Adapted for GanTv.com, from The Table with Clint and Allison Walker.
And we have come to know and have come to believe the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one abiding in love abides in God, and God abides in him. (1 John 4:16)
God’s unconditional love is truly transformative. In the Trinity we see this nature of love that Scripture defines as patient and kind. It is a love that meets everyone in their own darkness of perceived unloveliness. In the incarnation of Jesus Christ, this love took on human form; love “came down” as we have heard so often and That love chose to dwell with creation. He is Immanuel, “Christ with us”, choosing willingly to rescue all of humanity to restore our image and unveil the Father in the personification of Perfect Love. We were all like sheep, gone astray looking for our Shephard and in Christ we are found, in love. It is experiencing this love that heals our mind, our distorted images of ourself and God while reshaping how we see the world around us. This love is what changes us, molds our identity, and is the source of all life, healing, and salvation. “For God So Loved”.
Jesus Christ is that Person and He demonstrated unconditional love, assuming out humanity as the “last Adam” to show us union, how we were designed; and persuading our hearts to faith. The Bible describes God’s love as Agape, a patient love that, naturally fond of creation, because were were created in His image and likeness. What Christ did for us through the cross reveals Agape is a selfless essence of love, that puts the entire Cosmos at the forefront of His desire to save. This love is what strengthens our bond with the Trinity because before the foundation, this love started in the Trinity. Where the Father, Son, and Spirit as divine family, were found to be pros, face to face, enjoying union.
It is important to accentuate that God’s love is not just what He does but it is who He is. He embraced humanity in rescue, redemption as a beautiful gift, and when each person experiences this love, we awaken in the depth of an intimacy and eternal life.
This is eternal life, that you would know the one true God and His Son Jesus. Jesus is our ultimate example of this love, demonstrated through His life and sacrifice, all aimed at restoring humanity to a harmonious relationship with God. Let this realization fill your heart with joy and transform the way you connect with the Divine Trinity and those around you!
Unconditional love, or Agape, is love without strings attached—fully inclusive and freely given. Unlike human love, which can be conditional, God’s love flows from His nature. Jesus demonstrated Agape by “bucking the religious system” connecting to and embracing those marginalized by society, despite their rejection by the elite religious systems of that day. Jesus showed the sinner, the tax collector, the publican and the prostitutes, they are worthy of love and acceptance.
The Influence of God’s Love on Personal Identity
Many grow up viewing God as distant and judgmental, shaped by teachings that prioritize His holiness and justice and pit this aspect of God over love. Yet, true justice and holiness are in reality extensions of selfless love. God’s justice aims to restore and redeem, offering mercy and compassion to both the abuser and the abused; the victim and the victimizer. Understanding this helps us to trust Him, to see Him as a nurturing God, challenging our views taught by traditions of man that He is a God of vindictive vengeance. Unlike the Pharisees of old and new alike who enforced barriers, true divine fellowship invites in the Trinity is inclusive and inviting.
Our identity is often shaped by our relationships, particularly with parental figures often. While many earthly fathers may fall short, God’s love demonstrated that it is perfect and transformative. In Christ, our true selves are revealed. Paul tells us that when we see Him, as in a mirror, first in part, then in fullness at His revealing. When we see Him in fullness, we know that we are fully known. Catching a even a glimpse of this as Holy Spirit reveals, restores our sense of worth and identity, saves us from our perishing, and we see ourselves as cherished children of God. This is the unconditional love that when realized for ourselves begins to transform our hearts and influence our personal relationships, as we live in environments of grace and acceptance.
Unconditional love, or Agape, is love without strings attached—fully inclusive and freely given. Unlike human love, which can be conditional, God’s love flows from His nature. Jesus demonstrated Agape by “bucking the religious system” connecting to and embracing those marginalized by society, despite their rejection by the elite religious systems of that day. Jesus showed the sinner, the tax collector, the publican and the prostitutes, they are worthy of love and acceptance.
The Influence of God’s Love on Personal Identity
Many grow up viewing God as distant and judgmental, shaped by teachings that prioritize His holiness and justice and pit this aspect of God over love. Yet, true justice and holiness are in reality extensions of selfless love. God’s justice aims to restore and redeem, offering mercy and compassion to both the abuser and the abused; the victim and the victimizer. Understanding this helps us to trust Him, to see Him as a nurturing God, challenging our views taught by traditions of man that He is a God of vindictive vengeance. Unlike the Pharisees of old and new alike who enforced barriers, true divine fellowship invites in the Trinity is inclusive and inviting.
Our identity is often shaped by our relationships, particularly with parental figures often. While many earthly fathers may fall short, God’s love demonstrated that it is perfect and transformative. In Christ, our true selves are revealed. Paul tells us that when we see Him, as in a mirror, first in part, then in fullness at His revealing. When we see Him in fullness, we know that we are fully known. Catching a even a glimpse of this as Holy Spirit reveals, restores our sense of worth and identity, saves us from our perishing, and we see ourselves as cherished children of God. This is the unconditional love that when realized for ourselves begins to transform our hearts and influence our personal relationships, as we live in environments of grace and acceptance.\
Faith Works by Love
But for right now, until that completeness, we have three things to do to lead us toward that consummation: Trust steadily in God, hope unswervingly, love extravagantly. And the best of the three is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13, The Message Translation)
Faith plays a vital role in reminding us of the unexpected grace and generosity of God’s love. Faith is the persuasion of God that we are His. Divinely connected to our Heavenly Father through the restoration of the cross and Jesus. He shows us who the Father is and who we are. Paul tells us that it is in This love that we are enriched and that eternal fellowship is in our belonging. Agape love changes us. It causes our souls to be healed of anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and brings us to peace. We begin a life embodying His nature because we have a new nature.         Embodying this love, we can build family life, and overall communities rooted in trust and acceptance.
In a world focused on performance, Agape love liberates us from our need to perform. It reveals our inherent value, fosters authenticity in Christ where we engage in genuine relationships rather than striving for acceptance. Our union with Christ invites places humanity in the middle of what is called the Divine Dance—a dynamic relationship with the Father, Son, and Spirit, this is our reality in the New Testament and this is the good news. The Gospel is a simply, yet powerfully a message of love, proclaiming our adoption into God’s family, the salvation of our selves from the lies we have always believed about ourselves as unworthy.
Holy Spirit’s Compelling Message
Living in the kingdom of unconditional love begins within God but in Christ, He sends the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is the in dwelling spirit who is inspiring and provoking people everywhere to this truth. Our sonship and belonging in grace through the faith of Jesus Christ. It is the intention of the Holy Spirit to reveal this truth in us, in love and then transform how we connect with the world, It is all about our Beloved Union. The faith, driven by love, teaches us that God is delighted in us; we are His family. The fruit of the Spirit in our lives becomes love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. Above these, there is no law. His law is love (Galatians 5:22-23).
Discover more about Clint and Allison Walker at clintwalkerministries.com
