You know, many believers know God loves them.
But very few truly believe how much He loves them.
Deep down, many assume there are levels to God’s love, degrees of affection, and different standards. We believe God loves us, but not like He loves Jesus. Surely Jesus is loved more. Surely, He is the exception.
But Jesus said something breathtaking, something that changes everything if we dare to believe it.
In John 17, Jesus is praying to the Father. This isn’t a sermon. This isn’t public teaching. This is an intimate conversation. And in that prayer, Jesus says,
“That the world may know that You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.” (John 17:23)
That word, "as," is important.
It means in the same way.
Jesus did not say the Father loves us almost like He loves Him.
He did not say one day the Father will love us like that.
He said the Father has loved us as He has loved Him.
That’s not poetic language.
That's revelation.
Why This Is So Hard to Believe.
This truth is difficult to accept because we compare ourselves to Jesus.
Jesus never failed.
Jesus never sinned.
Jesus never doubted.
So, we quietly ask, how could God love me like that?
But here’s the key we often miss:
God does not love you because you are like Jesus.
He loves you because you are in Jesus.
God never relates to you apart from His Son.
You are not standing before the Father as a separate individual, hoping to be loved enough. You are standing in Christ. And the Father has never loved His Son halfway.
Understanding identity and union is the foundation of love.
This truth only makes sense when we understand union.
The gospel didn’t just forgive you, it united you.
Jesus prayed that we would be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father (John 17:21). That’s not symbolic language. That’s shared life.
Union means shared standing.
Shared acceptance.
Shared love.
God does not love Jesus one way and you another way.
He loves Jesus perfectly, and you are in Him.
So, the love reaches you fully.
You need to understand that this love was given, not earned.
God’s love for you did not increase as you matured.
It was not upgraded as you grew spiritually.
It was not measured out based on performance.
Scripture says the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). Not sprinkled. Not rationed. Poured out.
And Romans 8:32 reminds us that if God did not spare His own Son, He will freely give us all things with Him.
God didn’t reserve His best love for Jesus and give you what was left over.
He gave you everything in Christ.
Including love.
When you truly believe that God loves you like He loves Jesus, something deep begins to heal.
Fear loosens its grip.
Shame loses its voice.
Striving starts to fade.
You stop trying to earn affection.
You stop assuming disappointment.
You stop living guarded.
Scripture says, “As He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17).
Not as He was.
As He is.
Loved.
Accepted.
Secure.
This truth does not produce pride.
It produces rest.
And people who rest in love grow naturally.
God does not love you less than He loves Jesus.
He does not love you differently.
He loves you in Him.
The same love.
The same acceptance.
The same delight.
And when that truth finally settles in your heart, you stop questioning love and start living free.
Because you are not trying to be loved.
In Christ…
You already are.
Loved like Jesus is loved.
And that’s the truth.
RJ (Rox) Nolin