1.3 Love Freely Given
Out of Free Will: God’s Boundless and Undeserved Love
Compare Revelation 4:11 and Psalm 33:6. What do these verses tell us about God’s freedom concerning creation?
The truths expressed in Revelation 4:11 and Psalm 33:6 about God’s freedom regarding creation demonstrate the overwhelming generosity and love of God. These verses clarify that creation did not arise out of a lack or necessity on God’s part but from His free will and infinite love.
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God’s Freedom and Sovereignty
God was perfect and self-sufficient before creation. The fact that He still chose to create a world shows that creation was an act of voluntary love. This means that we and everything that exists were not created out of compulsion or duty but from a generous desire to give life and enable relationships.
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Reference to Revelation 4:11: “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.” This verse emphasizes that creation was God’s conscious and voluntary decision, thereby revealing Him as the Creator and Lord over all.
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Reference to Psalm 33:6: “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” This verse underscores God’s power and effortless creation through His word. It is an expression of His freedom and sovereign will.
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God’s Love and Generosity
Creation is a reflection of God’s love and generosity. By creating life, He invited us into fellowship with Him. This shows that creation was not a necessity but a gift that stemmed from His love and desire for relationship.
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For Our Life: Recognizing that God created us out of love allows us to see our lives with deeper meaning. We are not here by chance; our lives have value and purpose because God willed it.
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A Call to Praise and Worship
Since God created out of free will and not out of necessity, He deserves all our honor, glory, and worship. Our response should be gratitude and praise because we are part of His generous plan.
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Reference to Faith: When we integrate this truth into our faith, it strengthens our trust in God’s love. It encourages us to trust His sovereignty and seek His honor in all things.
Conclusion
God’s free decision to create the world demonstrates His love and generosity. Creation is an expression of His sovereign freedom and His desire to give life and share fellowship. This truth reminds us that our lives are not accidental but a gift from God—a reason to honor Him with gratitude and worship.
Read John 17:24. What does it tell us about God’s love before the world existed?
John 17:24 gives us a profound insight into the eternal love within the Trinity before the world even existed: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.” This verse shows that love is not just an attribute of God but His very essence. Even before the creation of the world, there was perfect, eternal love within God between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
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God’s Love Was and Is Independent of Creation
God did not need creatures to express His love. In His perfection, His love was already complete within the fellowship of the Trinity. Nevertheless, God chose to share His love by creating the world. This demonstrates His generosity and desire to allow us to partake in His love.
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Meaning for Us: Our value lies not in what we do but in the fact that God created and willed us to be blessed with His love. This realization gives us security and a deeper appreciation for our lives.
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God’s Love After the Fall
After the fall in Eden, Adam and Eve, due to their sin, did not deserve further existence or fellowship with God. Yet, God’s love remained. He chose to preserve life and create a way for reconciliation—not out of compulsion but out of free will.
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An Expression of Undeserved Love: This love is evident in His mercy and grace. He did not give up on humanity but planned redemption through Christ. In His sovereignty and faithfulness, His love remains unwavering, even when we disappoint Him.
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A Call to Gratitude and Acceptance of God’s Love
The fact that God created creation out of free will and maintains His love despite sin should move us to gratitude. It shows us that His love does not depend on us but on His character.
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For Our Faith: This love calls us to place our trust in God. He not only created the world but also prepared a way to reconcile us with Himself—a call to accept His love and respond to it.
Conclusion
God’s love, as revealed in John 17:24, is eternal, perfect, and independent of us. Nevertheless, He chose to create the world and continue to love us despite our sin. This love reflects His character and reminds us that our lives are a gift of His grace. We are invited to live in gratitude, accept His love, and look forward to the restoration of perfect fellowship with Him.
What does the fact that God continues to love this fallen and evil world reveal about His love and character? How should this truth compel us to love Him in return?
The fact that God continues to love this fallen and evil world reveals an incomparable depth of His nature and character. This truth shows us several essential aspects of God’s love and challenges us to respond accordingly.
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God’s Love Is Unconditional
God’s love does not depend on our worthiness or behavior. Even after the fall in Eden and in the face of the world’s evil, His love remains. This love is an expression of His nature, not our merits. It shows that God, in His faithfulness and mercy, never gives up.
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For Us: We can be assured that God’s love does not abandon us, no matter how deeply we fall. This unconditional love provides us with comfort and hope, especially in times of personal failure or global darkness.
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God’s Character Is Marked by Grace and Faithfulness
God sustains the world by His word and power (Hebrews 1:3), even when it rejects Him and often rebels against Him. This demonstrates His unwavering faithfulness, mercy, and patience. It reveals that His heart is full of compassion and mercy.
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For Us: God’s patience gives us time to repent. He does not want anyone to perish but for all to come to the knowledge of the truth and enter into a relationship with Him (2 Peter 3:9).
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God’s Love Shows His Intention for Restoration
God does not love passively but actively—He has created a way to save humanity and heal the broken relationship with Him. This dedication is evident in the sending of His Son, Jesus Christ, who died out of love for the sins of the world (John 3:16).
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For Us: This love gives our lives deep meaning and hope that redemption and healing are possible even in a fallen world.
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Our Response: Loving God Because He Loved Us First
Recognizing God’s undeserved love should inspire us to love Him out of gratitude. As 1 John 4:19 says, “We love because he first loved us.” To reciprocate His love means to give Him our heart, devotion, and life.
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How Can We Love God?
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Through Gratitude: By consciously recognizing what God has done for us.
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Through Obedience: Our love for Him is shown when we follow His commands (John 14:15).
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Through Love for Others: Making God’s love visible through our lives by showing mercy and patience to others.
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Conclusion
God’s love despite the world’s evil shows that His character is marked by unconditional love, grace, and restoration. This love challenges us to love Him and respond to His generosity with devotion and gratitude. It reminds us that we are not only recipients of His love but also called to share this love and be a light in a fallen world.
The realization that God’s love is unconditional, voluntary, and undeserved has direct implications for our daily lives and faith. This truth gives us a new perspective on our value, behavior, and relationships.
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Recognizing Our Life as a Gift from God
The fact that God created the world and us out of free will and not out of necessity gives our lives deep meaning and incomparable value. We are not here by chance but wanted and loved.
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In Daily Life: This realization helps us live our lives more consciously and gratefully. Instead of being driven by self-doubt or the search for external validation, we can rest in the assurance that we are wanted and loved by God.
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In Faith: It strengthens our trust that our lives have a plan and purpose because they are founded in God’s sovereign love.
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Cultivating Gratitude as an Attitude
Since God’s love is voluntary and cannot be earned by us, we are invited to live in gratitude. This gratitude shapes how we view our work, relationships, and challenges.
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In Daily Life: Gratitude can help us recognize God’s blessings even in difficult situations. It encourages us to see each day as an opportunity to experience and share His love.
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In Faith: Our prayers and worship are filled with joy as we remember that God’s love was unconditionally given to us.
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Trusting God—Even in Difficult Times
God sustains the world through His love and mercy, even when it is fallen. This truth gives us hope that He is present and active in the dark moments of our lives.
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In Daily Life: When faced with setbacks, fears, or doubts, we can rely on the fact that God does not abandon us. His free will and love remain, even when we do not always feel Him.
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In Faith: This understanding helps us patiently wait and trust that God’s plans are working for our good (Romans 8:28).
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Leading a Life of Worship and Devotion
God deserves our worship and devotion because He created the world out of love and gave us life. This leads to an attitude of praise and dedication in everything we do.
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In Daily Life: We can honor God in small things by consciously using our talents and opportunities to spread love and kindness.
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In Faith: Our services, prayers, and our lives as a whole become expressions of worship as we recognize that everything we are and have comes from Him.
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Reflecting God’s Love
God’s generosity inspires us to show the same love in our relationships. His unconditional love serves as a model for how we can treat others with patience, grace, and forgiveness.
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In Daily Life: Whether in the family, workplace, or society, we can learn to love people regardless of their merits, just as God loves us.
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In Faith: By making God’s love visible, we become ambassadors of His grace and hope in a fallen world.
Final Conclusion
God’s unconditionally granted love transforms our perspective on our lives, faith, and relationships. It provides a foundation for gratitude, hope, and trust while simultaneously challenging us to reflect this love in our daily lives. This truth is an invitation to live each day with the assurance that we were created out of love, are loved unconditionally, and have unwavering hope in God.
God’s love is a gift that exists independently of our performance and invites us daily to live with gratitude, hope, and trust.
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