“The love of God was manifested in us, that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him” (1 John 4: 9). Jesus is not a figure of the past. He is alive and well today! He is there for everyone who turns to him. He offers the gift of eternal life to all who believe in him.
The love of God cannot be known by our intelligence, but it can be apprehended by the revelation of God through the Holy Spirit. The love of God is unconditional, infinite, unfathomable, and immeasurable. Nothing in the whole universe can be compared to the love of God. There is no sin, failure, or weakness that can separate us from the love of God in Jesus Christ (Romans 8: 35-39). Love is the greatest commandment.” (Matthew 22:37)
If you had to describe God in one word, what would you say? The answer is, of course, “love”. We read in 1 John 4: 8 that “God is love”.
The Apostle Paul speaks of three great qualities – faith, hope, and love – but he declares that the greatest of these things is love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Consider also verses 2 and 3: “And when I have the gift of prophecy, the knowledge of all mysteries and all knowledge, when I have all the faith to carry mountains, if I have not love, I am nothing. And when I distribute all my goods for the poor’s food, when I give up my body to be burned, if I do not have love, it does not help me.” What a strong statement about the importance of love!
Reading in Galatians 5 a list of the fruits of the Spirit of God, what is the first fruit that is mentioned? Love! (Verse 22)
It follows that “love” is extremely important to God because He is love. However, it is essential to understand that the love in Galatians 5 is not “human” love! In contrast, it is about divine love – agape love. In the original Greek text, the word agape is used: “Faith, hope, and agape”. “If I’m not agape, I’m nothing.” “God is agape.” The only way for a human being to have agape love is to receive it from God through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5, Galatians 5:22).