He First Loved Us

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

I John 4:10,11

And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us.

I John 4:16-19

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

Titus 3:4-8

The way to develop love for God and man is to first trust in God’s love for us. This is taught in all of the scriptures above. In Titus 3:4-8 I see this taught methodically. How does one maintain good works (the greatest of which are to love God and man)? By the “faithful saying” and by its constant affirmation. What is the “faithful saying”? It is what is stated in the preceding verses:

“Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us”

and…

“That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

An understanding of God’s love (as expressed upon the cross) and a constant affirmation of it cannot help but generate a love in the heart of his children for him and then a love for others. So then, love for others comes from our love for God, which cannot come from anywhere else but his love for us.