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  LOVE OF GOD
  by Edward Payson
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Summary: The sermon emphasizes that God's nature and essence are love,
and that all his actions and attributes are expressions of this love.

Topics: "Gods Love", "Divine Attributes"
Scripture References: Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 13:4, Ephesians 2:4, 1 John 4:8, 1 John 4:16

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DESCRIPTION
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Edward Payson emphasizes that the phrase 'God is love' provides a
perfect depiction of the eternal and incomprehensible nature of Jehovah,
illustrating that all of God's moral perfections are ultimately rooted
in His love. Unlike other divine attributes like mercy, justice, and
holiness, which are described as qualities of God, love is presented as
God's very essence. Payson explains that God's justice, mercy, truth,
and faithfulness are all manifestations of His pure and unchanging love,
akin to different colors that stem from the same source of light.
Ultimately, every aspect of God's being and actions is an expression of
His boundless love.

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CONTENT
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In the words, "God is love," we have a perfect portrait of the eternal
and incomprehensible Jehovah, drawn by his own unerring hand. The mode
of expression here adopted, differs materially from that usually
employed by the inspired writers, in speaking of the divine perfections.
They say, God is merciful, God is just, God is holy; but never do they
say, God is mercy, God is justice, God is holiness. In this instance, on
the contrary, the apostle, instead of saying, God is loving, or good, or
kind, says, God is love, love itself.

By this expression we must understand that God is all pure, unmixed
love, and that the other moral perfections of his character are only so
many modifications of this love.

Thus his justice, his mercy, his truth, his faithfulness, are but so
many different names of his love or goodness. As the light which
proceeds from the sun may easily be separated into many different
colors, so the holy love of God, which is the light and glory of his
nature, may be separated into a variety of moral attributes and
perfections. But, though separated, they are still love. His whole
nature and essence are love; his will, leis works, and his words, are
love; lie is nothing, can do nothing but love.

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Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/edward-payson/love-of-god/
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