Experiencing God's Love as the Foundation of the Christian Faith

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A transformative truth—that God is love—lays the foundation of the Christian faith. Our perception of God and the way we are expected to live in relationship with Him and others are shaped by this fundamental truth. We learn about God's transformational power and the bountiful fruit it bears in our lives as we dig further into the boundless depths of His love.

To experience God as love is to come into contact with the core of who He is. His love is the essence of who He is; it is not just one of His qualities or traits. It is an inexplicable, unconditional, and eternal love that is beyond human understanding. We are welcomed into a deep relationship with the universe's creator, who takes great pleasure in lavishing us with His unending love, when we allow our hearts to be open to receiving this love.

Understanding God's love has the capacity to completely change our lives on the inside. It replaces uncertainty, calm, and assurance with confidence and drives out fear and unease. We are overcome by the extent of God's generosity and mercy when we consider the breadth of His love made evident in Christ's atoning death on the cross. Our desire to love God and others as He has loved us is sparked by our realization of His love.

In Galatians 5:22–23, the apostle Paul lists love as the first and most important fruit of the Spirit. This is not by accident, as a life given over to God is characterized by love. Love is the entryway to your abundant life's residence. Love that is patient, compassionate, selfless, and enduring is produced inside us by His Spirit as we dwell in His love. This is a love that has no bounds and embraces everyone, regardless of their rank, gender, or race.

As stated by Jesus in Mark 12:30–31, the most significant commands are to love God with everything in us and and to see our neighbor as ourselves. Our capacity to love is increased when we gain a deeper comprehension of God's love, enabling us to emulate Christ's selfless love by loving extravagantly, sacrificially, and unreservedly.

Love forces you to spread God's love to others as you come to know Him. You are expected to bear the fruit of love for the benefit of others around you, just as a tree provides fruit for the nourishment of others. Your deeds of kindness, words of support, or compassionate gestures become channels of God's love, illuminating a world that is broken and in need of His light. Your life's evidence of genuinely knowing God is demonstrated by the fruit of unselfish love. To be intimate with the Almighty is to give Him permission to know and love you before you can know and love Him back.