1 John 4:16
And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is Love, and he that dwells in Love dwells in God, and God in him.
Romans 13:10
Love does no wrong to its neighbor. Therefore Love is the fulfillment of the law.
GOD IS LOVE
What is this Love that God is? It is more than any kind of love you have ever known. This Love goes beyond brotherly love, which is outlined here in 1 Peter 3:8-9 "Finally, you be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be tenderhearted, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or insult for insult: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that you are thereunto called, that you should inherit a blessing."
This Love that God is, is deeper than any intimate relationship love we have known with another person. It is more than a sentimental love, more than a familial love, more than a spousal love, more than a best friend love. It is all-encompassing and divinely unconditional. It is AGAPE.
Agape, as described in The Topical Lexicon: 'denotes a holy, self‐giving disposition that originates in God, is displayed perfectly in Jesus Christ, and is implanted in believers by the Holy Spirit.'
This Love that God is flows so deep that when our sins are washed in it, they are never seen again. In this Love God blots out our sins and they become like mist [Isaiah 44:2; 1 John 1:9].
This Love which God is fills us with The Hope of His Salvation through His Only Begotten Son Jesus Christ. This Love is a poured out Love, poured into our hearts.
Romans 5:5
And hope makes us not ashamed; because The Love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by The Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
This Love Whom God is, is Grace in Action. It is Jesus' ministry, Jesus' gospel message, Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection from the dead given to anyone who will hear it; everyone who will receive it and believe it and live it.
As Paul prayed for the believers in Ephesus, this, too, is my prayer for you:
Ephesians 3:16-21
16. I ask that out of the riches of His glory He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being,
17. so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. Then you, being rooted and grounded in love,
18. will have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth
19. of the Love of Christ, and to know this Love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
20. Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,
21. to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
