This is the grand expression of the Bible -- the key-note of Christianity. It is the foundation of the great plan of creation and redemption, and the underlying principle in the structure of the Word of God.

It is truth, the truth, as God is true, the embodiment of all other truths; so that whatever, rightly understood, is not in harmony with it must be false. "God is love," eternal and unchangeable. All that He has done or will do can but express His infinite fullness. All His attributes are moved and controlled by love.

"God is love." Many feel, as a result of education, that God hates them, but that Christ loves them; others believe that Christ purchased the Father's love. Both are answered by Christ's words: "God so loved the world that he gave his son." (John 3:16) Christ's work is not to purchase the Father's love, but to manifest it. Practically, if not as theologians teach, Christ's words are true: "I and my Father are one" -- one in purpose and in work.

Christ prayed to the Father that the disciples might be one, "even as we are one." "As thou, Father, art in me and I in thee, that they may be one in us." (John 17:21) He could thus be called "Immanuel --God with us." (Matthew 1:23) Without controversy, the mystery of godliness is great: God was revealed in the flesh." (1 Timothy 3:16) God gave his Son. The Son "gave himself for our sins." (Galatians 1:4; see also Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 5:2; 1 Timothy 2:6; Titus 2:14) Truly they are in harmony. The love of the infinite God could neither be created nor purchased, but it could be shown. This is one part of the work of the Son of God -- to reveal the Father, the only true God. (John 17:1,3) To reveal his love is to reveal himself, for "God is love." Without Christ or, out of Christ God cannot be known. The Father does not reveal the Son, but the Son reveals the Father, "No one knows the Son, except the Father; neither does anyone know the Father, except the Son, and he to whoever the Son wants to reveal him.." -- Luke 10:22. No theologian need attempt an explanation of the Divine Sonship of our Lord. "For it was the Father's good pleasure for all the fullness to dwell in Him." (Colossians 1:19, New American Standard Bible translation) "For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily." (Colossians 2:9, New Revised Standard Version). He is the Word, the truth, the personal embodiment of all that is good and true, and emphatically the Revelation of God. "The Word was with God [Ton Theon] and the Word was a Mighty One [theos]." (John 1:1, RL rendering) "The Word became flesh, and lived among us." (John 1:14) He took our form, the "the form of a servant, being made in the likeness of men," (Philippians 2:7) "in the likeness of sinful flesh," (Romans 8:3) as a human in "slavery to corruption ." -- Romans 8:20, New American Standard Version.

He of whom it was said, "Let all the angels of God worship him," and "Your throne, God, is forever and ever," (Heb. 1:6,8); left the glory which he had with God before the world existed and "emptied himself," (Philippians 2:7) "made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.." Hebrews 2:9, Webster's Bible Translation.

Great condescension! Glorious love! Whose love? Both the Father's and the Son's, but primarily the Father's. 'God so loved that he gave.' (John 3:16) The love caused the gift. "But God commends his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8) "Now everything is from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that is, in Christ, God was reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them," (2 Corinthians 5:18,19, The Holman Christian Standard Bible translation). The hymn line, "My God is reconciled," has well been changed, "To God I'm reconciled." It is man that is out of order -- away from home -- and Yahweh is by means of his Anointed One -- Messiah -- to win the wanderer back. (Isaiah 61:1,2) God hates the wicked one in his wickedness (Psalm 5:5; 11:5), but loves the same in hope of their restoration. (Isaiah 55:6,7; Ezekiel 18:23; 33:11; Acts 3:19) One reason why he hates sin is because he loves the man, and sin destroys man's happiness and if persisted in will destroy the man himself. "Destruction and misery are in their ways. The way of peace, they haven't known." (Romans 3:16,17) "the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men." (Titus 2:11) Grace is love and favor. God through his Anointed One brings salvation to all men absolutely, so far as relates to the recovery of what was lost in Adam, "as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive.." (1 Corinthians 15:22) Thus, " we have set our trust in the living God, who is the Savior of ALL MEN, especially of those who believe. " -- 1 Timothy 4:10.

He has not only redeemed man from what was lost in Adam, but has made higher attainments possible, brought salvation near, within reach of all men, and "became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him."(Hebrews 5:9, New Revised Standard Version) He not only "gave himself a ransom (to buy man back from death) for all," but the testimony to this is to be given to all in due time. (1 Timothy 2:6) He not only will have "all men to be saved" (from the Adamic penalty), but will also have them "come to full knowledge of the truth." (1 Timothy 2:4) Thus, and in "due time," he is "The true light that enlightens everyone." (John 1:9) All who have died without the true light, will be enlightened in future, and the words of the angel will be verified: "behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people."-- Luke 2:10.

The salvation from death is secured to all by the Ransom; the salvation from sin is made possible to all by the light, and all this is the Father's arrangement, through the Son, who is constituted Redeemer, and also the "Head" -- "Firstborn" of a new race in a Spiritual and immortal life. (Romans 8:9) He restores the old to all, and imparts the new to as many as receive and obey the truth.

How true it is, that: "He who doesn't love doesn't know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8) "Love is of God." (1 John 4:7) "IBy this was God's love revealed in us, that God has sent his only born Son into the world that we might live through him," (the Son.) (1 John 4:9) "In this is love,... that He loved us," (1 John 4;10) "We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19) In view of so much testimony, who can doubt the Father's love, or believe that it was purchased by Christ's death. Christ's death meets a necessity of man, in relation to man's forfeited life; hence He purchased man, and not God. God arranged it as a grand exhibition of his love for man. "you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify God." (1 Corinthians 6:20) "Now thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift!" (2 Corinthians 9:15) We love the Giver and we love the Gift. "Though you have not seen Him, you love Him" (1 Peter 1:8, New American Standard) Who can refrain from joining the grand chorus of the angels: "Glory to God in the highest, On earth peace, good will toward men." -- Luke 2:14.

Edited from original article written by John H. Paton.

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