7

The Character of God

I. GOD IS LOVE

A. The essential or central moral attribute

1. I Jn.4:8, 16

B. "Love" is not primarily an emotional state, but is a resolve to purpose and

pursue the highest good identifiable

1. There are only two directions that a moral being can take in a supreme
rule of life.

a. That which promotes the highest good

b. That which promotes self-interest

2. When promoting the highest good it might be true that what is best for
self will be consistent with it but when self interest comes in conflict with it,
it is denied

a. Consider, for example, the incarnation and the crucifixion

b. Self-interest will look less foreign to the highest good the more
one grows

C. The goodness of God

This is an expression of the purpose of being supremely devoted to the highest good

1. II Chr.30:18-19; Ps.25:8; 34:8; 86:5; 100:5; 106:1; 119:68; 145:9;

Jer.33:11; Nahum 1:7; Mt.5:44-48; 19:16-17; 20:12-15; Ex.33:19; 34:6-7;
Ps.27:13; 31:19; 33:5; Jer.31:12, 14; Ro.2:4.

D. Love is ascribed to each Member of the Godhead:

1. The love of God the Father is the source of all true love in the world: Jn.
3:16; Ro. 5:5; 8:38-39; II Co. 13:11, 14; Jn. 2:15; 4:7-8, 16.

2. The love of Christ is referred to: Jn. 15:9; Ro. 8:35; II Co. 5:14; Ep.
3:19; II Tim. 1:13.

3. The Holy Spirit is known by His operations of love: Ro. 5:5; 15:30; Ga.
5:22.

E. This loving disposition of the Godhead was the mainspring of redemption:

 8

1. God the Father: Jn.3:16-17; Ro.5:8; Ep.2:4; I Jn.4:9-12

2. The Lord Jesus: Jn.15:13; Ga.2:20; Ep.5:2; Re.1:5

3. The Holy Spirit: Lk.1:35; Mt.1:18, 20; Acts 10:38; He.9:14; Jn.16:13-
15

II. PERSONAL APPLICATION

A. Man is commanded to follow God's example in the continual choice of love,

indicating that it is a voluntary state:

1. Jn.5:42; 15:9-10; I Co.13; 14:1; 16:13-14; Ep.5:1-2; I Ti.1:5; I Jn.2:5;

4:8, 16; 5:3; Jude 21

Some things that potentially tie in at this point:

1. Function of the mind, emotion and will (considered under “Personal”)

a. Tractor / trailer chart

2. Father & son relationship and mowing the grass

 9

What the World Needs Now

Love
Love is to purpose and pursue the highest good identifiable
Love is universal good-will, or willing the highest good in general

Love does everything for one reason or ultimate end; the highest good of
being in general

Both kindness and

“severity” are attributes of love
Kindness
Another word used for “kindness” is
sometimes “gentleness”
Love always manifests (shows) a
regard for the well-being of others and
will be gentle and kind toward all,
except in those cases where either
the good of the individual, or of the
public, requires a different approach
Severity
Severity is not to be understood as
cruelty – It is love shown in
strictness, firmness and purity,
when occasion demands
It is a mistake to suppose that love
is all softness under all
circumstances – It will be gentle or
severe, depending upon which is
required to pursue the highest good

Kindness is its rule, and severity is its exception

Though kindness is the rule, it might not be possible to express it most often
in light of outward circumstances (the character and conduct of the
individual being dealt with) requiring severity

Both, however, are equally and necessarily attributes of love

The general approach of love is to When a person or persons conduct

treat others kindly and gently, unless
circumstances and/or the character of
the one loved requires a different
treatment
themselves so as to endanger the
public good, severity is just as
natural, and as necessary to love, as
kindness and forbearance are under
other circumstances

In such cases it should be love that leads to the different approach decided
upon
 10

Love punishes / disciplines for the same reason that it forgives

In no case will love treat anyone, even the worst of beings, more severely
than is required in an effort to arrive at the highest good

The Kindness & Severity Illustration

Love & Truth are influences and cannot guarantee or determine with
absolute certainty another’s response and ultimate character