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The Origin of Love

On a day when people celebrate love, let us be reminded of the true origin of love.

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Contented Breadcrumb

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2 min read

Valentine’s Day - A day when people in the world celebrate love, when sales of flowers and chocolates rise, when many couples specially choose to spend quality time together.

As Christians, instead of following the practices of the world, which encourage us to indulge in fleshly desires and carry the risk of leading to sinful acts, let us be reminded of the true origin of love - God.

“God is love, and he who abides in love, abides in God, and God in him.” (1 John 4:16b)

Without God, there is no love. Love is not just saying a simple “I love you”, or gifting chocolates and a hundred roses to someone, but it is about sacrifice.

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (1 John 4:10)

Before we were born, before we even knew God, God already loved us. Hence, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, into the world to die on the cross for all our sins. He did it because He loved us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9)

How then should we respond to His love?

“Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” (1 John 4:11)

Because God first loved us, therefore we love one another. We sacrifice for one another, be it our time, our energy, perhaps even our lives.

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” (John 15:13)

However, other than acts of sacrifice, love also has to be grounded in the truth.

“By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and keep His commandments.” (1 John 5:2)

If we love God, if we love the children of God, then we will also keep His commandments, the truth written in the Bible, the Word of God.

Furthermore, the love of man - parental love, brotherly love, romantic love, all these will one day come to an end. It is only the love of God, the love between man and God, which will last eternally.

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8:38-39)

May our love for God endure forever.

Related Topics

Love

See Also

2 Timothy Chapter 3 - Holding Fast to the Faith

2 Timothy Chapter 3 - Holding Fast to the Faith

Paul reminds Timothy of the behavior of those who do not fear God in the last days (3:1–9). They love pleasure rather than God, are self-centered, and oppose the truth. Ironically, they are always learning yet never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Their pride prevents them from learning, understanding, or carrying out God’s will. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6).  Today, these words are also spoken to us who believe in Jesus. We must stay alert and not imitate them, for such behaviors oppose and contradict the teachings of Jesus Christ. These serve as warnings and guidance for us, because we may unknowingly fall into these errors in our daily lives as well. When life becomes comfortable, we may love entertainment but dislike attending church services. When brothers and sisters in church face difficulties, we may stand by and care only for ourselves. We may become lovers of money, striving tirelessly for work and forgetting the work God has entrusted to us.  The Bible tells us that a person cannot serve two masters. They will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Mammon (Matthew 6:24). The greatest commandment is: “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” The second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37–39).  In verse 10, Paul teaches us the attitude a God-fearing person should have: to follow sound teaching, have good conduct, steadfastness, faith, patience, love, endurance, and the ability to endure persecution. Verses 12–13 remind us: “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution”, because evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse. Blessed are those who rely on God to overcome persecution and endure trials, for through testing they will receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those who love Him (James 1:12).  In the final verses (15–17), Paul mentions something crucial: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Therefore, we must search the Scriptures, for in them we find eternal life (John 5:39). The words of the true God are full of grace, and His promises will all be fulfilled. Let us hide God’s word in our hearts so that we may not sin against Him (Psalm 119:9–11).  We pray that brothers and sisters will continually rely on the Holy Spirit to open our hearts, so that we may know the Lord more deeply, hold firmly to the truth we should follow, and remember that the way to the kingdom of heaven is narrow, not wide. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it. (Matthew 7:13–14). 

Romans Chapter 9 - Israel’s Rejection Does Not Hinder God’s Purpose

Romans Chapter 9 - Israel’s Rejection Does Not Hinder God’s Purpose

In the previous chapter, Paul declares that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ: Yet in chapter 9, out of love for his brethren, Paul expresses a willingness to be accursed and cut off from Christ for their sake: As God’s chosen people, the Israelites had received great privileges: However, in their pride, many Israelites rejected and despised God’s calling. But their rejection does not mean that the word of God has failed. Not all who are descended from Israel are truly Israel. Rather, it is those whom God has elected who are His children. Throughout the Bible, we see examples of God’s sovereign election: how Isaac was chosen instead of Ishmael (Galatians 4:22–23; Romans 9:7–9), how Jacob was called instead of Esau, the firstborn, and ultimately how God calls not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles. Some of us today may wonder: How then can we become His people and receive His mercy? Let us remember that God delights in our obedience to Him. The Bible reveals His commandments clearly: to repent and be baptized (Acts 2:38), to partake in His Holy Communion (John 6:53–58), to keep the Sabbath holy (Isaiah 58:13–14), and to keep all His commandments. This list is by no means exhaustive—other important teachings include receiving the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38; 8:17) and the practice of footwashing (John 13:14–15), among others. As we grow in faith, we must continue seeking His will through Scripture and be diligent in observing all that He commands. Furthermore, having become part of His people, let us remain vigilant and humble, lest we fall:

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