Psalm 33:4-5 tells us, "...the word of the LORD is upright, And all His work is done in faithfulness. He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD." From this scripture we learn what God loves. God loves righteousness and justice.
The scriptures also tell us that God loves His Son, Jesus Christ, (John 3:35; John 5:20). In Malachi 1:2-3 God tells us, "I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau…" Much is made of the love of God, yet what about His hate?
Psalm 11:5-7 tells us, "The LORD tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates."
In Leviticus 20:23 God instructs Moses to tell Israel, "Moreover, you shall not follow the customs of the nation which I will drive out before you, for they did all these things, and therefore I have abhorred them."
Psalm 5:4-6 says, "For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; The LORD abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit."
In Hosea 9:15 God says, "All their evil is at Gilgal; Indeed, I came to hate them there! Because of the wickedness of their deeds I will drive them out of My house! I will love them no more…"
Proverbs 6:16-19 teaches us that, "There are six things which the LORD hates, Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, A heart that devises wicked plans, Feet that run rapidly to evil, A false witness who utters lies, And one who spreads strife among brothers."
When John 3:16 tells us that God 'so' loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, the word 'so' means 'in this manner'. The word 'so' is not meant as a measure of God's love toward the fallen world. Rather, the word 'so' is meant as the method of God's expression of love - i.e. God loved the world in this manner/method (deliberately).
I submit that this gift of love from God toward the world is an expression deriving from God's love of righteousness and justice. It is an expression of God's incredible mercy! It is an expression and gift born of God's holiness - God's character and merit, and not the character or merit of fallen mankind. And given, perhaps, because of God's desire for a 'family' (relationship). This free gift of salvation in Jesus Christ testifies to us of God's ultimate goodness - His qualities of lovingkindness and longsuffering - and not our merit. What God does He does for His good pleasure. God is good!
John 3:16-18,36 tells us, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God… He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
2 Peter 3:9 teaches us a theme that is represented in the scriptures numerous times. It informs us that, "The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance."
It is God's desire that all would be saved. Sadly, this is not the desire of the 'all'. Individually we choose God's gift of eternal life, or not. God is not willing that you or I should perish. We choose.
Choose to come to the Father through Jesus Christ, and live! Jesus Christ is the only Way!
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