Romans 5:5 “And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
This word “love” has the connotation of ‘love in action’, not just a felt “love”, but a “great love” (Ephesians 2:4) that is demonstrated. The real joy and power of “love” is realized in the actions that rise from “love”. In this case, it is “the love of God”; that is, the “love” that our merciful and gracious “God” has for us and shows to us. If we “love” “God”, it is entirely because “he first loved” us (I John 4:19). Our Eternal Relationship with God is predicated upon His “love” for us and not our “love” for Him; for, “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.” (I John 4:10). When our God gives us Spiritual Birth (John 3:1-8), He causes us to know that He loves us and gives us the spirit of “love” toward Him (Galatians 5:22). The greatest peace and joy known to man, is to know that “God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8)! Paul tells us that “the love of Christ constraineth us” (II Corinthians 5:14); that is, to know that “Christ” loves us is to have a life focused in worshipful service to Him, to strive to show our “love” to our Lord by our obedience to Him (John 14:15), and to experience the peace and joy of direct access to Him at “the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16)! Now, “because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father” (Galatians 4:6)!