8/30/18

•  1 John 4:7-8
THE CHARACTER OF GOD:
LOVE •  Love is God’s most fundamental quality

•  Love is the essence of God’s nature

RELT 100: GOD AND HUMAN LIFE

Professor: Rodney A. Palmer, DMin •  Love is not a feeling… It’s a principle!

Fall 2018

LOVE – THE CHARACTER OF GOD

•  Psalm 103:8, 13
Love
•  Isaiah 54:8; 63:9

•  Deuteronomy 7:8
“Eros”
“Agape”
Attraction or desire to
•  Jeremiah 31:3 possess
Self-giving, self-sacrificing
Unconditional
Conditional

LOVE OF GOD IN OLD TESTAMENT THE MEANING OF LOVE

1.  Takes the Initiative: 4.  Filled with Surprises:

•  1 John 4:9-10, 19 •  Luke 15

2.  Generous and Inclusive: 5.  Willingness to Forgive:

•  John 3:16 •  Isaiah 55:7

3.  Toward His Opponents: 6.  Involves Intense, Relentless Affection:

•  Romans 5:8 •  Hebrews 13:5
•  Matthew 5:44-45, 48 •  Hosea 11:8

THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD THE UNCONDITIONAL LOVE OF GOD

1

Is wrath or anger a legitimate
expression of love in the
appropriate situation?
GOD’S ANGER AND HIS LOVE
1.  Bible constantly refers to God’s love, but
rarely to His anger: (1x in OT – Nahum 1:2)
2.  God’s anger is fleeting and temporary, but
His love is permanent:
•  Psalm 30:5
3.  God is reluctant to get angry, but eager to
show mercy:
•  Exodus 34:6
GOD’S ANGER AND HIS LOVE
8/30/18
“Love and anger are not opposites. They
are complementary. Only those who are
capable of feeling genuine anger can
love in the truest sense. It’s the parents
with the greatest love for their children
who will do the most to save them from
abuse. And it’s anger that will drive their
intervention.” (Marvin Moore)
GOD’S ANGER AND HIS LOVE
“The exercise of force is
contrary to the principles of
God's government; He desires
only the service of love; and
love cannot be commanded; it
cannot be won by force or
authority. Only by love is love
awakened.”
WHITE, DESIRE OF AGES, P. 22