Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 2/25/2009

Question
QUESTION: Well how does a person know that they truly love GOD?
What exactly is love too?

ANSWER: CGLLR,

Consider the following...

First, to know if you love God or not is like asking "Do you love your Mother?" How do you know you do? Such is the same with loving God.

Second, we will look at how God's Word, the Bible, describes "love," and then we will see a few ways that it applies to God. "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:4-8a).

This is God's description of love. This is what He is like, and Christians are to make this their goal, (although always in the process). The greatest expression of God's love is communicated to us in John 3:16 and Romans 5:8: “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." "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." We can see from these verses that it is God's greatest desire that we join Him in His eternal home, heaven. He has made the way possible by paying the price for our sins. He loves us because He chose to as an act of His will. "My heart is changed within me; all my compassion is aroused" (Hosea 11:8b). Love forgives. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

Love (God) does not force Himself on anyone. Those who come to Him do so in response to His love. Love (God) shows kindness to all. Love (Jesus) went about doing good to everyone without partiality. Love (Jesus) did not covet what others had, living a humble life without complaining. Love (Jesus) did not brag about who He was in the flesh, although He could have overpowered anyone He ever came in contact with. Love (God) does not demand obedience. God did not demand obedience from His Son, but rather, Jesus willingly obeyed His Father in heaven. "…the world must learn that I love the Father and that I do exactly what my Father has commanded me” (John 14:31). Love (Jesus) was/is always looking out for the interests of others.

This short description of love reveals a selfless life, in contrast with the selfish life of the natural man. Amazingly, God has given those who receive His Son Jesus as their personal Savior from sin the ability to love as He does, through the power of the Holy Spirit (see John 1:12; 1 John 3:1, 23, 24). (www.gotquestions.org)

Hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Well I didn't read all of it,sorry,and thank you for the reply but what if a person doesn't love GOD but they are saved but they want to love GOD?Does this mean that they are not saved?And can they grow to love Him by spending more time with Him?What exactly does this mean?

Answer
CGLLR,

I think you are misunderstanding what love for God is. It is not based on how you feel. It is based on your faith in the finished work of Christ on the Cross. Your faith in Him is not based on your feelings. There times that every Christian does not "feel" saved. Once again, salvation is not based upon your feelings, but on your faith. Faith does not involve feelings. So if you have confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, believed in your heart that He rose from the dead, and repented from your sins, then you ARE saved.

As to how to grow in Gods love, it is a process. This process begins by spending time with the Lord in prayer. Set aside time each day to pray to Him. Prayer is simply talking to God.

Also, studying the Bible is also an important step in the process. I suggest you begin reading in the Book of John. Then I suggest you go to this link with some great Bible studies by James H. Feeney...

http://www.jimfeeney.org/bibleteachings.html

And last I suggest you find a good, Bible preaching, Holy Spirit filled church in your area to attend. The Bible teaches us that it is vitally important to fellowship and to link up with other Believers. The way we do this is through the local church.

Hope this helps.

Elder Greg Madden