love.  As the passage points out, a person who does not love others does not even “know God” since “God is love.”  It is interesting to note the text does not say, “Love is of God,” but “God is love,” which is a much stronger expression.  The pagan religions often pictured their gods as in constant need of appeasement.  With Christianity, in contrast, the Supreme Being is love.

We see God’s love in many ways, but we especially see it in that He was willing to send His son to die for our sins.  1 John 4:9 says, “In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.”  John 3:16 points out God loved the world to the extent He gave His only begotten son for our sins.  It would be difficult for a person to send his son away for another person, even if it did not involve the death of that son.  More so, it would be even more difficult for one to send his son, His ONLY son, on a mission knowing he would die.

We all need Christ today because we all need salvation.  We should be glad God loved us so much He was willing to send His son to die so we can have life everlasting, and this love should prompt us to love others.  God loves us; we should show our love and appreciation for Him by our obedience to His Will.