God not only continued to bestow His love freely on Israel, despite

repeated rebellions, but God also continues to bestow love freely upon

us, even while we are sinners. We do not deserve God’s love, and we

could never earn it. Conversely, God does not need us. The God of the

Bible does not need anything (Acts 17:25). God’s love for you and for

me and for all persons is entirely of His own volition.

Compare Revelation 4:11 and Psalm 33:6. What do these verses tell

us about God’s freedom relative to Creation?

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God freely created this world. And, because of this, God is worthy

of all glory, honor, and power. God did not need to create any world.

Before the foundation of the world, God already enjoyed the love relationship that existed within the Godhead.

Read John 17:24. What does it tell us about God’s love before the

world existed?

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God did not need creatures as an object of His love. But, in accordance

with His character of love, God chose to create the world and enter into

a love relationship with creatures.

Not only did God freely create this world as a bestowal of His generous love, but God also continues freely to love humans, even after

humans fell into sin in Eden, and even after we personally sin.

After the Fall in Eden, Adam and Eve had no right to continue to

live and receive God’s love. But God, who upholds “all things by

the word of His power” (Heb. 1:3, NKJV), in His great love, mercy,

and grace sustained their lives and has made a way to reconcile

humanity back to Himself in love. And that reconciliation includes

us, as well.

What does the fact that God continues to bestow love on this

world, despite its fallenness and evil, tell us about His love and

character? How should this truth cause us to love Him in return?