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 (1st
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”
(1st 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
