Skip to main content

God Is Love 22


             Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. (I John 4:8) 


God’s perfection means that God completely possesses all excellent qualities and lacks no part of any quality that would be desirable for him…. God’s blessedness means that God delights fully in himself and in all that reflects his character…. God’s beauty is that attribute of God whereby he is the sum of all desirable qualities… God’s glory is the created brightness that surrounds God’s revelation of himself. (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology, pp. 218-220)
 
          These last four characteristics are what Mr. Grudem calls God’s “Summary” Attributes. I don’t think it’s hard to see how the characteristics discussed over the last three weeks would add up to a being that is perfect, blessed, beautiful and glorious were we no so convinced in our minds that we have those characteristics or at least know better what they should be. Equally, love done right, real love completely possesses and is the sum of all excellent qualities and lack not part of any quality that would be desirable for it, it delights in love and all that reflects love. Love has a shining brightness that surrounds its revelation of itself that we may not see with the eyes, but which we see with our souls and regularly celebrate. 
        This concludes our camping on the question of God being love, but it’s insufficient in its consideration of some of them, as any thinking about God, or love, must be. I need to go back and consider some of them further. I need to reconsider them when I find myself frustrated with either. I need to keep these things in mind when I am interacting with others. For our lives to be characterized by love, I suspect we will have to live much deeper, much stronger lives than we have.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more