The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.
— Jeremiah 31:3

But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
— Matthew 5:44-45

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
— Romans 5:8

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.
— 1 John 4:7-8

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Attributes of God: Love
By Jennifer Kane

O love that chose before all time,
Unmoved by merit, deed, or sign,
Forever flowing, strong and free,
The Father’s heart toward such as me.

Unchanging love, so vast, so pure,
Through every trial shall endure;
Not swayed by sin, nor bound by fear,
But steadfast, holy, always near.

The cross reveals Your love’s design,
Where justice met with grace divine;
The spotless Lamb for sinners slain,
Eternal life through Him we gain.

O faithful God, we lift our praise,
For sovereign love that crowns our days;
Secure we stand, by mercy kept,
Loved with a love that never slept.

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Scripture: Jeremiah 31:3, Matthew 5:44-45, Romans 5:8, 1 John 4:7-8

God’s love is profound and intentionally distinct from the sentimental, humanistic view of love common in the world. To understand divine love, one must first understand the other attributes of God, particularly His holiness, justice, and sovereignty.

God’s love not as a passive emotion but as a principle of active benevolence. It is the eternal, self-originating, and unchanging desire in God to communicate good and bestow blessing upon His creatures. It is fundamentally an act of His will, rooted in His very nature, for “God is love”.

God’s love is sovereign. It is not caused by anything in the creature. It is bestowed freely, independently, and without any merit on the part of the recipient. He loves because it is His nature to love, not because we are inherently lovable.

God’s love is eternal. God’s love for His people had no beginning and will have no end. It is not a response to our faith but the cause of it.

God’s love is infinite and unchanging. Because God is infinite, His love is without limit or measure. It is also immutable—it does not fluctuate based on our performance or failings.

And of course God’s love is holy. God’s love is never at odds with His holiness and justice. It is a righteous love. It does not simply overlook sin; it provides a solution for it that satisfies His justice—the sacrifice of Christ.

God has a general benevolence or goodness toward all creation. This is seen in His common grace—sending rain, providing food, and restraining sin.

The World’s Love is emotional, fickle, self-seeking, easily turned to hatred, and often based on the attractiveness of the object.
But God’s love is volitional, constant, self-giving, sovereign, and directed toward the vile, unworthy, and sinful.

The cross is not a proof that God loves every single individual without exception, but is the grand demonstration of His specific love for His sheep. Christ died not to make salvation secure for all whom the Father had given Him.

The love of God as a sovereign, distinguishing, and efficacious attribute. It is not a weak sentiment but a powerful, purposeful force that elects, redeems, and secures the eternal good of its objects. To understand it correctly, one must see it through the lens of God’s other perfections, especially His sovereign will and righteous justice. The safety of the believer rests in knowing they are loved by this kind of God—a love that chose them in eternity past and will hold them fast for eternity future.

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Heavenly Father, we praise You for a love that is holy, sovereign, eternal, and unchanging—a love that is not swayed by our failings but rooted in Your very nature. Thank You for demonstrating this love through the cross of Christ, where Your justice and mercy met in perfect harmony. Teach us to see Your love not as the world defines it, but as a divine force of self-giving grace that chooses, redeems, and secures us for eternity. May this truth deepen our trust, humble our hearts, and stir us to love others with the same steadfast, sacrificial love You have shown to us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

September 11 2025