How Does God’s Perfect Love Define What Is Good? (Omnibenevolence)
When Scripture declares that “God is love” (1 John 4:8), it is not describing something God merely does but what He is in His very nature. Theologians call this attribute omnibenevolence, meaning God is perfectly good and loving at all times and in every way. His love is not a fleeting emotion or sentimental feeling but a holy and rational affection rooted in His unchanging character.
God’s perfect love defines what is good because true goodness is inseparable from Him. Love seeks the good of the beloved, and in God, this good is not arbitrary—it is the perfection of holiness. His love does not come from need or deficiency but from His fullness. He loves His creatures because His nature is to give, bless, and seek their highest good in Himself.
Understanding God’s omnibenevolence helps us see how goodness and love are not external standards imposed on God but flow directly from His being. To explore how this attribute fits into the whole counsel of His character, see the broader series on the Attributes of God.
This article will explore three central truths about God’s omnibenevolence: (1) God’s love is the foundation of all goodness, (2) God’s love extends in common grace to all creatures, and (3) God’s love secures redemption and the coming Kingdom.
1. God’s Love as the Foundation of All Goodness
The perfect love of God defines goodness itself. If God is love, then goodness is what accords with His loving nature. His love is not selfish but holy, always seeking what is right and true. Jesus summarized the law in terms of love: to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:37–39). These commandments do not invent goodness; they reflect God’s loving character as the source of all morality.
Unlike human love, which can be distorted by selfish motives or fleeting emotions, God’s love is pure, rational, and voluntary. It is not blind affection but purposeful action directed toward what is best. His love includes genuine affection, but it is always consistent with His holiness and truth.
This is why John writes, “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us” (1 John 3:16). The cross defines love because it shows God seeking our highest good—our reconciliation and holiness—at the cost of His Son’s life. Omnibenevolence does not mean indulgence but redemptive pursuit of what is truly good.
2. God’s Love in Common Grace Toward All Creation
Omnibenevolence also means God shows goodness to all creatures, not only to the redeemed. Theologians describe this as benevolence or common grace—God’s unselfish concern expressed toward the whole creation. Jesus highlighted this when He said that God “makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45).
This love of benevolence does not imply saving grace but reflects God’s general kindness and provision for all living things. Psalm 145:9 declares, “The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.” This includes food for animals, beauty in nature, and the sustaining of human societies, even when they reject Him.
God’s common grace demonstrates that His love is expansive and not limited by human merit. Every breath we take, every harvest gathered, and every kindness experienced is a testimony to His omnibenevolence. Such grace is designed to lead us to repentance (Romans 2:4).
Even in the face of evil, God’s love restrains judgment for a time, giving space for repentance and revealing His patience. This restraint does not mean He ignores sin but that His love delays judgment until His purposes are complete.
3. God’s Love Secures Redemption and the Kingdom
The most profound display of omnibenevolence is in redemption. God’s perfect love is not only general but particular. While He shows kindness to all, He also demonstrates a special, saving love toward His people. John 3:16 proclaims this clearly: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
At the cross, God’s love and holiness meet. His love is not permissive tolerance of sin but self-giving sacrifice to rescue sinners from sin. Romans 5:8 declares, “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Here, goodness is defined not as indulgence but as holiness expressed in redemptive action.
This love also defines the future. God’s Kingdom will be the eternal expression of His omnibenevolence. Revelation 21 describes a world where God wipes away every tear, where death shall be no more, and where His people dwell in His love forever. The perfection of love will fill creation as God’s presence dwells with His people.
For believers, this means confidence in the present and hope for the future. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:39). Omnibenevolence assures us that God is not only powerful but also perfectly good, always working for the well-being of His people and the glory of His name.
Conclusion
God’s perfect love defines what is good because He Himself is the standard of goodness. His omnibenevolence reveals a love that is holy, rational, and self-giving. This love extends in common grace to all creation, secures redemption through the cross, and will one day saturate the new creation.
For the believer, omnibenevolence is not abstract theology but lived reality. It assures us that God’s goodness is constant, His love is unfailing, and His purposes are directed toward our eternal joy in Him. In a world where human definitions of love often drift toward sentimentality or selfishness, the omnibenevolence of God anchors us in truth.
The Gospel is the supreme display of this attribute: God’s love pursued us when we were lost, rescued us through Christ, and promises us a future in His Kingdom. Truly, God’s perfect love defines what is good, both now and forever.
Bible Verses About God’s Omnibenevolence
1 John 4:8 – “Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”
1 John 3:16 – “By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us.”
John 3:16 – “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”
Romans 5:8 – “But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Matthew 5:45 – “He makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.”
Psalm 145:9 – “The LORD is good to all, and his mercy is over all that he has made.”
Romans 2:4 – “God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance.”
Romans 8:39 – “Nothing in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Ephesians 2:4–5 – “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ.”
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more.”
