How do we know the doctrine of eternal love is true?

The doctrine of eternal love is firmly rooted in Scripture, as articulated in Jeremiah 31:3, where God declares, 'I have loved you with an everlasting love.' This love is not simply an enduring affection that begins at a certain point; rather, it is an intrinsic aspect of God's immutable nature. It emphasizes that God's love for his people is eternal, having no beginning or end, aligning with his own self-existent nature. Thus, when John states that 'God is love' (1 John 4:8), it supports the truth that love is not merely an attribute of God but is intrinsic to his essence.

Furthermore, the work of Christ on the cross exemplifies this eternal love, as it was through salvation history that God's loving intention towards his chosen ones was ordained. As believers are drawn into this love, they come to understand and believe in the truth of eternal love through the work of the Holy Spirit, who regenerates their hearts, allowing them to grasp the depth and permanence of God's love for them.