How does God demonstrate His love for us? Why does God love us?
This profound question finds its answer in the very nature of God Himself. First John 4:8 teaches that, "God is love." Not only does God love; love is part of His essential nature. Love is who God is, therefore He cannot but love.
Do we deserve His love? Romans 5:8 clearly teaches, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We had not even been born yet, and God was already at work to provide a way for us to spend eternity with Him (John 3:16). Jesus even noted that He is preparing a place for those who love Him (John 14:3) where we will dwell in His presence forever.
There are limitless expressions of God's perfect, unconditional love for us. One of these is the fact that He created us. Colossians 1:16 says, "All things were created through him and for him." This includes every person who has ever lived. John 1:3 adds, "all things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made."
God also shows His love for humanity by sustaining our lives. Colossians 1:17 teaches, "And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together." First Peter 1:5 notes believers are those, "who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." Second Timothy 1:12 adds, "I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me."
God has revealed His love through sending His only Son Jesus Christ to provide salvation for those who believe. John 3:16 observes, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." His salvation provides inexpressible joy, "Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls" (1 Peter 1:8-9).
God reveals His love through salvation. Ephesians 2:8-9 instructs, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Salvation is God's free gift to those who will receive it, an expression of love that includes eternal life.
God reveals His love through the calling and gifts He has given us. Ephesians 2:10 shares, "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." First Corinthians 12:7 adds, "To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good."
God reveals His love by making believers part of God's family. As 1 John 3:1 declares, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are."
God reveals His love for believers particularly by preparing an eternal home with Him. John 14:2-3 promises, "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also."
Many additional examples could be provided to show how God loves us, but the only adequate reason to explain why God loves us is found in His very nature. He is love, and His love for us as His created beings ultimately brings glory to His name.
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