Freely I proclaim “I love God” and I am highly offended if someone challenges my claim, but where is the evidence? God has given us all the evidence necessary to prove beyond any shadow of doubt that he loves us. Take a look at some of the evidence.
“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” (John 3:16). God, in the giving of his Son as seen in the words, “he gave his only begotten Son,” refers to the death of Jesus upon the cross. Once more, look at the cross; see the crown of thorns and the blood, see the nails in Jesus’ hands and feet and the blood, see the soldier as the spear pierced his side and the blood; there is God giving his “only begotten Son!” There is evidence of God’s love for us. The word “world,” refers to those who are lost. Paul describes our state in these words: “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). Can you see our state, “the world”? For God so loved us “while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us!” Speak of love, it cannot get any greater! When you read the words which express God’s love for you, does it produce love in your heart for God?
To know that someone loves us, gives us strength; it means we are worth something to someone! The price they are willing to pay to prove such love should produce even greater love within us. Therefore, give some thought to what God did. First, there was lost mankind, without any means of being saved; without any hope of being saved. Only God, as understood in the word “Godhead,” all that is God; looks upon helpless mankind and forms the only plan by which salvation can be realized. One of the Godhead must leave heaven, be clothed with humanity, and then be put to death. God, the creator of humanity, must now become humanity. Paul describes these events: “Who (Christ, frw) being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil 2:6-8). There it is, written by inspiration, but do we understand it? Paul starts with one who is God, with the Father and the Holy Spirit; then, he takes us into an area which we find hard to comprehend; he “thought it not robbery to be equal with God.” The hardest word here is “robbery” (harpagmos). Remember, we are starting with God, and Paul is telling us, that one who is God thought it not something to be held fast, retained; if it meant mankind could never be saved. So, he “made himself of no reputation (kenoō).” He emptied himself of that equality of God, “and took upon him the form of a servant!” Yes, this is the same word in the phrase, “in the form (kenoō) of God;” but now he is taking on another form; namely, that of a servant! From all that is God, to all that is a servant! This takes us to the words he “was made in the likeness of men.” Therefore, “being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself;”” he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death.” But his was a death with purpose: “even the death of the cross!” Though there is so much in the words of Paul, some beyond our ability to comprehend; nevertheless, Paul has taken us once more to the cross. Paul has also explained to us the words of John: “And the Word (God, frw) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus lived and died while being “full of grace and truth!”
What was it all about? Friends, it was about God loving you! Is it hard to love one who so loved you? No, humbly fall to your spiritual knees, and totally surrender yourself in love, to the one who so loved you!
— Frank R. Williams