God’s Love and Justice (Lesson 1) God Loves Freely

WHAT KIND OF LOVE LOVES YOU WHEN YOU DON’T LOVE BACK?

Who would love someone who repeatedly rejects their love?

“Have you ever been there? Have you ever loved someone who didn’t love you back? How does it feel?

But there is a love so strong and so deep that it keeps loving even when rejected. Who would love like that?

Welcome back. This is the beginning of our new series on God’s Love and Justice. God is love.

This truth is found in 1 John 4:8, 16, and it lies at the heart of the Bible. 

How we understand this truth affects how we respond to God. 

Having misunderstandings about God’s love—such as thinking we must earn it, can lead to feelings of unworthiness, which can harm our relationships with God and others.

Throughout Scripture, God’s love is mingled with justice. And He is deeply concerned about injustice. 

 He identifies with those who are suffering or experiencing pain, so much so that He willingly took on the pain and grief that evil brought into creation.

 He became the greatest victim of evil, suffering the death that we deserve.

His love is far greater than the flawed idea of ” love “commonly observed today.

Using the  Adult Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, found at sabbath.school or ssnet.org, written by John C. Peckham, a professor of theology at Andrews University and the associate editor of the Adventist Review, we will, therefore, seek to discover the beauty and depth of divine love.

We will address such questions as: is God’s love emotional? How does His love relate to justice? Can we reject His love? If God is love, why is there so much evil in the world?

 As always, before we begin, let’s Pray.

Almighty God, thank you for loving us. Help us to understand your love and how to love you back and love others. In Jesus name, Amen.

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 1)

God Loves Freely

Part 1 Introduction

Have you ever felt the pain of rejection, the sting of love not returned? It can break your heart.

But God’s love is so strong, so unshakable, that it keeps reaching out, even when it’s ignored or rejected.

In Hosea 14:4, God speaks through the prophet with words that show His amazing love.

He says: I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely, for My anger has turned away from him” (Hosea 14:4 NKJV).

God doesn’t hold grudges. Even when we fail Him, He offers to heal us and love us freely—not because we deserve it, but because His heart overflows with mercy.

Think about Peter. Who claimed to love Jesus even unto death, but in His darkest hour, Peter denied Him—not once, but three times.

Jesus, in Matthew 26:34, told him it would happen: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny Me three times” (Matthew 26:34).

And just as Jesus said, it happened. Peter’s fear and weakness led him to turn his back on the One he claimed to love.

But Peter’s story didn’t end there. After Jesus rose from the dead, Jesus didn’t condemn Peter. Instead, He gave him another chance to show his love.

In John 21:15-17, Jesus asked Peter not once, but three times: “Do you love Me?” Each time, Peter responded, “Yes,  Jesus gave him a mission.

15 So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of 2Jonah, do you  love Me more than these?”

He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I 3love You.”

He said to him, “Feed My lambs.”

16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of 4Jonah, do  you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to Him, “Tend My sheep.”

17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to Him, “Feed My sheep.  (John 21:15–17). 

With each question and answer, Jesus was restoring Peter. Just as Peter denied Jesus three times, asking Peter three times, Jesus erased Peter’s three denials by offering Peter three acts of love and forgiveness. Jesus gave Peter a fresh new start and a new purpose.

Bringing it closer to home. Though our circumstances may differ from Peter’s in many ways, the principle is the same. God asks each of us the same question.

That question is the ultimate question posed to each of us: Do you love Me?

No, He is not asking it to shame or condemn us. He’s asking because everything depends on our answer.

Love for God changes how we live, how we treat others, and how we see ourselves.

It’s about saying yes to His love and letting it guide us to carry out the mission he has for us.

When we love someone, and that repeatedly does us wrong, we are ready to throw in the towel and give up on them.  How does God respond to our repeated evil acts? Read Exodus 33:15–22.

Then continue to Part 2: Beyond Reasonable Expectations

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 1)

God Loves Freely

Part 2: Beyond Reasonable Expectations

Have you ever hurt someone who truly loved you, yet they still chose to love you anyway?

That’s the kind of love God has for us—a love that doesn’t quit, even when we turn our backs on Him.

God doesn’t just ask us, Do you love Me?” He shows us, over and over, that He loves us—even when we don’t love Him back.

His love isn’t earned. He gives it freely; this we see in the history of His people, the Israelites. He says especially in Exodus 33:19:

“I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Exodus 33:19 NKJV).

These words remind us that God’s love and mercy are not limited to only those who seem to deserve it. He chooses to love us, even when we fail Him.

This is evident in what happened with the Israelites. God had just delivered them from slavery in Egypt, performing miracles and showing His mighty power.

But it wasn’t long before they rebelled. While Moses was on the mountain with God, the people made a golden calf and worshiped it as if it were their god.

When Moses came down and saw their evil deed, he was so upset that he threw down the tablets containing the Ten Commandments, breaking them into pieces.

You would think that all hope was lost. The people had broken their covenant with God. They didn’t deserve His blessings anymore. But here’s where God’s love shines.

After their rebellion, the people forfeited any right to the covenant privileges and blessings that God had freely promised them.

But God didn’t abandon them. In Exodus 33:15-22, Moses intercedes with God for His people.

God responds with mercy, saying He will continue to be with them and show them His goodness.

 So, in verse 19, God declares that His grace and compassion are His to give freely. He doesn’t love because we earn it—He loves because that’s who He is.

In other words,  God is saying that, as the Creator of all, He has the right and authority to grant grace and compassion freely to even the most undeserving of people.

Though God’s love for Israel in this moment didn’t seem logical. His love went beyond anything they could have expected or deserved.

They had worshiped an idol, but God still chose to stay with them, to forgive them, and to lead them. That’s the kind of love He has for all of us.

This was something that had to be done again and again for Israel. So this is one of the many times God reveals His love and goes beyond any reasonable expectations.

Bringing it home: How often have we turned away from God, choosing our own way instead of His?

And yet, He keeps loving us. He keeps reaching out, offering grace and compassion even when we least deserve it. So this is not just Israel’s story—it’s ours too. (Pause)

God’s love isn’t just fair—it goes beyond fair. It’s a love that keeps giving; even when we fail, His love never fails. 

 Who would take back an unfaithful wife who has given herself to numerous men?

Who would take care of his unfaithful wife’s children who do not belong to him but were instead born out of the wife’s promiscuity?

Read about Hosea and his wife Gomer in Hosea 14:1-14

 Then, View the next segment of this video, Part 3:  Unrequired Love

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 1)

God Loves Freely

Part 3: Unrequired Love

What kind of love keeps giving, even when it’s rejected? What kind of love stays faithful, even when betrayed?

Hosea and Gomer is an amazing love story. It is about a love that continues in pursuit, even when rejected.

This love story of Hosea is one of the most striking examples of God’s love for fallen humanity who refuse to love Him back.

In Hosea 1:2, God told the prophet Hosea:

“Go, take yourself a wife of harlotry and children of harlotry, for the land has committed great harlotry by departing from the Lord” (Hosea 1:2). 

Hosea’s marriage to an unfaithful wife was meant to show the Israelites how much God loved them, even though they had been unfaithful to Him.

They had become spiritual prostitutes. This story is about God, who freely gives His love to those who do not deserve it.

Despite God’s faithfulness and love for His people, again and again, just like Hosea’s wife, Gomer, who turned to other men, Israel turned away from God to worship other gods. 

Scripture often describes God as the faithful husband whose love is rejected by an unfaithful wife. He loved His people perfectly, but they despised Him and served and worshiped other gods, deeply grieving Him and breaking their relationship with Him.

It would seem that this relationship has reached the point of no return.

But God’s love didn’t stop there. In Hosea 14:1-4, God calls His people back to Him:

He says in Hosea 14:1

O Israel, return to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity” (Hosea 14:1).

Despite all their rebellion, God promises in verse 4:

“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely (Hosea 14:4). 

The word “freely” here means voluntarily, without any obligation. It’s the same word used to describe freewill offerings in the sanctuary—a gift given out of love, not duty.

Even though the people kept chasing after other gods and breaking their special relationship with God repeatedly, He chose, out of His own free will, to keep on loving them.

In other words, they didn’t deserve His love.  They had turned away from Him and given up any right to it.

But God kept showing His love to them freely, not because He had to but because He wanted to.

The scriptures show us again and again that God’s love is always given freely and willingly.

Bringing it home.  God’s love is a gift—a free and voluntary act of grace.

He’s not a distant or harsh judge. He’s the lover of our souls, grieving over our sins but still reaching out to us with arms wide open.

Even when we fail Him, He offers to heal us, restore us, and love us freely.

God’s love is patient and kind, even when we don’t love Him back.

Just like Israel, we’ve all turned away at times. But God still calls us, saying, I will heal your backsliding, I will love you freely.”

 Is God pursuing our love because he needs us? Read the following Revelation 4:11 and Psalm 33:6, John 17:24  and Hebrews 1:3. 

Tell me what you think in the comment section:

Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 4: Love Freely Given 

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 1)

God Loves Freely

Part 4: Love Freely Given

God’s love has no limits. He gives it freely and without reservation.

Even when Israel rebelled over and over again—turning their backs on Him, doubting His promises, and chasing after other gods—God still poured out His love on them. He never gave up on them, and He never gives up on us.

Right now, in this very moment, while we are far from perfect and wrestling with our own struggles, God’s love still reaches for us.

 It doesn’t matter how many mistakes we’ve made or how unworthy we may feel.

His love isn’t something we can earn, and it’s certainly not something we deserve. Yet, He gives it anyway—freely, generously, and without limits.

The Creator of the universe sees every flaw, every failure, and every weakness, yet His love for you never wavers.

It’s a love so deep and so pure that it calls us to turn back to Him, to trust Him, and to walk in the light of His grace.

This is the God we serve—a God who loves us not because of what we do, but simply because we are His.

 Acts 17:25 says

 25 Nor is He worshiped with men’s hands, as though He needed anything since He gives to all life, breath, and all things. (Acts 17:25)

Therefore, God doesn’t need anything from us because He is the source of all life and breath.

Yet, God chooses to love us in His infinite freedom—not because He has to, but because He wants to. (Pause)

This truth is seen in creation itself. Revelation 4:11 says, “

You are worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power; for You created all things, and by Your will they exist and were created” (Revelation 4:11).

Psalm 33:6 echoes this same thing, saying, “By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, and all the host of them by the breath of His mouth” (Psalm 33:6 ).

God created the world not out of need but out of His overflowing love. That makes Him worthy of all our praise.

Before the world was created, God’s love was already perfect. He already enjoyed the love relationship that existed within the Godhead (the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit). 

In John 17:24, Jesus says, “Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world” (John 17:24).

This tells us that God didn’t need us to experience love. The love within the Godhead—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—was already complete. Yet, out of His character of love, God chose to create us and invite us into that love.

God, in His boundless love, freely created this world as a beautiful expression of His love.

But His love didn’t stop there. Even after humanity fell into sin in Eden, even after we stumble and fall in our own lives, God’s love remains steadfast.

He doesn’t turn away; instead, He continues to love us freely, without hesitation or condition.

This is the depth of His grace—a love that reaches beyond our failures and invites us back to Him every single day.

After Adam and Eve disobeyed in Eden, they no longer deserved life or God’s love.

But Hebrews 1:3 tells us that God “upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3).

In His great love and mercy and grace, He sustained their lives and made a plan to reconcile us back to Himself.

His plan of reconciliation isn’t limited it’s for all of us. Despite the sin and evil in the world, God continues to love us freely.

He sustains our lives and offers a way back to Him through Jesus Christ. What kind of love is this? It’s a love that doesn’t give up, even when we fail.

God’s love is patient, merciful, and never-ending. It’s a love that doesn’t depend on what we do but flows from who He is.

 And when we understand this, how can we not love Him back?

This brings up another point: God calls us all to partake in His love, but everyone does not respond.

 What happens when we reject his love? Read the parable in Matthew 22:1-14 meditate on it .

Then, continue to the next segment of this video: Part 5:  Many Are Called, but Few Are Chosen

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 1)

God Loves Freely

Part 5: Many Are Called, but Few Are Chosen

God’s love is a gift freely offered to all, but He doesn’t force us to love Him back. Instead, He invites us to respond.

This reality is powerfully shown in Jesus’ parable of the wedding banquet found in Matthew 22:1–14.

In this parable, a king prepares a wedding feast for his son. He sends servants to invite the guests,

He “ ‘call those who were invited to the wedding,’ ” but “ ‘they were not willing to come’ ” (Matt. 22:2, 3).

The king sends more servants, pleading with the people,

4 Again, he sent out other servants, saying, ‘Tell those who are invited, “See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding.” ’

5 But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. N(Pauew)

6 And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. (Matt. 22:4–6) n(Paoere)

The king, deeply hurt, deals with those who killed his servants. Then he sends his servants to invite others, saying in Mathew 22:8-9)

8 Then he said to his servants, ‘The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy.

9 Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.’ (Matthew 22:8–9).

So, the servants gather people from everywhere, and the banquet hall is filled.

But the story takes a turn. The king notices a man without a wedding garment.

The man is speechless when asked why he isn’t dressed appropriately.

This signifies the need to receive a wedding garment from the king to attend the wedding banquet.

But this person chose not to wear the garment that the king offered; therefore, the king cast him out.

This part of the story shows that accepting the invitation is not enough. We must also wear the wedding garment, which represents the righteousness of Christ, a gift from God Himself.

Jesus in Matthew 22:14 ends the parable with these powerful words:

 “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Matthew 22:14).

What does He mean?

The invitation, or the “call,” goes out to everyone. God calls, that is, invites everyone to the wedding feast.

But the “chosen,” the “elect” are those who accept the invitation to the wedding and come dressed in the wedding garment the King offers.

Therefore, the “elect” are not chosen randomly—they are those who freely choose to respond to God’s call and accept His gift of love.

Any one of us can refuse God’s love. For love without freedom is not Love at all. Freedom is vital to love. Love and freedom go hand in hand. God will never force His love on anyone.

Therefore, God, who is love, gives us the freedom to reject having a love relationship with Him.

In other words, God invites us all to His banquet. But He respects our freedom to choose. (Pauser)

Love cannot exist without freedom. These choose their own way instead of God’s way.

But for those who accept His love, His reward is beyond anything we can comprehend or imagine.

As the parable shows, God has prepared a celebration like no other. It’s a feast filled with love, joy, and eternal life.

But He also asks us to come appropriately clothed—with the wedding garment of Christ’s righteousness.

This isn’t something we earn; it’s a gift we must accept.

Why is it necessary to wear the garment God offers rather than our own? Read John 10:17, 18 and Compare it with Galatians 2:20.

Then, continue to the next segment of this video, Part 6: Crucified for Us

God’s Love and Justice

(Lesson 1)

God Loves Freely

Part 6: Crucified for Us

God’s love is so pure, so selfless, that it keeps reaching out even to those who push it away. It is God’s love for us that led Jesus to the cross. 

God invites everyone into a love relationship with Him, but not everyone is willing to accept it.

In Matthew 22:3, Jesus describes this heartbreaking truth in the parable of the wedding banquet:

3 and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. (Matthew 22:3).

The invitation to eternal joy is extended, but many turn it down. 

As Jesus approached the cross, he was heartbroken for His people. In Matthew 23:37, He cried out:

“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!” (Matthew 23:37).

Christ wanted to gather them, but they were not willing to come.  

The same word, “willing” (thelo), is used here to show both Christ’s desire to save and the people’s refusal to be saved. This is the same term in Matthew 22:3.

His love reached out, but they turned away. 

However, despite their rejection, Jesus didn’t give up on them. Christ went to the cross for all humanity, including those who refused to accept his love.

In John 10:17–18, Jesus says:

“I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself” (John 10:17–18).

This tells us that His death on the cross wasn’t forced upon Him. He willingly gave His life out of love for us humans.

While we deserved death because of our sins, God Himself (in Christ)  paid the price and has made a way to repair the broken relationship between heaven and earth.

Moreover, He continues to give us His love, though He is not obligated to do so. He gives it of his own free will.

Jesus points this out in John 10:17-18 when He says:

17 “Therefore My Father loves Me,because I lay down My life that I may take it again.

18 No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” (John 10:17-18)

Galatians 2:20 echoes this truth, saying:

“I have been crucified with Christ; 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 for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

The cross is the ultimate display of God’s love. It wasn’t an afterthought.

As Ellen G. White writes in The Desire of Ages:

“The plan for our redemption was not an afterthought, a plan formulated after the fall of Adam. It was a revelation of ‘the mystery which hath been kept in silence through times eternal.’ Romans 16:25, R. V.

It was an unfolding of the principles that from eternal ages have been the foundation of God’s throne.

From the beginning, God and Christ knew of the apostasy of Satan, and of the fall of man through the deceptive power of the apostate.

God did not ordain that sin should exist, but He foresaw its existence, and made provision to meet the terrible emergency.

So great was His love for the world, that He covenanted to give His only-begotten Son, ‘that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.’ John 3:16.”—Ellen G. White, The Desire of Ages, p. 22.

Before the foundation of the world, before sin even entered the picture, God’s love had already made a way. His plan was not to destroy us for our sins but to save us through the sacrifice of His only Son. John 3:16 reminds us:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” 

What kind of love is this? A love that saw our sin and rebellion and chose to offer forgiveness instead of condemnation.

A love that didn’t wait for us to get it right but stepped into our brokenness to make us whole. 

Christ was crucified for you—freely, willingly, and out of unimaginable love.

He longed to gather you under His wings, to shield you with His grace, but He won’t force you.

The cross stands as His invitation. Will you say yes to the love that chose you, even when you didn’t choose Him?

Let His love change your heart. Oh! What a Savior—Oh! What a love!  THIS IS THE KIND OF LOVE THAT LOVES YOU WHEN YOU DON’T LOVE BACK.

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