GOD’S LOVE AND FAITHFULNESS

Understanding God’s character is not merely a pursuit of abstract knowledge. The essence of God is clearly declared in the Bible as love.

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.

1 JOHN 4:8

This not only defines the essence of God but also presents a truth that must be experienced in the lives of believers. God's faithfulness is clearly seen in His unchanging character and in the promises He gives.

The LORD had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

GENESIS 12:1–3

Despite many years passing, God showed His faithfulness by giving Isaac. The Bible contains many events similar to this, confirming God’s faithfulness.

Abraham: God “kept His word” (The LORD was gracious to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. - GENESIS 21:1). Abraham’s faith was tested in this event; he was ready to sacrifice Isaac, trusting in God’s love. At the same time, God demonstrated His love and faithfulness by providing a ram.

Abraham looked up and there in a thicket he saw a ram caught by its horns. He went over and took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering instead of his son. So Abraham called that place The LORD Will Provide. And to this day it is said, “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

GENESIS 22:13–14

Joseph: God was with Joseph throughout his life, even when he was betrayed by his brothers. (The LORD was with Joseph so that he prospered... - GENESIS 39:2a). Even during difficult times, God’s faithfulness exalted Joseph, eventually making him the governor of Egypt. This faithfulness, combined with forgiving love, led Joseph to save his family during the famine. (You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. - GENESIS 50:20)

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Faithfulness is an integral part of God's nature.

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“…But I will not take my love from him, nor will I ever betray my faithfulness.”PSALM 89:33

God’s love is not limited to mere emotion. Love leads to forgiveness, salvation, and renewal. The stories of David, Ruth, and Naomi are clear examples of this.

DAVID: Despite his sin (2 Samuel 11), God did not abandon David. In Psalm 51, David accepts his sin and repents:"Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight; so you are right in your verdict and justified when you judge."(PSALM 51:4)David’s repentant heart, accepted by God in love, shows how justice and mercy operate together in God’s relationship with him.

RUTH and NAOMI: When Naomi had lost everything, God's invisible yet active faithfulness was revealed through Ruth."Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God."(RUTH 1:16)Ruth’s words display God’s loving nature that calls believers even from other nations.

In the New Testament, God’s love is fully revealed in the body and person of Jesus Christ:"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."(JOHN 3:16)This act of “giving” demonstrates a salvation rooted in love, and His faithfulness is shown as He fulfills His promise through the cross.

PAUL:"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?"(ROMANS 8:35)While asking this question, Paul clings to God’s love despite all his hardships. As he suffers for the sake of the gospel, he trusts in God’s faithfulness.

"And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace."(ACTS 20:22–24)

PETER: Though he denied Jesus three times(“The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.’ And he went outside and wept bitterly.” - LUKE 22:61–62),Jesus, knowing Peter would deny Him, had already both forgiven and restored him with the responsibility of shepherding His followers:

“When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?’ ‘Yes, Lord,’ he said, ‘you know that I love you.’Jesus said, ‘Feed my lambs.’Again Jesus said, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’He answered, ‘Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.’Jesus said, ‘Take care of my sheep.’The third time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ He said, ‘Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.’Jesus said, ‘Feed my sheep.’”(JOHN 21:15–17)

God’s love and faithfulness are not just facts to know. A believer in Christ who learns love and faithfulness from God cannot help but reflect them in their life. Paul summarizes it this way:"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love."(GALATIANS 5:6)

Therefore:

A believer learns forgiveness that flows from God’s love."Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."(EPHESIANS 4:32)

A believer must patiently endure hardships, trusting in God’s faithfulness."If we are faithless, he remains faithful, for he cannot disown himself."(2 TIMOTHY 2:13)