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God's Love: How the Infinite God Cares for His Children
From the Back Cover
An in-depth look at a God who not only loves, but is love.
Love has come to mean many things. It’s used to describe emotions. It’s the glue for relationships. It frames countless stories.
And the greatest of these stories opens before time began and echoes throughout eternity. It’s the story of God’s unrelenting, overwhelming love for His people. Yet the truth of love is even more majestic, more staggering, and more extraordinary than we can understand: God doesn’t just love us. He is love.
Renowned theologian and teacher Dr.R.C. Sproul takes a remarkable look at this most profound truth. God’s Love delves deep into Scripture to explore this dynamic attribute of God, which finds its ultimate expression in His Son. Dr. Sproul also examines seeming paradoxes of God, such as a loving God and divine hate, and how love coexists with His sovereignty. Practical, insightful, and revolutionary, God’s Love compels and calls us to reflect His nature of unconditional love.
An in-depth look at a God who not only loves, but is love.
Love has come to mean many things. It’s used to describe emotions. It’s the glue for relationships. It frames countless stories.
And the greatest of these stories opens before time began and echoes throughout eternity. It’s the story of God’s unrelenting, overwhelming love for His people. Yet the truth of love is even more majestic, more staggering, and more extraordinary than we can understand: God doesn’t just love us. He is love.
Renowned theologian and teacher Dr.R.C. Sproul takes a remarkable look at this most profound truth. God’s Love delves deep into Scripture to explore this dynamic attribute of God, which finds its ultimate expression in His Son. Dr. Sproul also examines seeming paradoxes of God, such as a loving God and divine hate, and how love coexists with His sovereignty. Practical, insightful, and revolutionary, God’s Love compels and calls us to reflect His nature of unconditional love.
258 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2001
458 people are currently reading
1409 people want to read
About the author
R.C. Sproul
673 books2,000 followersDr. R.C. Sproul (1939–2017) was founder of Ligonier Ministries, an international Christian discipleship organization located near Orlando, Fla. He was founding pastor of Saint Andrew’s Chapel in Sanford, Fla., first president of Reformation Bible College, and executive editor of Tabletalk magazine.
Ligonier Ministries began in 1971 as the Ligonier Valley Study Center in Ligonier, Pa. In an effort to respond more effectively to the growing demand for Dr. Sproul’s teachings and the ministry’s other educational resources, the general offices were moved to Orlando in 1984, and the ministry was renamed.
Dr. Sproul’s radio program, Renewing Your Mind, is still broadcast daily on hundreds of radio stations around the world and can also be heard online. Dr. Sproul produced hundreds of lecture series and recorded numerous video series on subjects such as the history of philosophy, theology, Bible study, apologetics, and Christian living.
He contributed dozens of articles to national evangelical publications, spoke at conferences, churches, and academic institutions around the world, and wrote more than one hundred books, including The Holiness of God, Chosen by God, and Everyone’s a Theologian. He signed the 1978 Chicago Statement on Biblical Inerrancy and wrote a commentary on that document. He also served as general editor of the Reformation Study Bible, previously known as the New Geneva Study Bible.
Dr. Sproul had a distinguished academic teaching career at various colleges and seminaries, including Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Jackson, Miss. He was ordained as a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church in America.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews
April 2, 2013
In a world in which the expression of true love is lacking in so many areas and perverted in others, it is understandable that some unbelievers would struggle to understand the love of God. This is also the case for Christians especially for those who may have grown up with an absent father or who suffered various forms of abuse from the ones who were supposed to love them. Further, there are certain parts of the world in which it is very hard to convey the concept of the love of God to unbelievers simply because the current god(s) they believe in do not love them. This can especially be the case for women.
But God’s love should not be a foreign or confusing idea for His children. In fact, it should not be merely an idea at all. It should be an experience that we live everyday as we see the many ways in which God loves His children. This is the focus of R. C. Sproul’s new book God’s Love: How the Infinite God Cares for His Children by David C. Cook (2012). This book is part of the Classic Theology Series. The thrust of this book is that love is not a theoretical concept to be discussed in relationship to God but rather it is an attribute of God, something He possesses, that He displays to us in various ways. Sproul explains the difficulty in understanding the love of God:
The problem we face is exacerbated when we realize that our interest is not limited to defining love in the abstract but defining it specifically as an attribute of God Himself. If we confess that love is an attribute of God, then our understanding of the nature of God is only as accurate as our understanding of the love we are attributing to Him. (p. 12)
The same of course can be said for any other attribute of God. Since love is an attribute of God it is of perennial importance that we understand it as properly as we can so that we understand God as properly as we can. The two are joined together.
The key verses Sproul employs in describing God as love are John 4:7-11 in which John tells us that “God is love.” This is not an equative statement such that when the phrase is turned around to say “love is God” it is equally true. This would be to place love above God and therefore me we should worship love and not God. Rather, to say “God is love” is to attribute something about God that He possesses. “To say that love is of God means that love belongs to or is the possession of God.” (p. 16)
With the establishment of love as an attribute of God, Sproul then dives into the many ways in which God displays this love to His children. Three of these ways could be said to be foundational to the rest: (1) the eternal love of God, (2) the loyal love of God and (3) the electing love of God. The foundation by which God can and does love His children is first and foremost seen in the love God showed before creation. That is, since God is eternal and love is an attribute He possesses, the love of God has existed eternally with God. This love was first poured out on His Son Jesus Christ through the covenant of redemption which all three persons of the trinity took part in. This covenant of love, or eternal love, in eternity before creation finds its expression in the Father and Son’s relationship when the Son was on the cross. The next foundational expression of God’s love is His loyal love as the covenant of redemption is acted out in history. While the forsakenness of the Son by the Father is a hard doctrine to comprehend it is nonetheless biblical and worthy of our attention. Sproul helps the reader when he states:
The Father’s willingness to subject His beloved Son to forsakenness was matched by the Son’s willingness to be forsaken on behalf of His people in order to secure their salvation. It is ironic indeed for parties to a covenant to agree on forsakenness, but that is the basis for our salvation. (p. 74)
The third of the three foundational expressions of God’s love is His electing love. This is the love of God as it is specifically directed towards and applied to certain people in a salvific manner. While the Calvinistic understanding of election has been met with great hostility by certain Christian groups, Sproul believes that without it there is no salvation. That is, without the Father graciously and mercifully loving some of mankind by means of choosing them to receive the benefits of the accomplished salvation of the Son no one wold be saved and Christ would have died in vain.
From here Sproul discusses a number of other related expressions of the love of God such as how God can be said to hate. Sproul also briefly tackles the impassibility of God (153-56), goes into depth with the agape love of God as seen in Christ (chap. 8) and closes out the book focusing on how God’s children, who are receivers of the love God, are to love others as discussed in 1 Corinthians 13 (chap. 9)
God’s Love is a great book that expounds on what is at times for some a perplexing attribute of God. Admittedly, Sproul approaches this doctrine from a Calvinistic perspective but Christians of all positions on election can greatly benefit from this book. For the kind of book this appeared to be, Sproul certainly surprised me with the depth at which he goes into this doctrine. Granted, there were limits due to the size of the book but Sproul tackles it with his usual intellectual rigor, exegetical basis and eye for the layman reader. I recommend this book for Christians who wish to gain a foundational understanding of the love of God.
NOTE: This book was provided for free from David C. Cook in return for an honest and unbiased review. The words and thoughts expressed are my own.
But God’s love should not be a foreign or confusing idea for His children. In fact, it should not be merely an idea at all. It should be an experience that we live everyday as we see the many ways in which God loves His children. This is the focus of R. C. Sproul’s new book God’s Love: How the Infinite God Cares for His Children by David C. Cook (2012). This book is part of the Classic Theology Series. The thrust of this book is that love is not a theoretical concept to be discussed in relationship to God but rather it is an attribute of God, something He possesses, that He displays to us in various ways. Sproul explains the difficulty in understanding the love of God:
The problem we face is exacerbated when we realize that our interest is not limited to defining love in the abstract but defining it specifically as an attribute of God Himself. If we confess that love is an attribute of God, then our understanding of the nature of God is only as accurate as our understanding of the love we are attributing to Him. (p. 12)
The same of course can be said for any other attribute of God. Since love is an attribute of God it is of perennial importance that we understand it as properly as we can so that we understand God as properly as we can. The two are joined together.
The key verses Sproul employs in describing God as love are John 4:7-11 in which John tells us that “God is love.” This is not an equative statement such that when the phrase is turned around to say “love is God” it is equally true. This would be to place love above God and therefore me we should worship love and not God. Rather, to say “God is love” is to attribute something about God that He possesses. “To say that love is of God means that love belongs to or is the possession of God.” (p. 16)
With the establishment of love as an attribute of God, Sproul then dives into the many ways in which God displays this love to His children. Three of these ways could be said to be foundational to the rest: (1) the eternal love of God, (2) the loyal love of God and (3) the electing love of God. The foundation by which God can and does love His children is first and foremost seen in the love God showed before creation. That is, since God is eternal and love is an attribute He possesses, the love of God has existed eternally with God. This love was first poured out on His Son Jesus Christ through the covenant of redemption which all three persons of the trinity took part in. This covenant of love, or eternal love, in eternity before creation finds its expression in the Father and Son’s relationship when the Son was on the cross. The next foundational expression of God’s love is His loyal love as the covenant of redemption is acted out in history. While the forsakenness of the Son by the Father is a hard doctrine to comprehend it is nonetheless biblical and worthy of our attention. Sproul helps the reader when he states:
The Father’s willingness to subject His beloved Son to forsakenness was matched by the Son’s willingness to be forsaken on behalf of His people in order to secure their salvation. It is ironic indeed for parties to a covenant to agree on forsakenness, but that is the basis for our salvation. (p. 74)
The third of the three foundational expressions of God’s love is His electing love. This is the love of God as it is specifically directed towards and applied to certain people in a salvific manner. While the Calvinistic understanding of election has been met with great hostility by certain Christian groups, Sproul believes that without it there is no salvation. That is, without the Father graciously and mercifully loving some of mankind by means of choosing them to receive the benefits of the accomplished salvation of the Son no one wold be saved and Christ would have died in vain.
From here Sproul discusses a number of other related expressions of the love of God such as how God can be said to hate. Sproul also briefly tackles the impassibility of God (153-56), goes into depth with the agape love of God as seen in Christ (chap. 8) and closes out the book focusing on how God’s children, who are receivers of the love God, are to love others as discussed in 1 Corinthians 13 (chap. 9)
God’s Love is a great book that expounds on what is at times for some a perplexing attribute of God. Admittedly, Sproul approaches this doctrine from a Calvinistic perspective but Christians of all positions on election can greatly benefit from this book. For the kind of book this appeared to be, Sproul certainly surprised me with the depth at which he goes into this doctrine. Granted, there were limits due to the size of the book but Sproul tackles it with his usual intellectual rigor, exegetical basis and eye for the layman reader. I recommend this book for Christians who wish to gain a foundational understanding of the love of God.
NOTE: This book was provided for free from David C. Cook in return for an honest and unbiased review. The words and thoughts expressed are my own.
October 17, 2020
I think this is my first R.C. Sproul book--and I loved it. Very deep, thoughtful, insightful, biblical, and helpful. Sproul digs deep into the meaning of the love of God and all its aspects. He covers theological insights from creation to Christ--giving one a great Old Testament foundation, as well as a New Testament one. God's love is not all peace & love & pie-in-the-sky; no, His love also means that there is hate as well, the flip side of the coin. Sproul does a magnificent job of explicating tough issues like this and helps to put things in biblical balance.
I believe I got a good deal on this ebook; read it on my iPad. Looking forward to reading some more of this wise, godly writer who has gone on to Glory.
I believe I got a good deal on this ebook; read it on my iPad. Looking forward to reading some more of this wise, godly writer who has gone on to Glory.
January 2, 2024
Review to come as this is a book I believe everyone needs to read, or as in my case to listen to..
October 15, 2022
God's Love is a book I had on my TBR shelf for way too long and I just now finally read. I loved it! It helped explain some difficult-to-put-to-words theology. It was easy to read, even though it was a deep read at times.
I definitely can see myself rereading this book in the future and recommend it. I look forward to reading more books by R.C. Sproul.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
I definitely can see myself rereading this book in the future and recommend it. I look forward to reading more books by R.C. Sproul.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*
February 27, 2025
This was a good read. No complaints about most of the chapters, but nothing that stood out either. 7/10
March 11, 2020
The book overall was okay, nothing particularly insightful but a good overview of God's love as expressed in Scripture.
With the glaring exception of the long discourse on predestination. The connection to the rest of the book was tenuous, it seemed like the author was looking for a reason to elaborate on a favorite subject, which happened to be an extreme, heartless and simplistic view of Calvinism.
With the glaring exception of the long discourse on predestination. The connection to the rest of the book was tenuous, it seemed like the author was looking for a reason to elaborate on a favorite subject, which happened to be an extreme, heartless and simplistic view of Calvinism.
August 16, 2019
We think of love in very human terms – terms that are influenced by our own personal experiences with them. And when we then associate our personalized conception of what love is to how God loves us in the framework of Christianity, well, no wonder we end up with theological problems and an improper view of God. In this book, Sproul attempts to define what biblical love actually is; and by doing so, attempts to explain how it then resolves such thorny questions as “How can a loving God condemn people to hell?” Sproul covers what the Bible means by stating “God is love”, the different facets of God’s love, and how love existed within the Trinity and what that means for our faith. He even exposits 1 Corinthians 13, and what it actually says about love. This book is typical Sproul, so you know what you’re getting: something well-reasoned, logically sound, and biblically-based. And because of his theology, you will obviously get all of the previous with a reformed bent – that is, will you get a chapter explaining how love fits into unconditional election? You bet your five solas, you will. As someone whose theology isn’t reformed (but is as close as possible without declaring it), I found his arguments extremely compelling. Fans of Sproul and reformed theology will obviously love this book. I’d recommend it for everyone wanting to better understand love in its biblical context.
June 7, 2023
This is the first book of Sproul's I've actually read though I've listened to him lecture much. Sproul works, in his own words, by "vignette," not in exhaustive exposition. He works by themes essentially: kinds of love, God's demonstrations of love, etc. He interestingly considers this a harder topic than God's sovereignty, perhaps because people want to discuss God's love without treading into the implications and difficult questions that arise from defining what God's love is or because love is so badly defined generally. But, of course, in classic Sproul style he gets around to God's "electing love." :-)
August 16, 2024
I love RC Sproul and how he thinks. This book on God's love is not quite what I expected, as he covers various facets of love that I don't typically think about. Although it contains important spiritual truths, it simply didn't grab my attention enough to want to keep reading, though I did finish the book. He does quote Scripture alot, and I feel like Bible passages make up about 1/8 of the book. Some people may love this, some not so much, but I think it at least testifies to how important RC felt Scripture was, in guiding what he wrote.
March 8, 2018
Dr Sproul has a gift of making very high and lofty theological matters understandable to the common person. This was a great exposition on God’s love. He makes the point that we pick out attributes (such as love) and we elevate it to the extreme case where it swallows all God’s other attributes which are also holy and good. The exegesis on the Love chapter of Corinthians went straight to my heart.
March 27, 2023
While I don't 100% agree with every theological discussion in this book, I learned a great deal from the teaching about Christ becoming a curse for us.
"If we confess that love is an attribute of God, then our understanding of the nature of God is only as accurate as our understanding of the love we are attributing to Him."
If you're ready to dig into what Scripture teaches about God's love, I highly recommend it.
"If we confess that love is an attribute of God, then our understanding of the nature of God is only as accurate as our understanding of the love we are attributing to Him."
If you're ready to dig into what Scripture teaches about God's love, I highly recommend it.
February 27, 2018
Sproul does an excellent job here of reconciling the love of God with the doctrine of election. For many Christians, the two concepts are in contradiction with one another. He describes various aspects of God's love. He even contrasts it with God's hatred, providing a full Biblical balance. If you'd like to learn more about God's love from a Reformed perspective, I recommend this title.
April 30, 2018
Útil para comprender el concepto de amor
Todos, de alguna manera, hemos tenido conceptos equivocados sobre el amor de Dios. Esos conceptos nos han llevado a sacar conclusiones contradictorias de la Biblia.
Este libro es muy útil para comprender más ampliamente la manera en la que Dios ama al mundo y a su pueblo.
Todos, de alguna manera, hemos tenido conceptos equivocados sobre el amor de Dios. Esos conceptos nos han llevado a sacar conclusiones contradictorias de la Biblia.
Este libro es muy útil para comprender más ampliamente la manera en la que Dios ama al mundo y a su pueblo.
February 4, 2021
This book was fantastic and insightful. It is definitely dense, and I had to take notes to keep hold of the thoughts and arguments that Sproul is making. Not only do you learn about God's Love in Scripture, but also many other theological concepts and attributes that barely touch and the majesty that is God.
October 10, 2017
Good when focus is on love.
The discourse on predestination detracted from an otherwise good presentation about the love of God. God’s love is for everyone. That’s what it says in John 3:16.
The discourse on predestination detracted from an otherwise good presentation about the love of God. God’s love is for everyone. That’s what it says in John 3:16.
August 28, 2018
For some reason, I had such a hard time getting into this one, but it's very good. I was reading a Kindle version, and I think I would have done better with a paper copy that I could underline, pencil in some notes, etc.
December 9, 2018
This book can best be summed up in the last two sentence of the book. "Faith, hope, and love are all great. But in this triad, there is one that is the greatest of the great--the gift and virtue of Love."
July 3, 2020
Gospel Love
Absolutely a great expository of truth.
RC Sproul is one of the great Bible teachers of his generation. God's Love is biblically taught and explained in such a way as only RC Sproul can.
Absolutely a great expository of truth.
RC Sproul is one of the great Bible teachers of his generation. God's Love is biblically taught and explained in such a way as only RC Sproul can.
October 13, 2020
Deeper look at God’s love
This book is an excellent source for diving deeper into God’s love for his children. It takes you beyond a superficial understanding of what love means to God and what it means as a Christian to love Him and others.
This book is an excellent source for diving deeper into God’s love for his children. It takes you beyond a superficial understanding of what love means to God and what it means as a Christian to love Him and others.
March 5, 2023
A well done and theological deep study on Gods love, a character of God. Done from a Calvinistic perspective and his theological views on election is part of the book, particularly chapter 5. Can be enjoyed by those that have a different view. Liked the last chapters that were based on Agape love.
November 26, 2024
God's Love
Dr. Sproul explains three Greek words that are translated as love. Each of these words broadens the scope of love . Agape is the highest form of love and is God's love towards believers. Agape is the form of love God commands the believer to have/show to the world.
Dr. Sproul explains three Greek words that are translated as love. Each of these words broadens the scope of love . Agape is the highest form of love and is God's love towards believers. Agape is the form of love God commands the believer to have/show to the world.
May 22, 2025
Overall, an excellent read. I do think the digression on election was too long and polemical for the work. It’s only right that he tackled electing love, but the section should have been trimmed. But I do think the book was helpful.
October 27, 2018
A Deeper Look at Love
The author goes deeper for the student of Scripture. It is a book you must stop and think at various times.
The author goes deeper for the student of Scripture. It is a book you must stop and think at various times.
April 15, 2019
Thought provoking... It make you consider God's love for us and the choice to accept or reject it.
August 18, 2019
This is one worth rereading, Sproul does an excellent job of explaining the God's Love in a Biblical lens and what are response should be to it.
August 29, 2019
Loved it
A very good discussion if God's love. There were some parts that made you have to stop and pause to pray, but i am better for reading this treatise.
A very good discussion if God's love. There were some parts that made you have to stop and pause to pray, but i am better for reading this treatise.
February 16, 2020
Excellent treatment. I especially appreciated his treatment of 1 Corinthians 13.
February 26, 2021
Great book, R.C wrote with amazing depth and clarity of thought. His ability to explain deep concepts in understandable terms without watering them down is impressive.
June 25, 2021
Excellent biblical exposition of God’s love.
May 7, 2022
This is a theology about love. The author peeled out biblical love in this book, an in-depth study. Reading Dr Sproul's book was like reading CS Lewis books. A theology and apologetics in mixed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 67 reviews