What role does God's love play in salvation?

God's love is integral to the concept of salvation as it is the catalyst for His redemptive plan. Ephesians 2:4-5 highlights this, saying, 'But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ.' This passage shows that our salvation is not a result of our love for God, but stems from His great love for us, which is sovereign, unmerited, and eternal. Thus, it serves to highlight human inability and divine grace.