In the Bible we see how powerful God’s love is unto salvation
1 Corinthians 2:9. “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.”
God loves us. We hear that allot and whether or not we believe it, the fact remains that His word tells us exactly this in so many ways. He loves us so much that His ultimate act of love is the greatest demonstration of love beyond imagination.
Our key Bible verse today in 1 Corinthians 2:9 is a reference back to what Isaiah said, “For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.” Isaiah 64:4). So then, what exactly has God prepared for those that love and wait for His return?
God promises protection and shelter for His people
Psalms 31:19-21. “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men! 20 Thou shalt hide them in the secret of thy presence from the pride of man: thou shalt keep them secretly in a pavilion from the strife of tongues. 21 Blessed be the LORD: for he hath shewed me his marvellous kindness in a strong city.”
Psalms 32:7. “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
Psalms 145:20. “The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.”
Isaiah 25:7-11. “And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the vail that is spread over all nations. 8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it. 9 And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the LORD; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. 10 For in this mountain shall the hand of the LORD rest, and Moab shall be trodden down under him, even as straw is trodden down for the dunghill. 11 And he shall spread forth his hands in the midst of them, as he that swimmeth spreadeth forth his hands to swim: and he shall bring down their pride together with the spoils of their hands.”
Ephesians 6:11. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”
God gives His people strength, and He never sleeps
Deuteronomy 31:8. “And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.”
Psalms 31:24. “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.”
Psalms 121:2-4. “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”
Isaiah 40:28-31. “Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 41:10. “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
2 Corinthians 12:10. “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”
Philippians 4:13. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
God knows us and we know Him
John 16:27. “For the Father himself loveth you, because ye have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God.”
1 Corinthians 8:3. “But if any man love God, the same is known of him.”
1 John 3:1. “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
1 John 4:7. “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”
1 John 4:19. “We love him, because he first loved us.”
God’s love is everlasting
Psalms 42:8. “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”
Jeremiah 31:3. “The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.”
Hosea 2:19. “And I will betroth thee unto me for ever; yea, I will betroth thee unto me in righteousness, and in judgment, and in lovingkindness, and in mercies.”
1 Corinthians 13:8. “Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.”
God’s greatest act of love
John 3:16-18. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”
John 15:13. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Romans 3:23-26. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.”
Romans 5:8. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
1 John 3:16. “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 John 4:10. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
God’s promises, blessings, and benefits of salvation wrapped up in a Psalm of David (Psalms 103)
- Our sins are forgiven
- He heals us of diseases
- He redeemed us from a life of destruction
- We are bestowed with lovingkindness and tender mercies
- He gives us the desires of our heart
- He teaches us to walk in His ways
- He is gracious and slow to anger toward us
- He knows we do not have the strength to live life alone, so He gives us the power (Holy Spirit) we need to be overcomers
- His mercy is from everlasting to everlasting
Final Thoughts
Do you know who Jesus is? Do you GOT JESUS? When you believe in the truth of salvation and choose to walk in God’s way, you can’t help but love Him for all He has done (and keeps doing) for you. Learning to rely upon our heavenly Father does not happen instantly, but the power to do it does! And even better yet, when you believe the truth of salvation, you receive the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:9-13), it is He that gives you the power to choose to walk in God’s way. He will prompt you to choose good. You can read more about Him here:
Jesus said that He came “that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The love of God unto salvation is abundant life now and for eternity.
Things to think on and do
- Find 3 more Bible verses (passages) that speak of how God loves us.
- Consider at least one of the passages or verses in this article and commit it to memory. When you need a little love, recall it to your mind!
- Tell someone today about at least one benefit that you have personally gained because of the love of God.
