What is the Love of God?

[1 John 4:9-10 NKJV]

9 In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him.

10 In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

The night was dark in the garden.

Peter denied Him three times by a charcoal fire. Judas betrayed Him with a kiss. The crowds who shouted "Hosanna" days earlier now screamed "Crucify Him!" The disciples scattered. And Jesus hung bleeding on a Roman cross, rejected by the world He came to save.

This is where love was proven.

Not in a romantic poem. Not in a greeting card sentiment. But in blood, thorns, nails, and a borrowed tomb.

"In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins."

The word propitiation means the satisfaction of wrath, the turning away of justified anger. God's holiness required judgment. God's love provided the substitute. At the cross, both were satisfied.

God's love (Greek: agape) is unconditional, sacrificial, and unearned. It is not a response to our lovability. We did not love first. We could not. We were too blind, too broken, too busy running in the opposite direction.

Most religions say: love God, and He will love you back. Perform well, and earn His favor. Work your way up to acceptance.

Christianity says: God loved you while you were still His enemy. Before you cleaned yourself up. Before you believed. Before you wanted Him at all.

Here's the truth: you cannot make God love you more. You cannot make God love you less. His love is not variable, not dependent on your performance, not increased by your good days or decreased by your failures.

It is fixed, proven at Calvary, settled forever.

So have you actually received God's love? Or are you still trying to earn what has already been given?

Stop performing. Start receiving.

May the grace of God through Christ be with you.