When asked to describe God in one word, most people will quickly answer with “love.” But what does that really mean? We can find hundreds of verses relating to God’s love throughout scripture. Some focus on His enduring vision, while others reveal His love to be the ultimate drive for the purposeful life. Here are some of our favorite, and most important, Bible verses on God's love.
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”
A commonly repeated aspect in Bible verses on God's love is that his affection and kindness last forever. Not only is He good and faithful today, but His love for you does not change by the day.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”
Easily the most well known verse on our list is this quick summary of the gospel message. Just how much does God love you? Enough to send His only Son to die for you. If we ever question just how much He cares, this is a great reminder.
“Because your love is better than life, my lips will glorify you.”
Romantic movies have often overstated the importance of finding someone who loves you. With God, the fulfillment and joy is true as advertised. Here David writes and sings to the Lord to say “I am with you until the end, because life with You is better than life without You could ever hope to be.” (Our paraphrasing of course.)
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
As was mentioned in John 3:16, God’s love is the driving force for Him sending His Son to die for us. The Christian lives his life for the One who paid the ultimate sacrifice so that we might find a way to redemption.
“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.”
Love is not only about passion or attraction, like people often believe. Rather one of the most important facets of God’s love is His faithfulness. God made a covenant with Abraham and the people of Israel which has stood the test of time. He watched over the Jewish people from Egypt to Canaan and led them into prosperity.
“‘You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 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. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?’”
God’s love subverts our human expectations. We may believe that only people we like or those who do objective good deserve to experience love or success. We may want to hate those who do wrong by us. These Bible verses on God's love tell us to care for all people, especially when it hurts to do so.
“For the Lord loves the just and will not forsake his faithful ones. Wrongdoers will be completely destroyed; the offspring of the wicked will perish.”
What makes God who He is is not only the perfection of love, grace, justice, and so on. It is the perfect way in which these different characteristics can move and relate within one Being. God isn’t totally dominated by His loving nature, but He is equally just and holy. His perfect love does not stop His holy nature where wickedness must be punished.
“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
The central thesis of Christianity is found in John 3:16, but Romans 5:8 reminds us that Christ didn’t die for us because of how we good we are or can be. Jesus sacrificed himself while we were still living in sin because that action reflects who He is.
“For I, the Lord, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.”
We see recurring themes in these Bible verses on God's love. Similar to Psalm 37:28, this verse shows us that while God keeps His word when it comes to a covenant, He also has standards which must be maintained.
“Jesus looked at him and loved him. ‘One thing you lack,’ he said. ‘Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.’”
The story of the rich young ruler is meant in part to tell us that keeping the commandments isn’t the only important thing in living the Christian life. Our hearts must be focused on the affairs of heaven and not on what we can get out of this life. It’s important to see here, however, that Jesus loved the people He encountered on earth.
“The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.”
Some of us may have love in our hearts for our families or close friends, but God is overflowing with love by comparison. Here we see a model for how we should act in our own lives, not giving in to anger, but having compassion for others and treating them graciously.
“Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.”
Speaking of modeling our behavior after the Lord, Ephesians says here that God’s love is something we should emulate everywhere we go. Because He sacrificed and humbled Himself for us, we can do the same for others. We see this expanded upon in 1 John 4.
“And have you completely forgotten this word of encouragement that addresses you as a father addresses his son? It says, ‘My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.’ Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?”
In Proverbs 13:24, the writer states that punishment and correction can be done in love. Here we see that concept compared to the relationship between a son and father. God’s love may not always feel warm and soft, but that doesn’t mean he’s stopped caring for you.
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The introduction of Jesus radically changed the perception of God and His covenant. Instead of the many traditions and laws which were followed by the Jews, Jesus told His disciples that loving others was the best signifier of their devotion to Him. If we are to love others as God has loved us, what does that say about the importance and prevalence of God’s love?
“This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.”
This is another one of the Bible Verses on God's Love which tell us to follow Jesus’ example. 1 John 3:16 tells us the death of Jesus on the cross is the ultimate portrayal of love. Similar to John 15:13, we see here that sacrifice and humility are basic tenets of love.
“And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”
It may sound difficult for people thousands of years removed from Christ to follow in His example of love, but Romans 5:5 reminds us that God’s love is flowing through all Christians thanks to the Holy Spirit. Using this inner strength given to us from above, we can better understand God’s love and show it to others.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God’s love is so captivating and powerful that we cannot be separated from it by distance or any standing army. Our God is the Creator and ultimate force in the galaxy, so when He counts us among the beloved there is no one who can stand between us.
“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
Counted among the characteristics which God loves are generosity, love, and humility. In 2 Corinthians 9:7 we see how these traits can be used to help others. God’s love is an infectious force which compels us to think less of ourselves and pursue the betterment of others.
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”
We who call on the name of Jesus are not second-class citizens in the kingdom of heaven. God’s love is available to all who believe in Him and His power. Don’t let anyone tell you that God doesn’t care about you because we are the very reason why Jesus came to offer his body as a sacrifice.
These are just a few of the powerful Bible verses on God's love which help us better understand our place in God’s kingdom and how we should live accordingly. We hope these verses shed new light on what God has called you to and encourage you to pursue a stronger relationship with Him today.
Aside from scripture, one of the best places to find inspiration concerning the love of God is through Christian music. We celebrate the wonderfully creative people who craft today’s most popular songs and films at the K-LOVE Fan Awards. Find out how you can join us for the ultimate fan experience by clicking on the link below.
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