We know God loves us because He first loved us and demonstrated it through Christ's atonement for His elect.
The assurance of God's love comes from 1 John 4:19, which states that 'we love Him because He first loved us.' This foundational truth is especially crucial in understanding sovereign grace theology, as it emphasizes that our love and faith are responses to His initiating love. Moreover, Romans 5:8 affirms that God demonstrated His love toward us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. This profound act of sacrifice signifies that His love is not contingent upon our actions, but rather a supreme choice to redeem His elect. Therefore, our understanding and assurance of God's love are rooted in Christ's sacrificial act.
Scripture References:
1 John 4:19, Romans 5:8, John 15:9, 1 John 4:9-10, John 3:16, Ephesians 1:6, Romans 8:35-39, Hebrews 12:6, 1 John 3:16, 1 John 3:1, Ephesians 2:4-5
Commentary