The Love of God

In this foundational message, Chuck Swindoll addresses the age-old yet often misunderstood subject of God’s love. Delivered shortly after the dedication of a new church building and a tragic funeral, Swindoll explores how believers can trust God’s heart even amidst life’s painful contrasts. He begins by establishing a critical theological balance: while “God is love” (1 John 4:8), He is also “Light” (1 John 1:5). This means His affection is never separated from His holiness, justice, and purity [4–5, 14–16].

Swindoll corrects the modern misconception of God as a “doting heavenly grandfather” who nods at sin. Instead, he argues that true love involves discipline. Just as a loving earthly father corrects his children to train them, God disciplines believers to produce the “peaceful fruit of righteousness,” proving that we are His legitimate sons and daughters. Swindoll moves from the toughness of discipline to the tenderness of grace, using the story of the Prodigal Son to illustrate that God waits to run toward us, embrace us, and clothe us in righteousness the moment we turn home [11–13, 20–22, 50–51].

The message culminates in a powerful reminder that God’s love is sovereign and unconditional. Drawing from Deuteronomy 7 and Romans 5, Swindoll emphasizes that God did not set His love on us because we were impressive or righteous, but simply because He chose to. The sermon concludes with a corporate declaration of faith, urging every listener to stand and admit, “God loves me,” regardless of their past or present struggles [26–28, 46, 55].

Message Key Facts:

• The Most Important Thing About Us: Swindoll opens with a profound 12-word maxim: “What we think about God is the most important thing about us.” He argues that a low view of God leads to shallow worship, while a high, biblical view leads to deep satisfaction [7–8].
• Love vs. Light: Swindoll contrasts 1 John 4:8 (“God is love”) with 1 John 1:5 (“God is light”). He explains that God’s love is not a license for “anything goes”; it is balanced by His absolute lack of darkness or impurity [14–16].
• The Proof of Discipline: Using Hebrews 12, Swindoll explains that discipline is a mark of inclusion, not rejection. If you are never disciplined by God, you are an “illegitimate child.” He illustrates this with a personal story of disciplining his daughter, Colleen, noting that a father corrects because he loves the child too much to let them destroy themselves [20–24].
• The “Why” of God’s Love: Swindoll points to Deuteronomy 7:7–8 to answer why God loves us. It is not because of our numbers or merit, but simply “because the Lord loved you.” It is a sovereign choice based on His character, not ours [27–28].
• The Professor’s Confession: Swindoll recounts a moving story of a brilliant seminary professor who, after Swindoll hugged him and expressed his love, wrote a note saying, “Never in my adult life have I ever had another man to tell me he loved me.” This highlights the deep human hunger for affirmation [32–33].
• The “Dashboard Note” Illustration: Swindoll shares a personal anecdote about leaving a sticky note reading “I love you” on his wife’s dashboard. Weeks later, he found it still there, illustrating that the knowledge of being loved is something we cling to, just as we cling to God’s “everlasting love” [37–39].
• The Autopsy of a Sinner: Swindoll uses Romans 3 to perform a spiritual “autopsy” on humanity—throats like open graves, deceitful tongues, and no fear of God. He contrasts this depravity with Romans 5:8, showing that God loves us while we are in that state, not after we clean ourselves up [44–46].
• The Prodigal’s Reception: In retelling the story from Luke 15, Swindoll emphasizes that the father did not wait for the son to finish his rehearsed speech of apology. Instead, he interrupted with grace, calling for a robe and a ring, showing that God’s love focuses on restoration rather than groveling [50–51].

Message References:

• 1 John 4:7–8: “Beloved, let us love one another… for God is love.”
• 1 John 1:5: “God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.”
• John 3:14–16: The comparison of the serpent in the wilderness to the Son of Man being lifted up so the world might be saved.
• Hebrews 12:6–11: “For those whom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”
• Deuteronomy 7:6–8: The declaration that God chose Israel not because they were numerous, but because He loved them and kept His oath.
• Jeremiah 31:3: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”
• Romans 3:10–18: The description of human depravity (“There is none righteous, not even one”).
• Romans 5:8: “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
• Luke 15 (Retold): The parable of the Prodigal Son, illustrating the Father’s welcome.

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll