I said in my heart God will judge the righteous and the wicked, for there is a time for every matter and for every work. Ecclesiastes 3:17

A Lesson on Love

The Apostle John by the Spirit of God said God is love (1^st John 4:8, 4:16). Some have taken his statement as the determinate view concerning this part of God's nature and attribute. This is an error I find many unbelievers (and some Christians) holding to.

While it is true one of God's attributes is love, comparing love as the totality of God does not take into account all His other attributes and is a great mistake. That train of thought and belief has created a vast following of unbiblical religious liberties and vain philosophies. If we say God alone is love we destroy His personality for it is made up of many facets. If we say God is love and only love His entire attributes are denied.

One of the major mistakes that many people make is to believe if God is love He won't judge them for their transgressions. That contradicts the attribute of God's justice which demands He judge and punish unrighteousness (Isaiah 13:11, Revelation 20:11-12).

Trusting in God's love by itself for justification instead of through faith in Christ discounts the attributes of God. He cannot let go of one attribute to use another. If He did He would not be God. God's word says that justification can only come through belief in the atoning and redemptive work accomplished through Christ (Colossians 1:20-22). That God came to us in the flesh was because of His love but it was not who He is. He is not totally love and nothing else. Turning back to the God of the Bible gives a picture of His fullness as He revealed Himself to us in His Word. God's love is vitally important and is the attribute that was poured out at the cross through the offering of His Son. Truer love has never yet been matched. It is part of His Majesty. He saves both through His love and powerful attributes. The Apostle Paul said “And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love but the greatest of these is love” (1^st Corinthians 13:13). Truly of all His amazing attributes, love being one of them, we can be thankful for that part of God's nature for His love never fails.

Ken