You obviously put much time in your response, but unfortunately, I remain unconvinced, i.e., you have not established your premise in regard to the matter of "help". Others may disagree but that's where I stand at this point.
This is kind of like looking at John 3:16 and asking the question: Did God “send Jesus to die for us” because “He loved the world” or did God “love the world” because “he sent Jesus to die for it”?
I realize this was phrased as a rhetorical question but I think it can be answered most assuredly and only one way:
I have provided a detailed exegesis of the Greek of this passage elsewhere on the Board and therefore I will not repeat it here. But I will simply point out that John 3:16 in the original reads, "For God loved the world in this manner that He gave His only begotten Son... for the purpose that believers would be saved and not perish." The answer is therefore that God's love is exemplified in action; the sending of the Son to redeem His people from their sins. The love of God was not some emotion as some might suggest but which the Westminster Confession and other confessions rightly deny,:
I. There is but one only,[1] living, and true God,[2] who is infinite in being and perfection,[3] a most pure spirit,[4] invisible,[5] without body, parts,[6] or passions;[7] immutable,[8] immense,[9] eternal,[10] incomprehensible,[11] almighty,[12] most wise,[13] most holy,[14] most free,[15] most absolute;[16] working all things according to the counsel of his own immutable and most righteous will,[17] for his own glory;[18] most loving,[19] gracious, merciful, long-suffering, abundant in goodness and truth, forgiving iniquity, transgression, and sin;[20] the rewarder of them that diligently seek him;[21] and withal, most just, and terrible in his judgments,[22] hating all sin,[23] and who will by no means clear the guilty.[24] (Chapter 2:1)
The love of God in Scripture is always toward those whom He has determined to save. And this love is always and everywhere expressed in His dispensing of mercy and grace upon them. That God expresses beneficence (Grk:
philanthropia, cf. Titus 3:4) toward the reprobate is true indeed. But His eternal love is reserved for the elect, those for whom the Son was sent and for whom He died.
So, I will iterate once again, that our love for God is a reflection of God's love, which is expressed and exemplified in action. One cannot claim to love God and not keep His commandments. And vice versa, one cannot simply keep His commandments (outwardly) and claim to love God. What is the difference, you might ask? The difference is that a true child of God obeys out of a heart of gratitude and empowered by the indwelling Holy Spirit. And, the Spirit is only given to those who are united to Christ. And those only are united to Christ who God first loved with an eternal electing love. That is one of the two points of emphasis in Matt 7:21-23 (subject of this thread). The first is that those only who do the will of the Father; keep His commandments will be saved (cf. Jam 2:20-26). The second point of emphasis is that works in and of themselves cannot save, for they have no merit in and of themselves. What is essential is that Jesus shed His love upon you, i.e., He gave Himself as a substitute for you on the cross and sends His Spirit to call you, regenerate you, and then dwell within you by His Spirit.
It is the Spirit Who "helps" believers in ALL things to increase our faith, our love and obedience to God (Jh 1:12; Phil 2:13). If you want to increase your love of God then the most effective way is to know more about Him. And then take that knowledge and by faith put it into practice. And the result will be seeing God working in you, through you and for you. And finally, this increases your knowledge (Grk:
prognosko intimate knowledge) of God. (cf. Col 1:9,10).
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