Reflecting on God’s love for us, I thought about His love for mankind, but also for us individually. Some may think that God has a general love for His creation, but not for us specifically. Still others may think that God only loves some specific people, but not everyone. Three passages came to mind, which will be the basis of this paper.
John 3:16
In perhaps the most well known verse in the world, John 3:16, God’s love for mankind is proclaimed. The verse declares,
“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life.”
The world that this verse speaks about is the Greek word, kosmos (kos’-mos). Vine’s says the word is used to mean, “human race, mankind.”1 God gave His Son because He loved mankind. All of us. This is the ultimate inclusiveness.
This love that God has for us is a central doctrine of Christianity. Alexander MacLaren explains its uniqueness,
“Before Jesus Christ came into this world no one ever dreamt of saying ‘God loves.’ Some of the Old Testament psalmists had glimpses of that truth and came pretty near expressing it. But among all the ‘gods many and lords many,’ there were lustful gods and beautiful gods, and idle gods, and fighting gods and peaceful gods: but not one of whom worshippers said, ‘He loves.’ ”2
The One who created us gave us freedom; freedom to choose a life with Him, or to turn away from Him. In His love, He provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him when we have turned away. This way of reconciliation is through His Son, Jesus. That is the message of John 3:16.
Acts 9
Acts 9 recounts the dramatic story of the conversion of the Apostle Paul. In this narrative, we see the love of God applied to an individual.
The Apostle Paul, also known as Saul, had received permission from the Jewish religious leaders to persecute Christians by throwing them into prison. While traveling with a group of men to engage in this activity, Jesus confronted Paul with a bright light which blinded him. Paul was lead into the city and after 3 days of being without sight, he was healed of his blindness and he put his faith in Christ. Verses 3-6 tells part of Saul’s story,
“And it came about that as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” And he said, “Who art Thou, Lord?” And He said, “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting, but rise, and enter the city, and it shall be told you what you must do.””
In this amazing event, we see God’s love specifically for Paul. Paul had a choice to make and could have rejected the love demonstrated to him, but did not. We know this because Paul received the Holy Spirit who is given as a gift when one believes. Also, when recounting his story later to King Agrippa (Acts 26), Paul confirms that he was repentant.3
Acts 17:16-34
This section of Acts reports on the Apostle Paul preaching to a crowd of folks in Athens. Paul is instructing them about the one true God, who was unknown to them. In verses 26-27, Paul tells his listeners,
“and He made from one, every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times, and the boundaries of their habitation, that they should seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.”
In this passage, Paul describes how God orchestrates the lives of men so they can learn of His love. God determines the times and limits of our lives so that we would look for Him and come to Him. The desired end result would be that we can be reconciled to Him and know our creator. It is incredible to me that He would seek us out who had rejected Him. This reveals to us the nature of the love God has for those whom He created.
Concerning God’s desire for man to know Him, Alexander MacLaren says,
“The whole course of human affairs is God’s drawing men to Himself. Not only in Judea, nor only by special revelation, but by the gifts bestowed, and the schooling brought to bear on every nation, He would stir men up to seek for Him.”4
Conclusion
We have seen God’s general love for all mankind in sending His Son, and also looked at God’s demonstration of love specifically for Paul.
In the last section of the paper, we discussed how God puts us in just the right place at just the right time so that we will search for God. He gives us the choice, but arranges the opportunity. The good news is that God promises that if we search for Him, we will find Him. Jesus says in Matthew 7:7-8,
“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.”
Appendix
Please see my article where God’s love is demonstrated in His patience toward us in, God’s Patience. For other aspects of God’s nature, see Attributes of God.
The Christmas story is the proof of His love for us. See my post The Real Christmas Story, for an overview of this incredible story.
1 Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
2 MacLaren’s Expositions
3 Acts 26:19-20 “Consequently, King Agrippa, I did not prove disobedient to the heavenly vision, but kept declaring both to those of Damascus first, and also at Jerusalem and then throughout all the region of Judea, and even to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds appropriate to repentance.”
4 MacLaren’s Expositions