God's Love For Us

Love is such an overused word -- don't we "love" hot dogs and apple pie, and "love" going to the beach? But love in the Bible has a much richer meaning, particularly when applied to God's feeling toward his people. The Bible describes a kind of love that goes far beyond the greatest human capacity.

The LORD watches over those who fear him, those who rely on his unfailing love. We depend on the LORD alone to save us. Only he can help us, protecting us like a shield.

Psalms 33:18-20ClosePsalms 33:18-20 But the LORD watches over those who fear him,  those who rely on his unfailing love. He rescues them from death  and keeps them alive in times of famine. We put our hope in the LORD.  He is our help and our shield. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

"I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself."

Jeremiah 31:1CloseJeremiah 31:1 "In that day," says the LORD, "I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

Many sorrows come to the wicked, but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD . So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him! Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

Psalms 32:10-11ClosePsalms 32:10-11 Many sorrows come to the wicked,  but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the LORD. So rejoice in the LORD and be glad, all you who obey him!  Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure! OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

The Word became human and lived here on earth among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the only Son of the Father.

John 1:14CloseJohn 1:14 So the Word became human* and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness.* And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father's one and only Son. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

"God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God did not send his Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it."

John 3:16-17CloseJohn 3:16-17 "For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

We know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's judgment. For since we were restored to friendship with God by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be delivered from eternal punishment by his life. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God -- all because of what our Lord Jesus Christ has done for us in making us friends of God.

Romans 5:5-11CloseRomans 5:5-11 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love him and are called by him.

Romans 8:28CloseRomans 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together* for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so very much, that even while we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's special favor that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ, and we are seated with him in the heavenly realms -- all because we are one with Christ Jesus. And so God can always point to us as examples of the incredible wealth of his favor and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us through Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:4-7CloseEphesians 2:4-7 But God is so rich in mercy, and he loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our sins, he gave us life when he raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God's grace that you have been saved!) For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus. So God can point to us in all future ages as examples of the incredible wealth of his grace and kindness toward us, as shown in all he has done for us who are united with Christ Jesus. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

May you experience the love of Christ, though it is so great you will never fully understand it. Then you will be filled with the fullness of life and power that comes from God.

Ephesians 3:19CloseEphesians 3:19 May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

Anyone who does not love does not know God -- for God is love.

God showed how much he loved us by sending his only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love. It is not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love has been brought to full expression through us.

And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us.

1 John 4:8-13Close1 John 4:8-13 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love. God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other. No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. And God has given us his Spirit as proof that we live in him and he in us. OPEN VERSE IN BIBLE (nlt)

See also Comfort in Times of Trouble

The Book of God's Promises -- Copyright, 1999 by J. Stephen Lang. All rights reserved, used with permission.