Love of God

Definition and Meaning

The love of God refers to the goodwill and self-giving disposition that God holds toward the world and the people He has made. Theology treats it as part of God's inherent character, that is, as one of the attributes of God. In the Old Testament, the principal term for this love is the Hebrew word hesed, which denotes steadfast love grounded in the covenant. In the New Testament, that role is filled by the Greek word agape, which denotes love that seeks nothing in return. The statement "God is love" (1 John 4:8, 16) is frequently cited as the central basis for this doctrine.

Biblical and Historical Background

The Old Testament locates the reason for God's choice of Israel not in the greatness of that nation but in God's love (Deuteronomy 7:7–8). The New Testament declares that this love was revealed when God sent Jesus Christ to die on the cross (John 3:16; Romans 5:8). For this reason, the love of God has been explained in connection with the doctrine of the atonement. Theologians have also addressed its relationship to the justice of God, which punishes sin.

After the Reformation, Protestants came to differ over the extent of this love. Calvinism holds that God extends common grace to all creatures, but that the special love that brings about salvation is directed toward the elect. Arminianism and Wesleyan theology hold that God loves all people and desires that all be saved. Accordingly, they hold that God grants all people prevenient grace, that is, grace given before any human response. This debate is closely tied to the question of predestination and free will.

Practice in the Korean Church

The love of God is one of the most frequently addressed themes in the preaching, hymns, and evangelism of the Korean church. A well-known example is the evangelistic tract The Four Spiritual Laws, distributed by Korea Campus Crusade for Christ. The tract opens with the principle "God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life."

Emphases differ by denomination. Many Presbyterian denominations, following the Reformed tradition, tend to explain the love of God in terms of sovereign election and grace. Methodist and Holiness churches, following the Wesleyan tradition, emphasize God's love toward all people. They also emphasize a life of sanctification, in which believers are progressively made holy in response to that love. Churches of the Pentecostal tradition, such as the Full Gospel churches, tend to preach the love of God in connection with concrete experiences such as healing and the restoration of one's life.