Understanding the Love of God: Deep, Sovereign, and Redeeming

Understanding the Depths of God’s Love: A Biblical Perspective

When we talk about love, the world often paints it as a warm, universal sentiment—something soft, inclusive, and unconditional. But in the Bible, God’s love is far more profound, complex, and even, at times, disturbing to the human mind.

As Pastor John MacArthur boldly states, “Most professing Christians do not understand the love of God. It is far more profound, it is far more complex, and frankly, it is incomprehensible.”

Why is that? Because true biblical love isn’t shallow sentimentality—it’s a powerful, purposeful, and deeply personal act of divine grace.

The Supernatural Strength to Know God’s Love

In Ephesians 3:16–19, the Apostle Paul prays a powerful prayer for believers:

“I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—so that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”

This passage reveals a staggering truth: It takes supernatural strength from the Holy Spirit just to begin to comprehend God’s love. And even then, Paul says, this love surpasses knowledge. We can’t fully grasp it with our minds alone. We need spiritual revelation.

The Love That Redeems: Christ’s Sacrifice for Sinners

The answer to God’s unfathomable love is found in the gospel. The love of God isn’t abstract—it’s demonstrated in history, in blood, and on a cross.

The Apostle John writes in 1 John 4:10:

“In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”

And Paul, in Galatians 2:20, personalizes it:

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. And the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Notice the emphasis: “loved me… gave Himself for me.” This is not a generic, impersonal affection. It’s a redemptive, sacrificial, covenantal love—a love that doesn’t just feel compassion but acts to save.

God’s love is substitutionary. Jesus didn’t just die in general for humanity—He died in place of His people, bearing the wrath of God they deserved. This is propitiation—the turning away of divine judgment through sacrifice.

Key Insight: The gospel isn’t about God loving everyone the same way. It’s about God loving His people with an eternal, saving love that secures their redemption.

The Scope of God’s Love: Not Indiscriminate, But Purposeful

Here’s where many modern Christians stumble. We want to believe that God loves everyone in the same way—that His love is broad, shallow, and automatic. But Scripture reveals a deeper, more intentional love.

John MacArthur, in his powerful sermon “An Everlasting Love: The Love of God,” challenges this shallow view. He argues that if we are to truly understand God’s love, we must understand both its nature and its scope.

God’s love is not a mile wide and an inch deep. It’s deep, eternal, and effectual. It doesn’t merely offer salvation—it secures it.

Jesus said in John 6:44:

“No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him.”

And in John 10:14–15:

“I am the good shepherd. I know My own and My own know Me, just as the Father knows Me and I know the Father. And I lay down My life for the sheep.”

Notice: “My sheep.” Not “all animals in the field.” Jesus lays down His life for His sheep—a specific group chosen by the Father.

The Father’s Love-Gift to the Son: A Chosen People

One of the most beautiful truths in Scripture is that the Father gave a people to the Son before the foundation of the world (John 17:6, Ephesians 1:4).

Jesus didn’t just come to make salvation possible—He came to save His people (Matthew 1:21). The Father’s love for the Son is so great that He gave Him a bride—a redeemed, purified, eternal people.

And the Son’s love for that people is so deep that He gave His life to purchase them.

This is covenant love. This is everlasting love. It’s not based on human merit, but on divine election. It’s not earned—it’s bestowed.

The Danger of Reducing God’s Love to Sentimentality

When we flatten God’s love into a feel-good message of universal acceptance, we rob it of its power, its glory, and its gospel-centered truth.

We must reject the idea that:

• God loves everyone in the same saving way.
• Everyone will be saved eventually (universalism).
• God’s love is weak or unable to accomplish its purpose.

Instead, Scripture teaches that:

• God’s love is sovereign—He loves whom He will love (Romans 9:15).
• God’s love is effectual—it accomplishes salvation.
• God’s love is eternal—it cannot be broken or lost.

As MacArthur says, this truth can be disturbing because it confronts our pride and our desire for autonomy. But it’s also the most comforting truth for believers: If God loved you before the world began, He will never stop loving you.

How to Grow in the Knowledge of God’s Love

So how do we grow in understanding this deep, divine love?

1. Ask for spiritual strength (Ephesians 3:16) – Only the Holy Spirit can open our eyes.
2. Meditate on the cross—see Christ not just as a martyr, but as a Savior who died for you.
3. Study Scripture—Let the Bible define love, not culture.
4. Worship in awe—respond not with casual affection, but with trembling gratitude.

God’s love is not a cheap emotion. It’s a cosmic, redemptive force that chose, called, justified, and will glorify His people.

Final Thought: You don’t need to earn God’s love. You just need to receive it—through faith in Jesus Christ. And when you do, you’ll discover a love that surpasses knowledge, a love that changes everything.