I John 4:8 “He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.”
Those “that loveth” and “knoweth” “God” are the blessed inherent beneficiaries of God’s “love”. This word “love” goes far beyond just feeling “love”, it means love that is put into action; whereby the objects of this Holy “love” are certain to know it, feel it, experience it, and rejoice in it. God’s Holy “love” is somewhat like the sun, it is a great ball of fire, but we are warmed by it, illuminated by it, and comforted by it. Similarly, the very essence of “God” is the “great love” (Ephesians 2:4) that warms and comforts and helps His Children. This Holy “love” was manifested “before the foundation of the world” when “God” chose His People because of His Holy “love” for them (Ephesians 1:4). When the “first man” (Adam) disobeyed “God” and fell in sin, God’s Holy “love” came to the rescue; “God” made Adam and Eve “coats of skins and clothed them” (Genesis 3:21) to cover the shame of their sin. Ever since Adam sinned, all of mankind after him has been in a state of sin and has sinned (Romans 5:12); but, God always shows His Holy “love” to us; for, “where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20). When the troubles of this present life become so severe that they are beyond human endurance, “God” sends His Holy “love” in the Person of “the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost” (John 14:26) to lift us up and tenderly carry us along the way. On the evening before He was Crucified, our Loving Lord told us, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13). The next day, He revealed the Power of His Holy “love” when “God” the Father “made” “God” The Son “to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (II Corinthians 5:21). So dreadful was His Loving Sacrifice that “from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour” (Matthew 27:45) and our Most Blessed And Holy Savior “cried with a loud voice” “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Then, God’s Holy “love” spoke again when our Savior declared, “It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost” (John 19:30); that is, in one instant, He fully and eternally saved “his people from their sins” (Matthew 1:21! Then this Holy “love” was revealed again when He rose from the dead and openly revealed Himself in His Resurrected Body (John 20:28). Now, one Blessed and Holy Day, we will hear this Holy “love” speak again, with the sound of a great trumpet, “Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world” (Matthew 25:34). Knowing this “great love”, we worshipfully proclaim, “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” (I John 3:1) and sincerely ask, “what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness” (II Peter 3:11)!