Define What A Loving God Is

It’s common these days for many to speak of God as being a God of love. Technically they’re right, of course, because that’s how the Bible describes Him. 1 John 4:8 NIV [8] Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. The question that needs to be asked is what do people actually mean when they say this and equally important, does it line up with the Bible? The Bible is very clear why God is loving; Romans 5:8 NIV [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 1 John 4:9-10 NIV [9] This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. [10] This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Notice that God is holy and we’re not. We are sinners but His own son was punished on our behalf. That’s radical love! Yet, that’s a far cry from why many today would claim He is love. The popular image is not of a holy God who hates sin but rather of a divine hippie who looks down from above smiling in approval at our narcissism. Unfortunately, this mistaken view of God isn’t just outside of the Church but also within. There are many every Sunday morning who sing passionately with arms raised high yet who then live any way they want when they leave. We need to get back to some good old fashioned preaching about God’s holiness. Only then will we be able to appreciate His love.