Lesson 11

1. This lesson will conclude our series of lessons on "The Attributes Of God."

• Thus far we have studied:

2. In everyone of these lessons we have exalted God and shown that God is infinite in all of His attributes.

• If God is limited even in one of His attributes, He is limited and imperfect.

• God is absolute perfection!

3. This final lesson will be devoted to "The Love of God."

• I know of no better way to close a series on "The Attributes of God" than to study "The Love of God."

• There are many today who talk about the love of God who are total strangers to the God of love.

• There are many who view Divine love as weakness, a sort of good-natured indulgence.

• God's love is reduced to man's fallible feelings and emotions.

1. "God is spirit." (Jno. 4:24).

• In the Greek there is no article preceding the word "spirit."

• God is not "a spirit."

• He is not in a class with others.

• "God is spirit."

• He is "spirit" in the highest sense.

2. "God is light." (1 Jno. 1:5).

• .Light is the opposite of darkness.

• In scripture "darkness" stands for sin, evil, death, and "light" for holiness, goodness, justice.

• By the words "God is light" John is affirming that God is absolute holiness, goodness, justice.

• God is holy and in Him is "no darkness at all."

3. "God is love." (1 Jno. 4:8).

• The idea is not simply that God loves.

• God is love itself.

• Love is not merely one of His attributes, but His very nature.

 1. The love of God is uninfluenced

• This means that the love of God is free, spontaneous, uncaused.

• There is nothing in man to attract or prompt it.

• In fact man is sinful, depraved, a mass of corruption. (Rom. 3:10,11, 23).

• "We love Him, because He first loved us." (1 Jno.4:19).

• God did not love us because we loved Him, but He loved us before we had a particle of love for Him.

• He loved us when we were loveless.

• Someone write: 

"What was there in me that could merit esteem,

2. The love of God is eternal.

• God Himself is eternal.

• His nature does not change.

• It is perfect.

• It never gets better or worse.

• God has always been a God of love just as He has always been omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, holy, just. faithful, etc.

• How joyful we should be knowing God's love had no beginning and it can have no end.

• Jeremiah 31:3; Ephesians 1:4,5.

 3. The love of God is sovereign.

• God did not love because He was under obligation to man, but He acted according to His own pleasure.

• God loves us because it pleases Him to love us.

• The only reason why God loves any is found in His own sovereign will. (Deut. 7:7,8).

4. The love of God is holy.

• His love never conflicts with His holiness.

• Even though He is a God of love, He hates sins.

• His holiness and justice demands that sin be punished.

• He will not wink at sin, even in His children.

• His love led Him to send Jesus into the world to die for man.

5. The love of God is infinite.

• Everything about God is infinite.

• His wisdom is illimitable, for He knows everything of the past, present, and future.

• His power is unbounded (unlimited), for there is nothing too hard for Him.

• So His love is unlimited.

• It cannot be fully defined by man.

• It is so great that it surpasses the finite understanding of man. (Eph. 3:19).

6. The love of God is for all.

• God gave His Son for all. (Jno. 3:16).

• God is not a respecter of persons. (Acts 10:34,35).

• He desires all to be saved. (2 Pet. 3:9; Rom. 2:4).

• The gospel is for all. (Matt. 28:18-20; Mk. 16:15,16).

7. The love of God is not merited.

8. The love of God is immutable.

• God's love is not subject to change.

• He is not a God of love one day and a God of hate another day.

• God was a God of love in the past, present and future.

1. He manifests love by creating a world for us and giving us dominion over the world. (Gen. 1:26-31).

2. He manifests love by blessing mankind. (Matt. 5:43-45).

3. He manifests love by disciplining His children. (Heb. 12:5,6).

• Let no Christian call into question God's love when he is brought under painful afflictions and trials.

• God disciplines us because He loves us.

• God does not take pleasure in our suffering, but He knows suffering is necessary for us to develop endurance and character.

4. He manifests love by the giving of His Son. (Jno. 3:16; Rom. 5:8; 1 Jno. 3:1).

5. He manifests love by always having time for us.

• He is always ready to hear our prayers. (Matt. 7:7-11).

• He is always ready to comfort us. (Psa. 46:1; 121:1).

• He is always ready to help us overcome temptation. (1 Cor. 10:13; Jas. 4:7,8).

• He is always ready to help us bear and overcome trials. (Psa. 46:1).

6. He manifest love by preparing us a home in heaven. (Jno. 14:1-3)

7. He manifests His love by preserving us. (Rom. 8:35-39).

• God will not separate Himself from us.

• We can separate ourselves from God's love. (Jude 22; 1 Cor. 10:12; 9:27; Heb. 3:12; Gal. 5:4).

1. God's love is unfathomable, inexplicable, infinite!

2. God's love should be a source of great comfort and joy.

3. God's love should motivate us to gratitude, humility, and service.

4. God's love should motivate us to praise and obey God. (1 Jno.5:3).