God’s love is something more than compassion; it leads to beneficent action and is unchanging. God loved us “while we were yet sinners” (see on Rom. 5:8), and will never cease to love us. It was this love that motivated His work of salvation (John 3:16). Love is a prime attribute of His character (1 John 4:8), finding its highest expression in the person of Christ. God has mercy upon us because we are sinners, and He loves us because we are His creatures. His great work for man was not merely an act of benevolence or charitable condescension; it was an act of affection, of love. For a discussion of the word here translated “love” (agapē see on Matt. 5:43; 1 Cor. 13:1).

 God is not only merciful; He is rich in mercy to all who call upon Him (see Rom. 10:12), not because they are worthy of it, but because it is God’s good pleasure to bestow mercy (Titus 3:5; 1 Peter 1:3).

 Verses 2, 3 present a gloomy picture of what seems inevitable doom; now Paul introduces the alternative.