God Loves

Introduction (Genesis 22:2):
God said, “Take now your son… whom you love.” The Bible’s first mention of love appears on Moriah, a father offering his only son. This scene points to God’s redeeming love in Christ and calls us to love Him with all our heart.

The First Mention of Love: Moriah
Genesis 22 introduces love as a father’s costly devotion. Isaac, the promised son, carries the wood up the mountain (Genesis 22:6). Abraham tells Isaac that God will provide a lamb (Genesis 22:7–8). On the mount the Lord provides a substitute—the ram—teaching substitution and pointing to the greater provision to come (Genesis 22:13–14). Hebrews reflects on Abraham’s faith, concluding that God could raise the dead (Hebrews 11:17–19). The pattern prepares us to understand Christ’s offering for sins (1 Peter 2:23–24; Hebrews 9:28).

The Promised Son and the Faithfulness of God
Isaac’s birth fulfilled God’s word at the set time (Genesis 21:2). The son of promise proves that God keeps covenant. Love in Scripture flows from divine faithfulness; the Father gives and sustains the promise to bless all nations.

God Loves His People
Jehovah turned Balaam’s intent to curse into blessing because He loved His people (Deuteronomy 23:5). Covenant love protects, corrects, and preserves. Those who receive such love respond with whole-being devotion: heart, soul, and strength (Deuteronomy 6:5).

God Loves Righteousness and Justice
“The Lord is righteous; He loves righteousness” (Psalm 11:7). “He loves righteousness and justice; the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord” (Psalm 33:5). Divine love is morally pure. It delights in what is right and sets wrongs right. People who love God learn to love what He loves—righteousness in conduct and justice in judgment.

Our Calling: Love as God Loves
The cross reveals the pattern: a Father who gives, a Son who bears, a substitute who saves. Having received such love, believers walk in covenant loyalty. Love adores God fully, trusts His promises, chooses righteousness, and practices justice toward neighbor.

Call to Action
Love the Lord with undivided heart. Trust His provision for sin and live in grateful obedience. Pursue righteousness in your choices and justice in your relationships. Let God’s covenant love shape your home, your words, and your witness, so that others see the goodness of the Lord through you.

God Loves Sermon Outline:

Introduction

• First biblical mention of “love” at Moriah (Genesis 22:2).

• Love revealed through costly devotion and divine provision.

I. The First Mention of Love: Moriah

• Isaac carries the wood (Genesis 22:6).

• “God will provide for Himself the lamb” (Genesis 22:7–8).

• The Lord provides a ram; altar named (Genesis 22:13–14).

• Faith in resurrection power (Hebrews 11:17–19).

• Fulfillment in Christ’s atoning work (1 Peter 2:23–24; Hebrews 9:28).

II. The Promised Son and God’s Faithfulness

• Isaac born “at the set time” (Genesis 21:2).

• God keeps covenant and advances blessing.

III. God Loves His People

• The Lord’s protective love (Deuteronomy 23:5).

• Our response: love God with all our being (Deuteronomy 6:5).

IV. God Loves Righteousness and Justice

• God’s moral delight (Psalm 11:7; Psalm 33:5).

• Disciples align their loves with His.

V. Our Calling: Reflect His Love

• Receive the substitute and live in grateful obedience.

• Practice righteousness and justice toward neighbor.

• Form a life shaped by covenant love.

Call to Action

• Commit to wholehearted love for God.

• Choose righteousness and justice in daily life.

• Bear witness to God’s faithful love.

Key Takeaways

• Moriah frames love as costly devotion and divine provision (Genesis 22:2, 6–8, 13–14).

• God’s promises arrive at His set time; His love proves faithful (Genesis 21:2).

• The Father’s love culminates in Christ’s atoning sacrifice (Hebrews 11:17–19; 1 Peter 2:23–24; Hebrews 9:28).

• God loves His people and calls for whole-being love in return (Deuteronomy 23:5; 6:5).

• Divine love delights in righteousness and justice; believers learn the same delight (Psalm 11:7; 33:5).

Scripture Reference List

• Genesis 22:2, 6–8, 13–14 – First mention of love; provision of the ram; “The Lord will provide.”

• Hebrews 11:17–19 – Abraham’s faith and resurrection hope.

• 1 Peter 2:23–24 – Christ bore our sins in His body on the tree.

• Hebrews 9:28 – Christ offered once to bear the sins of many.

• Genesis 21:2 – Isaac born at the set time God promised.

• Deuteronomy 23:5 – The Lord turned the curse into a blessing because He loves His people.

• Deuteronomy 6:5 – Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and might.

• Psalm 11:7 – The Lord loves righteousness.

• Psalm 33:5 – He loves righteousness and justice.

Prepared by Bobby Stafford of the church of Christ at Granby, MO