God’s Amazing Love

“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)

I am deeply offended by the use of this verse and others like it to assume that God only loves those who accept His offer of eternal life. These ‘loved ones’, for reasons not clearly understood, are called the elect and the rest are ‘hated’ — not at all matching my understanding of God or His love.

One man illustrated it this way: “Just because I chose my bride  and deeply love her does not mean that I hate everyone else!” He loves her differently, but not exclusively.

While believers, like the bride of their loving husband, enjoy the love of God in an intimate relationship, that does not mean that all people who are outside of that relationship are hated.

How do I know that? God’s love for even those who reject Him and are His enemies is clear from this passage that quotes Jesus Christ, God’s Son:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matthew 5:43–48)

Christians are told to love their enemies because God shows His love toward all, even those who are against Him. Ordinary people care for those who love them, but God is not like ordinary people. He is perfect and He calls us to be perfect. How can He say we must love our enemies and pray for them if His perfection does not include that same love?

Many of us know the pain of unrequited love. Our attachment to those who do not respond or have the same love for us is deeply felt, yet that does not stop a parent from loving their wayward child, for instance. The only possible way love would fail is if it was based on performance. That is, ‘if that child does not measure up, then I will not love him.’ Since the love of God is clearly not based on our performance, this cannot be said to describe the love of God.

Today’s reading seems to assume that the love of God is defined by His choice to save some and not others. That is, those He saves are loved and those not saved are not loved. This is defining love by God’s performance. However, God does not love us based on our performance, so how can we assume His love is defined by His performance? The Bible says God is love. It is His very nature and being.

Perhaps hate needs to be defined. The biblical word can mean dislike or have distaste for, or even an aversion toward. In modern day, hate can mean not so much an animosity but simply ignoring, turning away, treating someone as if they do not exist. Either way, this is a strong word, not to be considered lightly.

However, assumption is a dangerous thing. The Bible does not explain why God selects some to save and not others. He hates our sin and wept for what sin does, but His choices are based on who He is, not on what we do.

Further, God proves His existence in creation (Romans 1) and if people refuse to acknowledge that, He lets them go their own way. Some may repent when that choice and the power of the Holy Spirit closes in on them, but some do not. There is no explanation why God shows mercy on some and not others. This is one of those mysteries that is beyond human understanding.

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Lord Jesus, by faith I believe that God is love. I do not understand why that love is expressed the way it is, only that You died for my sin and somehow, the Spirit of God opened my eyes and my heart to understand and accept what You have done. I know You love me because You laid down Your life for me. I know that You love everyone because You tell me to be like God and love even my enemies. I also know You have the power to change the lives of anyone, those who are ‘religious’ like Cornelius, and those who are actively resisting You like Saul who became Paul. I don’t know why You do it, but I know the basis is not love reserved for a few and hate for the rest.