The love of Christ—What is it?

from the old testament

• The love of Christ is not mentioned in the Old Testament, though God’s love is. The Old Testament repeatedly describes God’s love as ḥesed—His loyal, faithful, covenant-keeping love (Exodus 34:6; Psalm 136). This unwavering love becomes fully revealed in Jesus, who embodies God’s covenant faithfulness in human form.
• God rescues His people from slavery (Exodus 6:6), forgives their sin (Nehemiah 9:17), and shows compassion to the broken and wandering (Hosea 11:1–4). These acts prepare us to recognize Christ’s love in delivering humanity from sin and death.
• The Old Testament promises a Savior who will bear our sins (Isaiah 53:4–6), heal our hearts (Isaiah 61:1–2), and rule with justice and peace (Isaiah 9:6–7). Jesus fulfills these promises, showing that Christ’s love is God’s long-planned answer to human need.
• Despite Israel’s repeated rebellion, God continues to pursue, restore, and forgive (Psalm 103:8–12; Hosea 2:14–20). This persistent love foreshadows Christ’s patient, redeeming love for His people.
• God is described as a shepherd (Psalm 23), father (Deuteronomy 1:31), and bridegroom (Isaiah 62:5). Jesus picks up these same images, revealing the depth and tenderness of His love.

from the new testament

• The phrase “love of Christ,” as used in the New Testament, refers to His love for humanity (Romans 8:35; 2 Corinthians 5:14).
• Jesus shows His love toward us in many ways, ultimately proving it through His death on the cross (Romans 5:8; Galatians 2:20) and His resurrection from the dead (Ephesians 1:19–20).
• The love of Christ is shown through Jesus coming from heaven to earth. John 1:14 teaches that, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth."
• Jesus endured being betrayed by a close follower, whom He loved. Luke 22:3–4 shares, "Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them."
• The love of Christ was shown through the pain Jesus suffered in His beatings and death upon the cross for us even though we were His enemies. Romans 5:8 teaches, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
• The phrase “love of Christ” appears three times in the New Testament—in Romans 8:35, 2 Corinthians 5:14, and Ephesians 3:19—and each reference reveals a different aspect of His deep, pursuing, and life-shaping love for us.
• Romans 8:35 asks, "Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?" Romans 8:38–39 answer, "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
• Second Corinthians 5:14–15 shares how the love of Christ changes our lives: "For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." The love of Christ controls how we live in showing love to others.
• Knowing the love of Christ helps us to be filled with the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17–19 shares, "that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God."

implications for today

The love of Christ is seen in many ways, including the transformation that takes place within us as His Spirit reshapes our desires, attitudes, and actions. As His love takes root in our hearts, it becomes the source that empowers us to forgive freely, serve humbly, and love others sacrificially. The inner change that God produces in us does not stay hidden—Christ’s love flows outward through our words, decisions, and relationships as He transforms us from the inside out. We seek to love others well with Christ’s love as He has loved us. In this way, the love of Christ doesn’t just touch our lives; it moves through us to impact the lives of others, spreading His character and love everywhere we go.