The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love." (1 John 4:8)
"God is love." This sentence has been quoted over and over again, but have we ever considered what this actually means? Since God is love, the very essence of His being is love. If we do not love, we do not know God, for we cannot know God without receiving His love. We may know many things about God, but that does not prove that we know Him. Loving others is the proof that we know Him.
Our salvation begins with the love of God. His love for righteousness and for a man created in His own image is so great, that He gave his only begotten Son into the hands of unregenerate humanity, to torture Him on the cruel cross so that we could receive His righteousness. God had purposed in His heart to create man in His own image. When He formed Adam from the earth, He made an earthy image of Himself. By blowing His breath into man, man became a living soul. Adam was creative, very intelligent, and superior to all the animals. But he was ruled by his soul - his mind, emotions and will. Christ, the second man, the last Adam, became a life-giving spirit. (1 Cor. 15:45) Christ is the beginning of a new creation. (2 Cor. 5:17) This new creation is a spiritual image or representation of God. This is the high calling we have in Christ Jesus. THANKS.