June 5, 2000
LIFE & WORK:
God's self-revelation is grounded in his love
___Isaiah 40:10-11, 18-31
___By Terri Morgan
___Christian Life Commission, BGCT
___The classic Baptist confession of the doctrine of God tells us: "There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual and personal being, the creator, redeemer, preserver and ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections."
___These attributes of God are reflected throughout both the Old and New Testaments (Isaiah 40:1-31, Exodus 34:6, 1 John 4:16). The doctrine of God and the divine attributes, however, find their deepest expression in one essential attribute--love. The Bible identifies the essential meaning of Jesus' life in God's expression of love for the world and humanity through that life (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8,16, Romans 5:5). In this way, the divine attributes are disclosed in God's self-revelation in Christ Jesus, the human expression of divine love. Goodness, grace, righteousness, faithfulness, patience and mercy are human concepts that define the genuine meaning of divine love. These attributes can be seen through the person of Jesus. Through Christ, people experience redemption from sin and reconciliation with God. We confess this as "being united to God." Thus, God's love for us offers new possibilities in life, as we are made new in the perfect freedom that reflects the image of divine love--the essence of the gospel message.
___The gospel message of love and redemption characterizes God's goodness to us (Mark 10:18). One way God makes his love toward us real is by giving good gifts to us when we ask; God's gifts to us are without regard to personal merit. We know God causes the sun to shine on both the good and the bad, and God cares for all creatures (Matthew 5:45, 6:30, 7:11, 20:15). The goodness, grace and favor of the divine creator are present in the life and history of God's Son, no longer limited, but freely given to all people through the reconciling work of Christ (Romans 5:8, 11). Through the grace of God, we know the depth of mercy and pardon that brings a deeper sense of spiritual goodness and favor. The beloved old hymn, "There's a Wideness in God's Mercy," tells a powerful story about this divine attribute.
___In the same way as mercy, the aspect of divine righteousness and justice reflect God's love. God demonstrates biblical covenant-righteousness by his saving action toward the whole creation. The existence of all things may be traced to God's goodness, and God expresses righteous judgment in the salvation of believers who attest to the inner work of grace. In other words, the justice and righteousness of God are in complete harmony with his mercy. In Christ, the attributes of divine mercy, justice and righteousness are unified--God's righteousness judges and thereby saves.
___But is the God of love really infinite, almighty, all-embracing, all-knowing and eternal? We find evidence of these, as the divine love reflects the reality of the birth and resurrection of the crucified one. From the creation to the consummation, God's self-revelation is grounded in his love, which transcends the world and all humanity. God's love gives concrete form to our human service and worship; God's love empowers us to love one another with grace and hope, forgiving every wrong because in God's love we are forgiven.
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