All You Need Is God’s Love

On February 7, 1964, a boy band from Britain came to America and stormed her stages. They brought with them a message of love. Who can forget one of their signature songs, “All You Need Is Love?” Like all counterfeit commodities, the Beatles’ message of love contains elements of truth. However, their definition of love that later became known as the sexual revolution sought many empty expressions in the back seats of ’56 Chevys in the 1960’s and conversion vans in the 1970’s. It also left those that sought love in all these wrong places, broken, used and longing even more for true love.

When God personally introduced Himself to Moses on Mt. Sinai, He told Moses what His name was. The title “God” that comes from the Hebrew “Elohim” and Greek “Theos,” is not the name God gives Himself at first at the burning bush (Exodus 3) and then on the top of Mount Sinai (Exodus 34). God names Himself with four Hebrew letters YHWH. Older transliterations of these letters formed the English name Jehovah. In reality, we are not certain how to pronounce these letters as the original Hebrew alphabet only has consonants and no vowels. Later, the Hebrews added “markings” to indicate vowels which transliterated accurately forms His English name of “Yaweh” or “Yahweh.” In honor of this sacred name the Hebrew peoples would not pronounce it when reading the scriptures but would say “the Name” or “Adonia”-the Hebrew word for Lord or master. Most English translations use the all capitalized LORD to convey this name. However the name that God gives Himself is actually the first person “to be” verb in the Hebrew: “I am.” God names Himself “I Am” and follows this introduction with wonderful specific names attached to “I am.” Notice them with me as you read God’s personal introduction of His name to Moses:

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands (of generations), forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation —YHWH (Exodus 34:6-7, ESV)

We could spend hours unpacking the names “I am merciful, gracious, slow to anger....” However the one that stands out to me is mentioned two time by YHWH: “I am abounding in steadfast love...keeping steadfast love for thousands” of generations is the idea. YHWH uses the Hebrew word hesed to describe His name of love. It means the unconditional affection for and attachment to the recipient to provide what is best for them. This is YHWH’s name for those who believe in Him. He is Love! He will not force Himself on us—He offers Love Himself freely to any who will believe, but if we refuse His love which we do not deserve experiencing His justice is all that is left for us!

The problem with the Beatles message is that they missed the end of the search for true love by two-thousand years. “For God so loved the world that He gave is only begotten Son that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16). All we need is love, but true love is spelled with a capital “L.” Love came to earth and whispered the end of our search in the manger in Bethlehem. Love shouted His invitation at Calvary. Love secured the full expression of love at the empty tomb. Do you know this “Love.” He offers Himself, the Lover of the World to anyone who is willing to believe in Him. His love will satisfy the longings of our hearts! Let’s not refuse YHWH Love which we do not deserve, for if we do, all that is left for us is to experience His justice! All we truly need is God’s love!

Dr. David Ley is the President at Alaska Bible College. Alaska Bible college in the state of Alaska and are currently enrolling students for the 2025 fall semester. For more information visit our web page: www.akbible.edu.