Christianity is a religion all about relationship, that relationship is one with the Creator God of the entire Universe. The basis of this relationship is Love as Christ Himself put it "The most important is, 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”' (Mark 12:28-30)
No one will argue that this passage means that we are to love God, however the issue I wish to discuss is not that we are to love God, but where Love itself originates. For this I of course turn to the first letter of John chapter four.
That is the question then is if God is one, as stated by Jesus and Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4) then how is God love? Would He not rely upon something outside of Himself in order for this Love to be expressed? Would He either be completely and totally self-centered or partially reliant upon His creation to express His love, that is His nature? This seems folly for God to be so utterly arrogant, if that were the case how could humility be a virtue expressed perfectly in God as well? It also seems foolish that God would be so reliant upon others to express something so natural to you and I. You and I require others to express love or we love ourselves and become extremely conceited. How do we justify the Love of God without sacrificing humility or omnipotence? The answer is the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity.
There is one God eternally existent in three separate and distinct persons. Thus the Love of God is eternally expressed in the relationship of these three persons of God, Father, Son, and Spirit. This is seen in the Father’s love for the Son, giving the Son all authority in Heaven and on Earth, (Matthew 28:18) However the Son does nothing on His on accord but only that which He sees the Father doing (John 5:19ff) and only does the will of the Father who sent Him (John 6:38) though He had the authority to do whatever He wished. Thus only those who love the Son as they love the Father truly know and honor the Father. The Holy Spirit does not speak on His own authority nor bring glory to Himself but only speaks what He hears and brings glory to the Son (John 16:13-14). Likewise the Father does not draw glory to Himself but draws men to the Son (John 6:44). Yet as these men are drawn to confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father whom the Son gives all glory too (Philippians 2:11). The love seems evident and humility is just as evident. The Son made Himself nothing, though in the form of God (Philippians 2:6-7) not seeing equality with the Father as something to be grasped, yet because of this the Father highly exalt Him and gave Him the name above all names (Philippians 2:9). The Spirit likewise only testifies to the Son and not Himself (1 John 5:6-10). The Son in turn does everything not for His own glory but to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).
Three self-giving, self-effacing persons compose the very God that we as Christians worship. This aspect of God’s eternal character we as the Church of Jesus Christ must seek to reflect in our lives and our walk with Him to whom all glory and honor is due. Seek the humility and love exhibited by our wonderful God.
Grace and Peace.
No one will argue that this passage means that we are to love God, however the issue I wish to discuss is not that we are to love God, but where Love itself originates. For this I of course turn to the first letter of John chapter four.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. – 1 John 4:7-10
That is the question then is if God is one, as stated by Jesus and Moses (Deuteronomy 6:4) then how is God love? Would He not rely upon something outside of Himself in order for this Love to be expressed? Would He either be completely and totally self-centered or partially reliant upon His creation to express His love, that is His nature? This seems folly for God to be so utterly arrogant, if that were the case how could humility be a virtue expressed perfectly in God as well? It also seems foolish that God would be so reliant upon others to express something so natural to you and I. You and I require others to express love or we love ourselves and become extremely conceited. How do we justify the Love of God without sacrificing humility or omnipotence? The answer is the Christian Doctrine of the Trinity.
There is one God eternally existent in three separate and distinct persons. Thus the Love of God is eternally expressed in the relationship of these three persons of God, Father, Son, and Spirit. This is seen in the Father’s love for the Son, giving the Son all authority in Heaven and on Earth, (Matthew 28:18) However the Son does nothing on His on accord but only that which He sees the Father doing (John 5:19ff) and only does the will of the Father who sent Him (John 6:38) though He had the authority to do whatever He wished. Thus only those who love the Son as they love the Father truly know and honor the Father. The Holy Spirit does not speak on His own authority nor bring glory to Himself but only speaks what He hears and brings glory to the Son (John 16:13-14). Likewise the Father does not draw glory to Himself but draws men to the Son (John 6:44). Yet as these men are drawn to confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father whom the Son gives all glory too (Philippians 2:11). The love seems evident and humility is just as evident. The Son made Himself nothing, though in the form of God (Philippians 2:6-7) not seeing equality with the Father as something to be grasped, yet because of this the Father highly exalt Him and gave Him the name above all names (Philippians 2:9). The Spirit likewise only testifies to the Son and not Himself (1 John 5:6-10). The Son in turn does everything not for His own glory but to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11).
Three self-giving, self-effacing persons compose the very God that we as Christians worship. This aspect of God’s eternal character we as the Church of Jesus Christ must seek to reflect in our lives and our walk with Him to whom all glory and honor is due. Seek the humility and love exhibited by our wonderful God.
Grace and Peace.
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