“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” — John 3:16 (NKJV)
As we approach the final days of the year, it’s a fitting moment to wrap up this series exploring the profound attributes of God. Our final focus is on the extraordinary nature of God’s love—a subject so vast and profound that it has inspired countless writers, artists, and thinkers throughout history. While it may feel daunting to add my own words to this rich conversation, I believe, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, that this post will offer fresh insight and encouragement. In the journey ahead, we’ll delve into the many facets of love, discover what truly defines Godly love, and glimpse how the Bible portrays this incomparable attribute. We’ll also see how Jesus Christ embodied divine love during His time on earth and explore practical ways Christians can reflect God’s love in everyday life. Let’s embark together on this exploration of love’s deepest meaning as we prepare to step into a new year.
Understanding Love: Insights from Psychology, Philosophy, and Christian Ethics
Merriam-Webster offers three definitions of love: strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties, attraction based on sexual desire (affection and tenderness felt by lovers), and affection based on admiration, benevolence, or common interests. The Oxford English Dictionary defines love as a feeling or disposition of deep affection or fondness for someone, typically arising from a recognition of attractive qualities, from natural affinity, or from sympathy and manifesting itself in concern for the other’s welfare and pleasure in his or her presence (distinguished from sexual love at sense); great liking, strong emotional attachment; (similarly) a feeling or disposition of benevolent attachment experienced towards a group or category of people, and (by extension) towards one’s country or another impersonal object of affection.
Psychologists describe love as a complex emotion that combines deep care for someone, the joy of their company, the desire for their happiness, and sensitivity to their needs. They distinguish between various kinds of love, from the bond between parents and children to romantic partnerships and even self-love. According to the triangular theory of love, the foundation rests on passion, intimacy, and commitment. Social psychologists break love down further into passionate love—marked by excitement and desire—and companionate love, which is gentler and rooted in steady commitment.
Philosophers on the other hand, often sort love into three main categories: eros (romantic desire), agape (unconditional, selfless love), and philia (the warm affection found in friendships). While classical philosophy drew sharp lines between these forms, modern thinkers focus more on the uniqueness of loving someone for who they are. They debate whether love blends individuals into a shared “we” or if it’s about valuing another for their own sake. Some argue that love means appreciating someone’s special qualities or even bestowing value upon them simply because they are irreplaceable in our lives. Big questions linger: Can love be justified? Is it replaceable? And what makes it such a powerful force in shaping who we become? Despite differences, most agree that love is a transformative and deeply personal part of what it means to be human.
Christian ethics looks at love from the human side, focusing on how people show love in their actions. It warns against defining love too narrowly and says that all types of love—both good and bad—should be considered. Love can be positive, like faithfulness, mercy, and generosity, or negative, such as being misdirected or too intense. From a Christian ethics perspective, Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor is the key to all other moral rules, shaping how Christians understand right and wrong. Augustine and other early church leaders taught that love for God should guide love for neighbor, and in Christ, these two loves unite. Moreover, although self-love is important, it should be rightly ordered and not selfish. Love is seen as both a gift from God and a human habit, and it is closely connected with faith and hope. Christian love should balance both universal love (for all people) and particular or preferential love (for specific individuals). Additionally, in Christian ethics, justice is a kind of love that ensures fairness and care for others, including strangers and enemies. Throughout history, Christians have tried to shape society around these ideals, even as they wrestle with how love applies to new challenges—social justice, technology, and caring for the environment.
The late Dr. Charles Stanley , well-known as a televangelist and author summed up love beautifully: “Love always asks, ‘What is best for the other person?’ He described God’s love—agape—as the only perfect love, and that means “He’s always going to treat me exactly right.” God’s agape love is a gift that cannot be earned and comes with no conditions or requirements. It is perfect because God is without fault, making His love flawless and impossible to improve. God’s love is everlasting—nothing can separate us from it—and it is unlimited and unchanging, based on God’s nature rather than our actions. His love is unconditional and requires nothing from us. It is sacrificial, shown through the giving of His Son, and immeasurable, having no beginning or end. Additionally, God’s love is infinite and inexhaustible.
Whether seen through the lens of psychology, philosophy, or faith, love emerges as a powerful, transformative force that shapes our relationships, our morals, and our very identities.
God’s Love as Portrayed in the Bible
When you open the pages of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, you’re invited into an awe-inspiring story of love—God’s love. The apostle John summed it up simply: “God is love” (1 John 4:8). God’s loving nature isn’t just one of His many attributes; it’s at the very core of who He is. Despite being the all-powerful Creator, ruler, and sustainer of the universe, God chooses to relate to us first and foremost as a Father. Jesus highlighted this truth in His prayer in John 17:24, affirming that the Father loved Him “before the creation of the world.” Long before anything existed—before creation, before authority—God was a Father loving His Son. This Father-Son relationship bursts forth throughout Scripture, with God declaring at both Jesus’ baptism and His transfiguration, “This is my beloved Son.” In these moments, we glimpse the affectionate, kind, and loving nature of God as He rules over His creation.
Dive deeper into the biblical narrative, and you’ll see the beautiful harmony among the three persons of the Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each engaged in an eternal relationship of perfect love. Theologian Michael Reeves[1] points out that a single-person god could only create for self-serving reasons, but the triune God creates out of overflowing love. Colossians 1:15-17 tells us that all things were created by and for Jesus, making creation itself a gift from the Father to the Son. God’s love also shines through in how He made humanity with the freedom to choose to love and trust Him.
This love is not just theoretical—it’s practical and personal. Consider the story of Adam and Eve: after their fall, God cared for them by replacing their fig leaf coverings with garments of animal skin, hinting at His future plan of redemption. Even before creation, God knew humanity would need saving and lovingly set a plan in motion to reconcile us to Himself, promising a Savior right in the aftermath of Eden’s tragedy. Jesus is foreshadowed as the innocent lamb whose sacrifice would clothe us in righteousness (Genesis 3:1-21).
God’s love repeatedly shows up in the lives of biblical figures. In Noah’s day, although God could have wiped out everything, His grace preserved Noah, his family, and the animals. God’s call to Abraham was rooted in love, despite Abraham’s imperfections and failures. Jacob, too, experienced God’s steadfast love and protection, becoming the ancestor of Israel through whom Jesus would come. Even when Israel rebelled, God’s love remained unwavering—His discipline was restorative, not punitive. The prophet Hosea’s life powerfully illustrated God’s covenantal love as he redeemed his unfaithful wife, mirroring God’s faithfulness to Israel.
The stories of David and Elijah further highlight God’s compassionate heart. After David’s grievous sins, God could have taken away his kingship, but instead, He showed mercy, even loving David and Bathsheba’s son Solomon. When Elijah fled in fear and despair, God responded with gentle care—allowing him to rest and sending an angel to provide for him.
The ultimate expression of God’s love is found in Jesus. John 3:16 declares that even while humanity was lost in sin, God sent His only Son to save us. Romans 3:23 and 1 John 3:1 emphasize our need for redemption and the lavish love God pours out by adopting us as His children.
Finally, 1 Corinthians 13 brings the message home: love is the foundation of everything that matters. As Pastor Rick Warren explains, “if I don’t live a life of love, nothing I say will matter, nothing I know will matter, nothing I believe will matter, nothing I give will matter, and nothing I accomplish will matter. God’s summary of what matters to Him as described in 1 Corinthians 13 is this: I can have the eloquence of an orator, the knowledge of a genius, the faith of a miracle worker, the generosity of a philanthropist, and the achievements of a super star, but if I don’t have love in my heart it is worth ZERO! It doesn’t count. The only thing that matters is if I love God and love people.” So, what does Godly love look like? The answer is found in 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (AMP):
“Love endures with patience and serenity, love is kind and thoughtful, and is not jealous or envious; love does not brag and is not proud or arrogant. It is not rude; it is not self-seeking, it is not provoked [nor overly sensitive and easily angered]; it does not take into account a wrong endured. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening]. Love never fails [it never fades nor ends].”
The Unmatched Love of Jesus: Revealing the Heart of God
When we look at the life of Jesus, we see more than just historical events—we witness the perfect revelation of God’s heart and His immense love for humanity. As the Son of God, Jesus didn’t just teach about love; He embodied it, showing us exactly what God the Father is like and how deeply He cares for each one of us.
Even as a twelve-year-old, Jesus’ devotion to His Father was unmistakable. In Luke 2:41-50, we read that after celebrating Passover in Jerusalem, His parents accidentally left without Him, only to find Him later in the temple, deep in conversation with respected religious leaders. When questioned, Jesus gently reminded them of His purpose: “Didn’t you know I had to be about My Father’s business?” This moment set the tone for His life, marked by a constant pursuit of communion with His Father, often seeking solitude to pray and connect with Him.
One of the clearest expressions of Jesus’ love for His Father—and for us—came as His life neared its end. In John 14:31, He declared His love for the Father and His willingness to obey, even when that meant enduring the ultimate sacrifice for our sins. The scene in the Garden of Gethsemane is especially poignant: Jesus struggled with the overwhelming burden of what lay ahead, asking if there was another way to save humanity. Yet, driven by love, He surrendered completely, embracing the cross, out of devotion to His Father and a profound desire to rescue us. Jesus, the beloved Son of God, put on human flesh and carried the weight of our sin—because God is love, and His love knows no bounds.
But Jesus’ love wasn’t confined to private moments or grand gestures—it permeated every aspect of His ministry. He reached out to those society had pushed aside: touching lepers, feeding the hungry, and healing the sick. His compassion was evident when He lingered to restore sight to a blind man or heal a woman suffering for years, even when His schedule was packed. He chose to free a Samaritan woman from a life of shame, inviting her into God’s kingdom, and welcomed little children into His arms, defying His disciples’ attempts to turn them away.
Even in His final hours, as He endured unimaginable pain on the cross, Jesus’ love shone through. He ensured His mother would be cared for by entrusting her to his disciple, John, demonstrating a tender concern for family amid suffering. After conquering death, Jesus sought out Peter—who had denied Him three times—restoring and empowering him to become a leader in the brand-new church, sparking a movement that would change the world forever.
In every action, word, and sacrifice, Jesus gave us a vivid, unforgettable picture of God’s love—a love that heals, welcomes, forgives, and saves. That same love is offered freely to us today, inviting us to experience the heart of God in a life-changing way.
Living Out Christ’s Command to Love
At the core of Jesus’s teachings is a clear and powerful directive: love God with everything you are, and love others as you love yourself (Matthew 22:38-39). Just before His crucifixion, Jesus emphasized this by giving His disciples a new commandment—to love one another as He had loved them (John 13:34). In other words, authentic Christian love is not just a feeling, but a conscious choice and action, modeled after Christ’s own sacrificial love.
Our relationship with God is deeply intertwined with how we treat those around us. As 1 John 4:20 points out, claiming to love God while refusing to show love toward others reveals a disconnect—since God’s presence is reflected in those right beside us. It’s impossible to genuinely love God and harbor resentment and animosity toward people (His image bearers).
Because Jesus has called us to love as He does, we’re reminded that love is a decision, not merely a fleeting emotion. Sometimes, when people say they no longer “feel” love—especially in marriage or close relationships—they overlook the truth that love can be chosen even in tough times. Loving someone isn’t always easy, especially during struggles like illness, financial hardship, or disappointment. But God’s love is about giving grace—offering others what they need, even when we feel they may not deserve it. True love means giving without expecting anything in return, just as God does for us.
So, what does it look like to practice Christlike love in our everyday lives? Pastor Rick Warren suggests five practical steps to help us grow as people who love well:
- Learn how mature love acts and responds. Real change starts with a new perspective. Explore what God says love truly is and let it shape your actions and mindset.
- Start your day with a daily reminder to love. The first ten minutes of your morning can set the tone for everything that follows. Begin each day by asking God to help you love Him and those around you a little more.
- Memorize what God says about love. Filling your heart and mind with scripture, like Psalm 119:11, helps shift your thoughts from selfishness to kindness and compassion.
- Practice acting in unselfish, loving ways. Purposefully choose actions that demonstrate love, even when it feels awkward at first. Over time, these behaviors will become second nature, shaping us into genuinely loving people. Some actions that demonstrate love include:
- Listening attentively to someone who needs to talk, even when you’re busy or tired.
- Offering help to a neighbor with chores or errands without expecting anything in return.
- Forgiving a friend or family member who has hurt you, even when an apology hasn’t been offered.
- Donating time, energy, or resources to someone in need, whether it’s volunteering at a shelter or simply sharing a meal.
- Writing an encouraging note or message to someone going through a difficult time.
- Choosing to speak kindly about others, building them up rather than tearing them down.
- Get support from other loving people. No one can learn to love in isolation. Surround yourself with others who are committed to loving well, and grow together in your relationships.
Living out love as a Christian is a daily journey—one that challenges us to choose grace, compassion, and selflessness, just as Christ has shown us.
[1] Reeves, Michael. Delighting in the Trinity: An introduction to the Christian faith. InterVarsity Press, 2012.
Living Water 