O amor de Deus: o que é e como ele se manifesta na Bíblia
O amor de Deus não é um sentimento passageiro nem depende do merecimento humano: na Bíblia, ele é a própria essência do Criador e o seu compromisso fiel com a criação. A expressão máxima desse amor não foi uma declaração teórica, mas um ato concreto na história — a vinda e o sacrifício de Jesus Cristo pela humanidade.
Nas Escrituras, esse amor se manifesta tanto na lealdade constante da aliança no Antigo Testamento (frequentemente chamada em hebraico de hesed, a misericórdia que não desiste) quanto na entrega sacrificial retratada no Novo Testamento.
O amor demonstrado na prática
Na teologia bíblica, o amor de Deus se mede pelo que Ele deu. Jesus não esperou que a humanidade se corrigisse para vir ao mundo; o amor divino tomou a iniciativa quando não havia mérito algum a ser apresentado.
"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life.(John 3:16)
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.(Romans 5:8)
I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.(Galatians 2:20)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our wrongdoings, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),(Ephesians 2:4,5)
Deus é amor: a essência do caráter divino
As cartas do apóstolo João destacam que o amor não é apenas uma atividade ocasional de Deus, mas quem Ele é. O conhecimento real de Deus se reflete diretamente na forma como as pessoas tratam umas às outras e obedecem aos seus ensinamentos.
Beloved, let’s love one another; for love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. The one who does not love does not know God, because God is love.(1 John 4:7,8)
By this the love of God was revealed in us, that God has sent His only Son into the world so that we may live through Him. In this 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 also ought to love one another.(1 John 4:9-11)
We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in him.(1 John 4:16)
We love, because He first loved us.(1 John 4:19)
See how great a love the Father has given us, that we would be called children of God; and in fact we are. For this reason the world does not know us: because it did not know Him.(1 John 3:1)
Beloved, I am not writing a new commandment to you, but an old commandment which you have had from the beginning; the old commandment is the word which you have heard. On the other hand, I am writing a new commandment to you, which is true in Him and in you, because the darkness is passing away and the true Light is already shining.(1 John 2:7,8)
For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.(1 John 5:3)
Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant.(1 Corinthians 13:4)
A misericórdia e a fidelidade que não se apagam
O Antigo Testamento revela um Deus paciente, cheio de compaixão e tardio em irar-se. Mesmo diante da constante infidelidade humana, o vínculo que o Senhor estabelece com o seu povo permanece ancorado na sua própria graça.
The Lord appeared to him long ago, saying,
"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore I have drawn you out with kindness.(Jeremiah 31:3)
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
Slow to anger and abounding in mercy.(Psalm 103:8)
But You, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God,
Slow to anger and abundant in mercy and truth.(Psalm 86:15)
Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His faithfulness is everlasting.(Psalm 136:1)
Because Your favor is better than life,
My lips will praise You.(Psalm 63:3)
"Since you are precious in My sight,
Since you are honored and I love you,
I will give other people in your place and other nations in exchange for your life.(Isaiah 43:4)
"The Lord your God is in your midst,
A victorious warrior.
He will rejoice over you with joy,
He will be quiet in His love,
He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy.(Zephaniah 3:17)
"I love those who love me;
And those who diligently seek me will find me.(Proverbs 8:17)
We have thought over Your goodness, God,
In the midst of Your temple.(Psalm 48:9)
Prolong Your mercy to those who know You,
And Your righteousness to the upright of heart.(Psalm 36:10)
A certeza de que nada pode separar você desse amor
A segurança do cristão não repousa na força das próprias emoções, mas na solidez do amor de Deus. Não há circunstância, dor, presente ou futuro capaz de quebrar o elo formado por Cristo Jesus.
For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.(Romans 8:38,39)
May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the perseverance of Christ.(2 Thessalonians 3:5)
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all.(2 Corinthians 13:14)
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