As Christian pastor and author A.W. Tozer beautifully and profoundly proclaimed, “Nothing God ever does, or ever did, or ever will do, is separate from the love of God.” God not only loves, but according to 1 John 4, he is love. It’s the essence of his being. Love starts and ends with him.

Based on God’s word and personal experience, what can we say about the love of God? It’s incomprehensible, or unfathomable in its fullest sense, but it can be wholly known and experienced. It’s perfect, pure, holy, unconditional, and sacrificial. It’s always available, steadfast, unfailing, and constant — just like God himself. As the ultimate source of hope and confidence, it’s the antithesis of and the antidote for fear.

God’s love offers grace, mercy, forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation between us and him. It buffers his righteous anger, is the basis of our salvation, and serves as the means by which we may become his adopted children.

It’s the reason for his conviction, discipline, and correction. It makes him sensitive to our sufferings and obligates him to answer our prayers. It provides us with protection and deliverance from our enemies.

God’s love remains committed to fulfilling his plans and purposes for us. It teaches us his decrees and calls us to worship him. We are to remain, or abide in the love of God. His love should compel us to love him and others in return.

You might question or doubt God’s love for you, but he most definitely does love you. Do you require proof of that? John 3:16-17 (NIV) tells us, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.”

It wasn’t just God the Father giving us his Son — the most costly, precious treasure ever — to take the wrath and punishment that we rightfully deserve. As Jesus submitted his will to the Father’s will, he offered himself as the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Why? Because of his love for us! 1 John 3:16 (NIV) says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.” Love made manifest!

When did Jesus demonstrate his love for us? Was it before or after we were made holy and righteous in God’s eyes? Did we have to earn his love, or was it freely given? Romans 5:8 (NIV) declares, “God demonstrates his love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

This is further emphasized in Ephesians 2:4-5 (NIV) — “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.”

Christ’s love was poured out on us when we were still enemies of God. His love is ours! It can’t be lost or stolen. The Apostle Paul wonderfully reassures us of this truth in Romans 8:35, 37-39 (NIV) — “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”