God Loves Because He Loves

John 3:16 is a famous verse because it showcases the love of God for all people by sending His only begotten Son Jesus as Saviour.  "For God so loved the world..." it begins, showing the far-reaching range of the atonement provided:  all sinners included without exception.  It was not because God loved His Son, the Jews or those who kept His commandments, but because He loved every person in the world He gave His only Son.  Those who receive the gift of salvation by grace through faith are the beneficiaries of this incredible love.

From the beginning God's love has been on display, and this is especially seen in His dealings with the children of Israel.  Recently I read a passage I love very much, for it is a wondrous reminder of God's love is all of grace and not due to our worthiness.  Moses wrote in Deuteronomy 7:7-8, "The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; ⁸ but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt."  Simply put, the LORD set His love on the children of Israel because the LORD loves them.  It was not because they were many or mighty.  God would keep the promise He made to bring the children of Israel out of bondage in Egypt.

Verses like John 3:16 show us God's love was not reserved only for the children of Israel, but for the ungodly--including Romans and all Gentiles too.  Paul explained this revelation of God's divine love for all in Romans 5:6-8:  "For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. ⁸ But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."  How wonderful it is to know God loves us because He loves us!  God has kept His promise to send the Messiah to save people from their sins and give eternal life to all who trust in Him.  Jesus has redeemed us from the curse of sin and provided the sure hope of heaven and eternal life through the Gospel because He loves us.

Because we could not deserve or earn such divine love, it does not depend on how we feel or what happens in the world.  Everything could seem against us, yet because God is He loves us.  Like other gifts God gives, we receive God's gift of love by faith in Him.  While God has offered His love freely, for many people it is like a gift that remains wrapped and not received.  We can be like little children quite taken with playing with bows and ribbons that we neglect to open and receive His gift of love adorned by grace.  Christmas is a great opportunity to remember and proclaim the goodness of Jesus Christ who loves us, the greatest gift ever given or that we could possibly receive.  God loves the world and loves us because He loves, simple as that.