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Love for God and Scripture in Christian Life

Love for God is presented in Scripture as the "first great commandment" (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37-38) [1]. This love is to be given with one's entire being—heart, soul, and mind [1]. It is a characteristic of saints and should produce joy [1]. The Holy Spirit produces this love in believers (Galatians 5:22; 2 Thessalonians 3:5) [1].

The Bible describes God's love as a fundamental aspect of His character (1 John 4:8) [5]. This divine love is sovereign, great, abiding, unfailing, and everlasting (Deuteronomy 7:8; Ephesians 2:4; Zephaniah 3:17; Isaiah 49:15-16; Jeremiah 31:3) [5]. It is manifested towards perishing sinners, His saints, the destitute, and cheerful givers (John 3:16; 16:27; Deuteronomy 10:18; 2 Corinthians 9:7) [5]. The "loving-kindness of God" is experienced through Christ and is described as great, excellent, good, marvelous, multitudinous, and better than life itself (Ephesians 2:7; Psalm 36:7; 69:16; 17:7; Isaiah 63:7; Psalm 63:3) [6]. Believers are betrothed in this loving-kindness, drawn by it, preserved by it, and comforted by it [6].

Love for God is demonstrated through obedience to His commandments (Deuteronomy 30:20; 1 John 5:3) [1]. John Gill notes that keeping God's commandments is an evidence of love, showing it to be genuine and not merely verbal [10]. These commandments are not burdensome [10]. This love is perfected in obedience, leading to boldness (1 John 2:5; 4:17-18) [1].

Love for Christ is also a significant theme, exhibited by God the Father and by saints (Matthew 17:5; John 5:20; 1 Peter 1:8) [3]. Christ's personal excellence and His love for humanity serve as motives for this love (Song of Solomon 5:9-16; 2 Corinthians 5:14) [3]. This love is manifested by seeking Him, obeying Him, ministering to Him, preferring Him above all others, and taking up the cross for Him (Song of Solomon 3:2; John 14:15, 21, 23; Matthew 27:55; 25:40; 10:37-38) [3]. It is a characteristic of saints and an evidence of adoption [3]. This love should be sincere, from the soul, and supreme [3]. The love of Christ "passes knowledge" in its depth (Ephesians 3:19) [4, 8]. It is a fruit of the Spirit within believers, leading to growth in knowledge and understanding [12].

The Christian life is also characterized by a deep affection for Scripture. The Scriptures are considered inspired by God and the Holy Spirit (2 Timothy 3:16; Acts 1:16; 2 Peter 1:21) [7]. Christ Himself sanctioned the Scriptures by appealing to them and teaching from them (Matthew 4:4; Mark 12:10; John 7:42; Luke 24:27) [7]. They are referred to as "the Word," "the Word of God," and "the Word of truth" (James 1:21-23; Luke 11:28; James 1:18) [7]. Matthew Henry observes that every good person, as a servant of God, loves God's Word because it reveals the Master's will and guides in His work [11]. This love for the Word is an evidence of love for God when it is cherished for its purity and holiness [11]. The Word of God, alongside prayer, sanctifies things (1 Timothy 4:5) [2]. Christian love is rooted in knowing the truth, which is more than mere facts but includes the presence of God (John 14:15-17; 2 John 1:2) [9].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to God — Commanded -- De 11:1; Jos 22:5. The first great commandment -- Mt 22:38. With all the heart -- De 6:5; Mt 22:37. Better than all sacrifices -- Mr 12:33. Produced by The Holy Spirit. -- Ga 5:22; 2Th 3:5. The love of God to us. -- 1Jo 4:19. Answers to prayer. -- Ps 116:1. Exhibited by Christ -- Joh 14:31. A characteristic of saints -- Ps 5:11. Should produce Joy. -- Ps 5:11. Love to saints. -- 1Jo 5:1. Hatred of sin. -- Ps 97:10. Obedience to God. -- De 30:20; 1Jo 5:3. Perfected in obedience -- 1Jo 2:5. Perfected, gives boldness -- 1Jo 4:17,18. God, faith”
  2. I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (LITV) — for through God's Word and prayerful intercourse, it is sanctified.”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love to Christ — Exhibited by God -- Mt 17:5; Joh 5:20. Exhibited by saints -- 1Pe 1:8. His personal excellence is deserving of -- Song 5:9-16. His love to us a motive to -- 2Co 5:14. Manifested in Seeking him. -- Song 3:2. Obeying him. -- Joh 14:15,21,23. Ministering to him. -- Mt 27:55; 25:40. Preferring him to all others. -- Mt 10:37. Taking up the cross for Him. -- Mt 10:38. A characteristic of saints -- Song 1:4. An evidence of adoption -- Joh 8:42. Should be Sincere. -- Eph 6:24. With the soul. -- Song 1:7. In proportion to our mercies. -- Lu 7:47. Supreme. -- ”
  4. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of Christ, The — To the Father -- Ps 91:14; Joh 14:31. To his church -- Song 4:8,9; 5:1; Joh 15:9; Eph 5:24. To those who love him -- Pr 8:17; Joh 14:21. Manifested in his Coming to seek the lost. -- Lu 19:10. Praying for his enemies. -- Lu 23:34. Giving himself for us. -- Ga 2:20. Dying for us. -- Joh 15:13; 1Jo 3:16. Washing away our sins. -- Re 1:5. Interceding for us. -- Heb 7:25; 9:24. Sending the Spirit. -- Ps 68:18; Joh 16:7. Rebukes and chastisements. -- Re 3:19. Passes knowledge -- Eph 3:19. To be imitated -- Joh 13:34; 15:12; Eph 5:2; 1Jo 3:16. To sain”
  5. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Love of God, The — Is a part of his character -- 2Co 13:11; 1Jo 4:8. Christ, the especial object of -- Joh 15:9; 17:26. Christ abides in -- Joh 15:10. Described as Sovereign. -- De 7:8; 10:15. Great. -- Eph 2:4. Abiding. -- Zep 3:17. Unfailing. -- Isa 49:15,16. Unalienable. -- Ro 8:39. Constraining. -- Ho 11:4. Everlasting. -- Jer 31:3. Irrespective of merit -- De 7:7; Job 7:17. Manifested towards Perishing sinners. -- Joh 3:16; Tit 3:4. His saints. -- Joh 16:27; 17:23; 2Th 2:16; 1Jo 4:16. The destitute. -- De 10:18. The cheerful giver. -- 2Co 9:7. Exhibited in The g”
  6. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Loving-Kindness of God, The — Is through Christ -- Eph 2:7; Tit 3:4-6. Described as Great. -- Ne 9:17. Excellent. -- Ps 36:7. Good. -- Ps 69:16. Marvellous. -- Ps 17:7; 31:21. Multitudinous. -- Isa 63:7. Everlasting. -- Isa 54:8. Merciful. -- Ps 117:2. Better than life. -- Ps 63:3. Consideration of the dealings of God gives a knowledge of -- Ps 107:43. Saints Betrothed in. -- Ho 2:19. Drawn by. -- Jer 31:3. Preserved by. -- Ps 40:11. Quickened after. -- Ps 119:88. Comforted by. -- Ps 119:76. Look for mercy through. -- Ps 51:1. Receive mercy through. -- Isa 54:8. Are ”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Scriptures, The — Given by inspiration of God -- 2Ti 3:16. Given by inspiration of the Holy Spirit -- Ac 1:16; Heb 3:7; 2Pe 1:21. Christ sanctioned, by appealing to them -- Mt 4:4; Mr 12:10; Joh 7:42. Christ taught out of -- Lu 24:27. Are called the Word. -- Jas 1:21-23; 1Pe 2:2. Word of God. -- Lu 11:28; Heb 4:12. Word of Christ. -- Col 3:16. Word of truth. -- Jas 1:18. Holy Scriptures. -- Ro 1:2; 2Ti 3:15. Scripture of truth. -- Da 10:21. Book. -- Ps 40:7; Re 22:19. Book of the Lord. -- Isa 34:16. Book of the law. -- Ne 8:3; Ga 3:10. Law of the Lord. -- Ps 1:2; Isa”
  8. Ephesians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Ephesians 3:19: 3:19 May you experience (literally know) the love of Christ: The whole Christian life is based on the experience and personal knowledge of God’s grace and love in Jesus Christ (see Rom 12:1). • it is too great to understand fully: Christ’s love is much greater than ordinary human love (see Rom 5:6-8). • The believer’s life is made complete when it is filled with all the fullness of life and power by the presence of Christ within (see Eph 1:23; Gal 2:20; Col 1:27). The believer then is conformed to his image and reflects God (see Eph 4:14, 24; 5:1-2; Rom 8:29; 2”
  9. 2 John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on 2 John 1:2: 1:2 Christian love is rooted in knowing the truth. The truth that lives in us is more than just facts or doctrine; it is the presence of God (see John 14:15-17), who will be with us forever.”
  10. 1 John (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on 1 John 5:3: For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments,.... Keeping of the commandments of God is an evidence of love to God; this shows that love is not in word and tongue, in profession only, but in deed and in truth; and that such persons have a sense of the love of God upon their souls, under the influence of which they act; and such shall have, and may expect to have, greater manifestations of the love of God unto them: and his commandments are not grievous; heavy, burdensome, and disagreeable; by which are meant, not so much the precepts of the moral law, w”
  11. Psalms (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Psalms 119:140: Here is, 1. David's great affection for the word of God: Thy servant loves it. Every good man, being a servant of God, loves the word of God, because it lets him know his Master's will and directs him in his Master's work. Wherever there is grace there is a warm attachment to the word of God. 2. The ground and reason of that affection; he saw it to be very pure, and therefore he loved it. Our love to the word of God is then an evidence of our love to God when we love it for the sake of its purity, because it bears the image of God's holiness and is designed to ”
  12. Philippians (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Philippians 1:9: 1:9-10 Love is a fruit of Christ’s Spirit within believers (Rom 5:5; Gal 5:22). • growing in knowledge and understanding: In this way, believers can understand what really matters (see Rom 12:2) and live pure and blameless lives until the day of Christ’s return (cp. 1 Thes 3:12-13; 5:23).”
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