GOD'S LOVE, GOD'S GRACE, AND GOD'S MERCY.
((God's Love))
The love of God and His holiness are His two most mentioned attributes in the Scriptures. All of His perfections express holiness or love in some way. For example, God's holiness required man's atonement; God's love provided it. The basic text would be I John 4:8b, "God is love," with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
There are two terms in the Old Testament that need to be mentioned. One is "ahabah," which means "unconditioned love." It is unqualified love, and it is motivated by nothing in the object that is loved. For example, it is God's election love for Israel and for the church. The other term, "chesed," means "mercy," "loving-kindness," or "steadfast love." It is covenant love, emphasizing the mutual concern, devotion, and faithfulness that should exist between two parties who make a covenant together.
In the New Testament there are two terms for love. The Greek term used for natural affection and emotional love is "phileo." Unconditioned spiritual affection is "agapao," and speaks of love which is based solely upon the will of the person who does the loving. For example, it is God's love (agapao) toward man which is seen in the gift of His Son (John 3:16).
To manifest this same "unconditioned" love is Jesus' requirement for His children in Matthew 19:19, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute" (Matthew 5:44). This is called "unconditioned" love because it is not based upon any good in the person receiving the love. It has to be unconditioned love for a Christian to be able to love those who hate and mistreat him, for there is nothing in his enemies that would cause him to love them; but he can love them because he has the love of God in his heart.
What is the meaning and significance of God as love? God's love is unconditioned and eternal. The nature of God's love is seen most clearly when contrasted with man's love ("phileo"), which is basically natural affection or emotional love. Man's love is sometimes called "eros," which is natural, physical love, as contrasted with "agapao"—spiritual, personal love. Man's love for an object is determined by its value, whether it be for a material object or for a person. In vivid contrast, the love of God creates the value of the object.
No man ever purposely goes out and looks for a harlot, a drug addict, an alcoholic, or a gambler to marry. He would avoid someone that he knows would give him problems; but God does just the opposite in His choice—He chooses whom the world rejects. Why? "That no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). For example, God chose Israel, not because she was righteous or some great nation; but He chose her in spite of the fact that she was not any of those things.
God said to Israel, through Moses, "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). God told the Israelites that they were the fewest people on earth, but He chose them anyway because of His promise to the patriarchs.
Moses continued speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 9:4-6. "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them [these nations] out from before thee [from the promised land], saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff necked people."
The same truth is taught in the New Testament in Romans 5:6-10. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." For what reason? "That no flesh should glory in His presence" (I Corinthians 1:26-29).
God's love is for the unlovable, the rebellious, the unworthy sinner; thus, God's love is not motivated by the value of the object. The prophet Ezekiel described what man looks like, in this case Israel, in the sight of God—nothing but a repulsive mass of corruption, yet He chose to love her anyway (Ezekiel 16:1-14). There is no value in mankind, nothing worthy of God's love. Man is nothing but sinful, weak, rebellious, carnal, and unlovely; but when God fixed His eternal love upon him, that created the value in His sight. That does not imply that man has any inherent worth; but God loves His children as adopted sons because of their relationship to the One He loves, Jesus Christ, who is Of inestimable value.
The motive for God's "agapao" love is within Himself, His nature; God is love. God's love is not mere emotional affection. It is not prompted merely by some utilitarian consideration, but God loves because God is love. The greatest expression of His love is seen in the gift of His Son for sinners John 3:16).
God's love is self-giving, not conditioned, as human love is, with selfish concern. God did not need man, but He created man to enjoy Him and to share in His love and blessings. God was self-sufficient within the triune Godhead; yet because of His loving and giving nature He wishes to share Himself and His love with others. In the eternal choice of Israel or the church, God demonstrated His self-giving love. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
God's love is eternal. He did not begin to love His children after He created them, but the Bible says that He created them to be objects of His love. In Romans 5:8 Paul said that while men were yet sinners, God showed His love toward them by giving His Son, Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 31:3 the prophet said, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." In Ephesians 1:3-5 Paul related that God predestinated His elect before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His sons and to receive salvation.
God's unconditional love is supposed to produce a like response in His children. His love went out to them (1 John 4:9-11); therefore, the believer's love is to go out to others. Love is the greatest of the Christian virtues according to 1 Corinthians 13. It is the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law, according to Romans 13:8-10. In summation, if a man loves God and his neighbor, he will not sin against either of them. According to 1 John 1, love is proof of the new birth.
((God's Grace and Mercy))
Grace and mercy are attributes of God which express His love, according to Ephesians 2. God's grace is His unmerited favor toward sinners, and mercy is the application of that grace. The three terms——grace, faith, and mercy—are used in Ephesians 2:4-8: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The divine order is this: 1) Because of God's eternal love, 2) He had mercy upon man, which was 3) expressed as grace 4) through the gift of faith 5) unto his salvation. God's attitude of love is revealed as undeserved kindness or mercy which He bestows upon man. Man's response: 1) He believes, 2) repents, 3) confesses, and 4) obeys.
By grace, God bestows other undeserved things upon His children, such as supernatural gifts and ministries (Romans 12; Ephesians 4:7-16). Good works are by His grace ( 2 Corinthians 8:7; 9:6-8). The grace of God is the undeserved favor that He bestows upon the elect which results in blessings in this life and salvation for eternity. Edited. Shared.
God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
((God's Love))
The love of God and His holiness are His two most mentioned attributes in the Scriptures. All of His perfections express holiness or love in some way. For example, God's holiness required man's atonement; God's love provided it. The basic text would be I John 4:8b, "God is love," with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
There are two terms in the Old Testament that need to be mentioned. One is "ahabah," which means "unconditioned love." It is unqualified love, and it is motivated by nothing in the object that is loved. For example, it is God's election love for Israel and for the church. The other term, "chesed," means "mercy," "loving-kindness," or "steadfast love." It is covenant love, emphasizing the mutual concern, devotion, and faithfulness that should exist between two parties who make a covenant together.
In the New Testament there are two terms for love. The Greek term used for natural affection and emotional love is "phileo." Unconditioned spiritual affection is "agapao," and speaks of love which is based solely upon the will of the person who does the loving. For example, it is God's love (agapao) toward man which is seen in the gift of His Son (John 3:16).
To manifest this same "unconditioned" love is Jesus' requirement for His children in Matthew 19:19, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute" (Matthew 5:44). This is called "unconditioned" love because it is not based upon any good in the person receiving the love. It has to be unconditioned love for a Christian to be able to love those who hate and mistreat him, for there is nothing in his enemies that would cause him to love them; but he can love them because he has the love of God in his heart.
What is the meaning and significance of God as love? God's love is unconditioned and eternal. The nature of God's love is seen most clearly when contrasted with man's love ("phileo"), which is basically natural affection or emotional love. Man's love is sometimes called "eros," which is natural, physical love, as contrasted with "agapao"—spiritual, personal love. Man's love for an object is determined by its value, whether it be for a material object or for a person. In vivid contrast, the love of God creates the value of the object.
No man ever purposely goes out and looks for a harlot, a drug addict, an alcoholic, or a gambler to marry. He would avoid someone that he knows would give him problems; but God does just the opposite in His choice—He chooses whom the world rejects. Why? "That no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). For example, God chose Israel, not because she was righteous or some great nation; but He chose her in spite of the fact that she was not any of those things.
God said to Israel, through Moses, "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). God told the Israelites that they were the fewest people on earth, but He chose them anyway because of His promise to the patriarchs.
Moses continued speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 9:4-6. "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them [these nations] out from before thee [from the promised land], saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff necked people."
The same truth is taught in the New Testament in Romans 5:6-10. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." For what reason? "That no flesh should glory in His presence" (I Corinthians 1:26-29).
God's love is for the unlovable, the rebellious, the unworthy sinner; thus, God's love is not motivated by the value of the object. The prophet Ezekiel described what man looks like, in this case Israel, in the sight of God—nothing but a repulsive mass of corruption, yet He chose to love her anyway (Ezekiel 16:1-14). There is no value in mankind, nothing worthy of God's love. Man is nothing but sinful, weak, rebellious, carnal, and unlovely; but when God fixed His eternal love upon him, that created the value in His sight. That does not imply that man has any inherent worth; but God loves His children as adopted sons because of their relationship to the One He loves, Jesus Christ, who is Of inestimable value.
The motive for God's "agapao" love is within Himself, His nature; God is love. God's love is not mere emotional affection. It is not prompted merely by some utilitarian consideration, but God loves because God is love. The greatest expression of His love is seen in the gift of His Son for sinners John 3:16).
God's love is self-giving, not conditioned, as human love is, with selfish concern. God did not need man, but He created man to enjoy Him and to share in His love and blessings. God was self-sufficient within the triune Godhead; yet because of His loving and giving nature He wishes to share Himself and His love with others. In the eternal choice of Israel or the church, God demonstrated His self-giving love. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
God's love is eternal. He did not begin to love His children after He created them, but the Bible says that He created them to be objects of His love. In Romans 5:8 Paul said that while men were yet sinners, God showed His love toward them by giving His Son, Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 31:3 the prophet said, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." In Ephesians 1:3-5 Paul related that God predestinated His elect before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His sons and to receive salvation.
God's unconditional love is supposed to produce a like response in His children. His love went out to them (1 John 4:9-11); therefore, the believer's love is to go out to others. Love is the greatest of the Christian virtues according to 1 Corinthians 13. It is the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law, according to Romans 13:8-10. In summation, if a man loves God and his neighbor, he will not sin against either of them. According to 1 John 1, love is proof of the new birth.
((God's Grace and Mercy))
Grace and mercy are attributes of God which express His love, according to Ephesians 2. God's grace is His unmerited favor toward sinners, and mercy is the application of that grace. The three terms——grace, faith, and mercy—are used in Ephesians 2:4-8: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The divine order is this: 1) Because of God's eternal love, 2) He had mercy upon man, which was 3) expressed as grace 4) through the gift of faith 5) unto his salvation. God's attitude of love is revealed as undeserved kindness or mercy which He bestows upon man. Man's response: 1) He believes, 2) repents, 3) confesses, and 4) obeys.
By grace, God bestows other undeserved things upon His children, such as supernatural gifts and ministries (Romans 12; Ephesians 4:7-16). Good works are by His grace ( 2 Corinthians 8:7; 9:6-8). The grace of God is the undeserved favor that He bestows upon the elect which results in blessings in this life and salvation for eternity. Edited. Shared.
God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
❤️GOD'S LOVE, GOD'S GRACE, AND GOD'S MERCY.
((God's Love))
The love of God and His holiness are His two most mentioned attributes in the Scriptures. All of His perfections express holiness or love in some way. For example, God's holiness required man's atonement; God's love provided it. The basic text would be I John 4:8b, "God is love," with John 3:16, "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
💙
There are two terms in the Old Testament that need to be mentioned. One is "ahabah," which means "unconditioned love." It is unqualified love, and it is motivated by nothing in the object that is loved. For example, it is God's election love for Israel and for the church. The other term, "chesed," means "mercy," "loving-kindness," or "steadfast love." It is covenant love, emphasizing the mutual concern, devotion, and faithfulness that should exist between two parties who make a covenant together.
💙
In the New Testament there are two terms for love. The Greek term used for natural affection and emotional love is "phileo." Unconditioned spiritual affection is "agapao," and speaks of love which is based solely upon the will of the person who does the loving. For example, it is God's love (agapao) toward man which is seen in the gift of His Son (John 3:16).
💙
To manifest this same "unconditioned" love is Jesus' requirement for His children in Matthew 19:19, "Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself." "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute" (Matthew 5:44). This is called "unconditioned" love because it is not based upon any good in the person receiving the love. It has to be unconditioned love for a Christian to be able to love those who hate and mistreat him, for there is nothing in his enemies that would cause him to love them; but he can love them because he has the love of God in his heart.
💙
What is the meaning and significance of God as love? God's love is unconditioned and eternal. The nature of God's love is seen most clearly when contrasted with man's love ("phileo"), which is basically natural affection or emotional love. Man's love is sometimes called "eros," which is natural, physical love, as contrasted with "agapao"—spiritual, personal love. Man's love for an object is determined by its value, whether it be for a material object or for a person. In vivid contrast, the love of God creates the value of the object.
💙
No man ever purposely goes out and looks for a harlot, a drug addict, an alcoholic, or a gambler to marry. He would avoid someone that he knows would give him problems; but God does just the opposite in His choice—He chooses whom the world rejects. Why? "That no flesh should glory in his presence" (1 Corinthians 1:26-29). For example, God chose Israel, not because she was righteous or some great nation; but He chose her in spite of the fact that she was not any of those things.
💙
God said to Israel, through Moses, "For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God: the Lord thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth. The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt" (Deuteronomy 7:6-8). God told the Israelites that they were the fewest people on earth, but He chose them anyway because of His promise to the patriarchs.
💙
Moses continued speaking to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 9:4-6. "Speak not thou in thine heart, after that the Lord thy God hath cast them [these nations] out from before thee [from the promised land], saying, For my righteousness the Lord hath brought me in to possess this land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord doth drive them out from before thee. Not for thy righteousness, or for the uprightness of thine heart, dost thou go to possess their land: but for the wickedness of these nations the Lord thy God doth drive them out from before thee, and that he may perform the word which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Understand therefore, that the Lord thy God giveth thee not this good land to possess it for thy righteousness; for thou art a stiff necked people."
💙
The same truth is taught in the New Testament in Romans 5:6-10. "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us." "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are." For what reason? "That no flesh should glory in His presence" (I Corinthians 1:26-29).
💙
God's love is for the unlovable, the rebellious, the unworthy sinner; thus, God's love is not motivated by the value of the object. The prophet Ezekiel described what man looks like, in this case Israel, in the sight of God—nothing but a repulsive mass of corruption, yet He chose to love her anyway (Ezekiel 16:1-14). There is no value in mankind, nothing worthy of God's love. Man is nothing but sinful, weak, rebellious, carnal, and unlovely; but when God fixed His eternal love upon him, that created the value in His sight. That does not imply that man has any inherent worth; but God loves His children as adopted sons because of their relationship to the One He loves, Jesus Christ, who is Of inestimable value.
💙
The motive for God's "agapao" love is within Himself, His nature; God is love. God's love is not mere emotional affection. It is not prompted merely by some utilitarian consideration, but God loves because God is love. The greatest expression of His love is seen in the gift of His Son for sinners John 3:16).
💙
God's love is self-giving, not conditioned, as human love is, with selfish concern. God did not need man, but He created man to enjoy Him and to share in His love and blessings. God was self-sufficient within the triune Godhead; yet because of His loving and giving nature He wishes to share Himself and His love with others. In the eternal choice of Israel or the church, God demonstrated His self-giving love. Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."
💙
God's love is eternal. He did not begin to love His children after He created them, but the Bible says that He created them to be objects of His love. In Romans 5:8 Paul said that while men were yet sinners, God showed His love toward them by giving His Son, Jesus Christ. In Jeremiah 31:3 the prophet said, "The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee." In Ephesians 1:3-5 Paul related that God predestinated His elect before the foundation of the world to be adopted as His sons and to receive salvation.
💙
God's unconditional love is supposed to produce a like response in His children. His love went out to them (1 John 4:9-11); therefore, the believer's love is to go out to others. Love is the greatest of the Christian virtues according to 1 Corinthians 13. It is the fulfilling of the righteousness of the law, according to Romans 13:8-10. In summation, if a man loves God and his neighbor, he will not sin against either of them. According to 1 John 1, love is proof of the new birth.
💙
((God's Grace and Mercy))
Grace and mercy are attributes of God which express His love, according to Ephesians 2. God's grace is His unmerited favor toward sinners, and mercy is the application of that grace. The three terms——grace, faith, and mercy—are used in Ephesians 2:4-8: "But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, . . . For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." The divine order is this: 1) Because of God's eternal love, 2) He had mercy upon man, which was 3) expressed as grace 4) through the gift of faith 5) unto his salvation. God's attitude of love is revealed as undeserved kindness or mercy which He bestows upon man. Man's response: 1) He believes, 2) repents, 3) confesses, and 4) obeys.
💙
By grace, God bestows other undeserved things upon His children, such as supernatural gifts and ministries (Romans 12; Ephesians 4:7-16). Good works are by His grace ( 2 Corinthians 8:7; 9:6-8). The grace of God is the undeserved favor that He bestows upon the elect which results in blessings in this life and salvation for eternity. Edited. Shared.
❤️
God willing, more will be posted soon. All glory to Jesus alone.
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