I Love You vs I Have Loved You

“I love you” is a phrase familiar to two people who are falling in love. Like a line from a song, “Falling in love, feels like a million things,” and that is true indeed; falling in love usually comes with a number of symptoms: your heart races when you meet that person, you find yourself smiling for no reason, you always want to see them, and you feel eager to do anything as long as it is with them.

What about our love for God? Some of us may not be sure why we should love God. Or we may doubt how much God loves us. To understand this, let us learn the difference between God’s love and human love.

I Love You

When it comes to expressing love, everyone has a different way of showing it.

There are two Bible figures who clearly stated that they loved Jesus, namely David and Peter. This does not mean only they loved Him, but their expressions of love were truly spoken and clearly written in the Bible.

For the director of music. Of the servant of the LORD, David, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. He said: “I love You, O LORD, my strength!” – Psalm 18:1

“After breakfast Jesus said to Simon Peter: ‘Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?’ Peter answered Him: ‘Yes, Lord, You know that I love You.’ Jesus said to him: ‘Feed My lambs.’” – John 21:15

In the English Bible, they said, “I love you” to Jesus. The question is, why did they say that? 

David had many personal experiences with God, as well as a very close relationship with Him. In the book of Psalms, David’s inner voice is clearly heard as he always longed for God’s help. In Psalm 18:1 it is written that he loved God because God had delivered him from the grip of his enemies. 

On the other hand, Jesus’ question to Peter, “Do you love Me?” was asked after Jesus rose again and after Peter had denied Him three times before the crucifixion. In this, Jesus wanted Peter to understand one thing: that He still loved Peter and still chose him to shepherd His flock, even though Peter had sinned by denying Him. Jesus’ love made Peter a faithful follower, one who was brave enough to die for the Lord. 

There are also Bible figures who did not explicitly say to God, “I love you,” but showed that they loved God through their actions. One of them was Paul. By loving God’s church, Paul showed that he truly loved Jesus. 

I Have Loved You

Human beings can only say, “I love you,” but there is only one who can say, “I have loved you,” and that is God.

“I have loved you,” says the Lord. – Malachi 1:2 NIV 

(“I have loved you,” says the LORD. – Malachi 1:2)

The Lord appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” – Jeremiah 31:3 NIV

(From afar the LORD appeared to him: I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued My faithful love to you.” – Jeremiah 31:3)

There is a significant difference between “I love you” and “I have loved you.” The sentence “I have loved you” is written in the present perfect tense, a grammar form for something that happened in the past and still continues until now. This means that God’s love never ends. He has loved us since long ago, and He still loves us now. 

God has loved us since we were still sinners. When we were still questioning His existence; hating Him because bad things happened to us or to the people we love; or while we were still living however we pleased. He even was willing to die on the cross while we were still sinners and still His enemies (Romans 5:10).

“I love you” means that we can love God because of what He has already given us. For example, blessings, miracles, healing, or the goodness we have received. Our feeling of love for God arises because we experience His goodness. 

So then, what if bad things happen? When our prayers are not answered by God? Or when life feels even harder because we follow Jesus? Will we still say, “I love you” to God?

Our Response to God’s Love

How do we respond to God, who loves us so deeply, even from when we were still sinners?

I have swept away all your rebellious sins like a cloud blown by the wind, and all your sins like a drifting cloud. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you! – Isaiah 44:22  

Reading the verse above deeply moves me because of God’s great love for me. God has called us and wiped away all our sins. What He wants is for us to return to Him, because He has redeemed all our wrongs with His precious blood on the cross. 

This is perfect love, the kind we will never find in this world. A love that is able to love without conditions or requirements. A love that does not begin with outward attraction, but a love willing to deny itself and serve humankind. 

Are you willing to love Him who has loved you so perfectly?

-