Here are three verses which helps us understand the love of God.

I’m Dr. Chuck and here’s your spoonful of courage:

Our culture has such a distorted view of love, it’s hard for many of us to wrap our minds around what it means that God loves us.

Here’s the first verse: Ephesians 2: 4-5

 “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ…”

Love expresses the nature of God. God is love. This undeserved affection does for us what we cannot do for ourselves. This verse reminds us that we were dead in our sins. Now, you don’t have to be a physician—or a rocket surgeon—to understand that when your dead—your dead. Dead people cannot do anything—well because their dead. 

The great physician did something neither you nor I, nor any surgeon could do. He brings spiritually dead people to life. This ability comes from the resurrection. The power which raised Christ from the dead works in those who believe, who take God up on His promise. By faith, we are “made alive together with Christ.”

Not only does God’s love do for us what we cannot do, God’s love gives us what we don’t deserve.

You see, before God took the initiative—to bring the dead to life—we were children of wrath. We didn’t deserve and couldn’t earn God’s acceptance. Giving us what we don’t deserve expresses God’s mercy. God’s love is “rich in mercy”.

So here’s the second verse. It expresses God’s love in another way. Romans 5:8, It says, “But God demonstrates His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

We all know the power of demonstration. Like the door to door salesmen, selling a vacuum cleaner. He knows that if he is able to show off his product—then buyers will be convinced. God’s demonstration of love was very practical. Love comprises more than feelings, it acts. God’s affections do something on our behalf.  God’s demonstration of love came on the cross, where Jesus took our place. By His death, we were given life. Christ took our punishment and gives us life.

Both these verses have a common phrase. It’s one easy to overlook. But God. You see on our own, left to ourselves, we were in a heap of trouble. But God—initiated. But God—intervened. But God cared enough to do something.

God is the source of love:

God’s love does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

God’s love gives us what we don’t deserve.

God’s loves is fully expressed and demonstrated by Christ taking our place and being our substitute.

God’s love initiates a relationship. God’s love intervenes for us.

Man, that’s good news in a culture which such a distorted view of love. I would challenge you think about this good news.

Woops, I almost for the third verse. Many of you probably know it. John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

God’s heart of love motivated Him to Give—of Himself.

How should we respond to this unmerited love. Whosoever—is an open invitation to receive His gift. Think about it.

I’m Doctor Chuck. I’m honored to have your attention for these two minutes.