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Love is a fundamental need of all people. Regardless of race, religion, or nationality, all human beings need this four letter word. Many people today drift from one meaningless relationship to another in search of this basic need. However, to experience true love, we must know what it is. Most people would agree that sacrificial giving is at the heart of true love. Others would add that provision for a loved one’s needs is an important part of love. Most would agree that commitment is also an essential part of love. Sadly, in a d world which speaks a great deal about love, we find relatively few who exhibit true love. Nevertheless, there is one person who does exhibit true love. His name is Jesus Christ, and He truly loves you.
God’s Word, the Bible, asserts that “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16). Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh (John 1:14), and He came to earth and assumed human form through the virgin birth in order to demonstrate His love to the world. Let’s briefly consider whether Christ’s love meets the criteria of true love. Is Christ sacrificial in His giving? Does He provide for His loved ones’ needs? Is He faithfully committed to those He loves? Let us examine the Biblical evidence, point by point.
First, is Jesus Christ sacrificial in His giving? The Bible tells us Christ gave Himself sacrificially when He died on the Cross for our sins. Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) However, Jesus went further than this and laid down His life for His enemies. As the Bible says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God demonstrates his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8) The Bible clearly teaches that Jesus Christ loved us sacrificially.
Secondly, does the love of the Lord Jesus provide for the needs of His loved ones? Perhaps it would be helpful if we first discussed the most important need of all mankind – salvation from God’s righteous punishment for our sins. Sin is rebellion against God. It is disobedience to His perfect commands and falling short of God’s perfect standard. The Bible plainly states, “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” The only thing that sin can bring about is death – that is to say, eternal separation from a loving God. (Romans 6:23)
Since we are all sinners in danger of the righteous judgment of God, we all need salvation. The Lord Jesus provided for our need of salvation by dying on the Cross in our place. He bore the punishment that our sins deserved. In order to receive this salvation, however, we must acknowledge our sin before God, and believe on Jesus as our Lord and Savior. AS the Bible says, “Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be saved.” (Acts 16:31)
Lastly, is Jesus committed to those He loves? The Bible records that Christ rose again from the dead three days after His crucifixion, and is alive forever more. The person who accepts the Lord Jesus as his personal Savior has the assurance that a living Lord Jesus will never leave them, nor forsake them. (Hebrews 13:5f) He will never stop loving the believer, and promises him a place in Heaven with Him for all eternity. (John 14:1-3) The person who believes in the Lord Jesus for salvation will never be judged for his sins, for the Lord Jesus paid for them through the shedding of His blood. (John 5:24)
Perhaps no better statement sums up the true love of God than those well known verses, John 3:16-17. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
You can enjoy this love forever if you confess your sin to God and receive Jesus Christ as your personal loving Savior.