Hello Beloved,
As we continue to approach the subject of Theology Proper or the Doctrine of God, we remember from where we have come, having discussed the essence of God and the meaning of the Trinity. In this article, we will continue the second of three sections that deal with God’s attributes, His sensibility. However, this section of God’s attributes is so prolific, it will take several newsletter articles to cover the material. An attribute could be defined as a quality, character, characteristic, or property that describes the essence of who God is. Defining God’s attributes helps us to understand the particular manner in which divinity exists and operates. For the purpose of these articles, we will describe God’s attributes in relation to his intellect, sensibility, and will.
The description of God’s “Sensibility” could also be explained as His moral attributes. The first attribute on the list, which we discussed last month, was God’s Holiness. In this article, we will consider God’s love, and next month we will consider the many characteristics that connect to God’s love including mercy, grace, and kindness.
Like truth, love relates to the goodness of God. Love can be an allusive term in our context; and therefore, we must not attribute it to sentimental tenderness, selfish fondness, mere affection, or even attraction for another, as we often find ourselves doing in the course of watching a good Hallmark movie. Simply put, love is a self-sacrificing desire for, and delight in, the welfare of another. God’s love is not merely something He possesses as much as something that describes His own being (1 Jn 4:8). We must understand that God did not develop into a loving being and there was never a time when He did not love. God’s love is self-sustaining, which means that He does not need to intentionally maintain a loving disposition as an attitude or condition of His character. His love is never diminished, and we can take comfort in knowing that there will never be a time when God will cease to love. Further, God is the unfailing source of all love.
When we consider the Trinity, we must recognize that love has always existed between the three persons of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit supremely, infinitely, and eternally. God’s love has no limits; is without imperfections; is inexhaustive, free, and is not dependent on anything outside itself. Interestingly enough, God does not need to be loved by His creatures since God is the source of all love, and He does not depend on others to supply Him with love. Although God’s love is independent of His creatures; He, nevertheless, benevolently bestows love on His creatures.
Scripture communicates that God is love (1 Jn 4:8,18), calls Him the God of love (2 Cor 13:11), and characterizes Him as the loving God (Ps 59:9, 10, 17; 144:2). Further, in the Bible, God is described as exercising love (Ex 34:6,7; Deut 7:6-8; Ps 42:8); His love is said to endure forever (1 Chr 16:34; Ps 89:2, 100:5; Jer 33:11); and God’s love is the cause of praise from His saints (Ps 31:21; 63:3-4; 100:4-5). The objects of God’s love include His one and only Son of essence (Matt 3:17; 17:5; Jn 17:24), those who believe that Jesus came from the Father (Jn 14:21,23; 16:27; 17;23; 1 Jn 4:19), the world or the cosmos which includes a humanity that rebelled against its Creator (Jn 3:16, 1 Tim 2:3-4, 2 Pet 3:9), the sinner (Rom 5:6-8, Eph 2:4-5; Ezek 33:11), and Israel (Deut 7:6-7; Jer 31:3; Hos 11:1). Of course, as we consider God’s love, we can never forget the greatest exhibition of love occurred when the Father sent the Son, Jesus, who died on the cross to pay the penalty of our sin (1 Jn 4:10). And, God calls us to love one another in the manner that He has loved us (Jn 13:34; 15:12; 1 Th 4:19).
Next month, we will return to the topic of God’s love and consider its extensions in kindness, mercy, and grace. Until then, this is Pastor Daniel writing, “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
*Material for this newsletter article are taken from the notes of Jim Smith, Professor of Bible and Theology at Brookes Bible College.