As the Father’s true reflection,3 the Son is also love in its supreme form. Paul’s prayer specifically wants us to grasp each vast dimension of “the love of Christ” (Ephesians 3:18-19). In other words, appreciate how much Jesus loves you! Marital love is “as strong as death” (Song of Solomon 8:6). But this Bridegroom’s love proved stronger than death. He entered death and defeated it to rescue us.
“Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25-26).
By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers (1 John 3:16). M
Life holds many questions for us, especially when we suffer. But this one question, “Does Jesus love me?” has been answered finally and forever.
“The Son of God loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).4
Life’s problems may drive us to ask “Why?”5 or “How long?”6 But “whether?” – whether He still loves us – we need never doubt. JESUS is God’s resounding “YES” (2 Corinthians 1:20). YES, He means what He says in all His precious promises to us.7 YES, His great heart cares for us today as much as when it burst with love on the cross.8 YES, His powerful hands hold us securely, keeping us safe from the devil.9 Nothing – not even the worst trial, not even death itself – separates us from God’s love, which we find in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Sharing such complete love, we face the future, and even the Judgment, with complete confidence.10
So we have come to know and to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and whoever abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. By this is love perfected with us, so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is so also are we in this world. There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love (1 John 4:16-18 cf. 1 John 3:19-21).
3. John 14:9; Colossians 1:15; 2 Corinthians 4:4; Hebrews 1:3
5. Why? Job 3:11-26; 7:20; 10:18; 21:7 Psalm 10:1; 22:1; 42:5-11 cf. Mark 15:34
6. How long? Psalm 6:3; 35:17; 89:46; 90:13; 119:84; Jeremiah 12:4; Habakkuk 1:2 cf. Zechariah 1:12; Mark 9:19; Revelation 6:10
7. Research Subject – God’s faithfulness shown through Christ: Psalm 33:1; 145:13; Isaiah 55:1-2; Luke 1:54-55,67-72; 24:25-27,32,44,49; Acts 2:22-39; 3:24; 13:32; Romans 15:8; 1 Thessalonians 5:24; 2 Thessalonians 3:3-4; Titus 1:2-3; Hebrews 10:23; Revelation 1:5; 3:14 cf. Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 7:9; 32:4 ; Psalm 25:10; 33:4; 36:5; 57:10; 85:10-11; 86:15; 89:14; 98:1-3; 100:5; 117:2; Isaiah 25:1; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 2 Corinthians 1:18; Galatians 3:15-18,29; Hebrews 11:11; 1 John 1:9; Revelation 19:11
8. 1 Corinthians 13:7-8; Hebrews 13:8
9. John 10:29; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Timothy 4:17-18; 1 John 5:18
10. Confidence: 2 Corinthians 5:6-8; Romans 4:16; Philippians 1:6; 4:6-9,13; Hebrews 3:6,14; 10:35; 2 Peter 1:10; 1 John 2:28; 3:2; 5:13-15,18