What does "love is from God" reveal about the nature of love? Setting the Scene “Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” (1 John 4:7) God as the Source of Genuine Love • “Love is from God” points to origin. Love is not a human invention; it flows from the very being of God. • James 1:17 backs this up: “Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights…” • Because God never changes (Malachi 3:6), the love He supplies is steady, untainted, and eternally reliable. Love Reflects God’s Character • Exodus 34:6 reveals the Lord as “compassionate and gracious… abounding in loving devotion.” Love, therefore, mirrors who He is. • 1 John 4:8 adds, “God is love.” Love is not merely something God does; it is what God is. • When believers express true love, they showcase God’s heart in visible form. Love Requires a New Birth • “Everyone who loves has been born of God…” (1 John 4:7). Real, God-sourced love flows from regeneration. • At conversion the Holy Spirit pours God’s love into the heart (Romans 5:5), enabling what fallen humanity cannot produce on its own. Love as Evidence of Knowing God • “…and knows God.” Genuine love serves as proof that a person has an active, relational knowledge of the Lord. • This knowledge is experiential, not merely intellectual; it produces fruit, starting with love (Galatians 5:22). Love’s Shape: Self-Giving and Sacrificial • John 3:16 shows love in action: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son…” • 1 John 4:19 reminds, “We love because He first loved us.” Our love echoes His initiating, self-giving love. • 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 describes love’s contours—patient, kind, enduring, never failing—traits that flow from God’s own perfection. Love Versus Counterfeit Affection • Worldly “love” often seeks self-gratification; biblical love seeks the other’s good. • God’s love is holy, truthful, and covenantal, never compromising righteousness (Psalm 85:10). Nourishing Love from Its Source • Stay close to the Source through Scripture, prayer, and obedience (John 15:9-10). • Depend on the Spirit daily; the fruit grows as we “walk by the Spirit” (Galatians 5:16-25). • Extend what you receive: “Freely you have received; freely give” (Matthew 10:8). Summary “Love is from God” reveals that love originates in God’s eternal nature, is implanted in believers through the new birth, and serves as unmistakable evidence of genuine fellowship with Him. As God’s children draw from His inexhaustible well, their relationships become living testimonies that the God of Scripture is alive, active, and overflowing with perfect love. |
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