Love of God
The sermon emphasizes that God's nature and essence are love, and that all his actions and attributes are expressions of this love.
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.
Text
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.
Sermon Outline
- God's Nature as Love
- The Extent of God's Love
- The Nature of God's Love
- Unmixed and pure love
- The separation of God's love into various attributes
Key Quotes
“God is love, love itself.” — Edward Payson
“His whole nature and essence are love; his will, his works, and his words, are love.” — Edward Payson
Application Points
- We should strive to understand and express God's love in our own lives.
- God's love is the source of all other moral perfections, and we should seek to cultivate these qualities in ourselves.
- We can trust that God's love is unmixed and pure, and that he will always act in accordance with this love.