ATTRIBUTES OF GOD (Part 4)
MEMORY VERSE: - “The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knoweth them that trust Him.” (Nahum 1:7)
INTRODUCTION: - Having discussed the attributes that are unique to God only. It is important we also discuss His moral attributes, many of which are similar to human qualities. However, God possesses these traits on a higher degree that is unmatched in any human. For example, even though both God and man possess the ability to love, no human is capable of loving to the degree and depth that God does. We must also have in mind that our ability to exercise these traits is related to our being created in God’s own image (Gen.1:26-27). In other words, we are like Him; He is not like us.
LESSON OUTLINES
God is Good
(Ps.25:8; 106:1; Mk.10:18). All that God originally created was good because it was an extension of His own nature (Gen.4:10,12,18,25,31). He continues to be good to His creation by caring and providing for all His creatures (Ps.104:10-28; 145:9). He even provides for the ungodly (Mt.5:45; Acts 14:17). God is specially good to people who sincerely trust Him (Ps.145:18-20).
God is Love
(1Jh.4:8). God’s love is completely selfless, sacrificial, practical and pure. His love embraces the entire world of sinful people (Jh.3:16, Rm.5:8). The greatest expression of that love was how He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins so as to satisfy and complete the penalty for our rebellion against God (Jh.4:9-10) and repair our broken relationship with Him. In addition, God has a special family type of love for those who personally accept Jesus’ sacrifice for themselves who are forgiven and restored to a right relationship with God. God takes special care of those who love Him and remain loyal to Him even while enduring trouble in this world. Our love for Jesus allows us to experience the Father’s affection for us (John 16:27, 33). Love responds to love.
God is Merciful and Gracious
(Ex.34:6, Deut.4:31; 2Chr.30:9; Ps.103:8; 145:8; Joel2:13). Grace could be described as God giving us the benefits of salvation that we do not deserve while the mercy of God can be defined as God saving us from the punishment our sin deserves. God does not reject or destroy humanity as our rebellion against Him deserves (Ps.103:10). Instead, He offers forgiveness as a free gift that we receive by faith in Christ Jesus (Ps.103:11-12, Rm.6:23; 1Corint.1:3-4; Eph.2:8-9, Tit.2:11; 3:4-5). God shows mercy to those who truly honour and respect Him for His power, judgment and intolerance of evil.
4) God is Compassionate
(2Kgs.13:23; Ps.86:15; 111:4). To be compassionate means to feel sorrow for someone else’s sufferings, with a desire and an effort to help. True compassion requires action out of his compassion for humanity, God provided the only effective means of forgiveness and salvation (Ps.78:38) through the life, death and resurrection of his dear Son, Jesus Christ. In the same way, Jesus showed compassion for the crowd when He delivered His good news to the poor, healed the broken hearted, proclaimed liberty for prisoners, gave sight to the blind and released people from their spiritual oppression (Lk.4:18; Mk.9:36; 14:14; 15:32; 20:34; Mk.1:41; 6:34).
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION
Jonah in his protest against God’s mercy and grace towards the Ninevites said “……for I know that Thou are a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger and great kindness, and repentest thee of evil” (Jonah 4:2). These attributes of God are revealed throughout the Bible. Out of His love flow out His goodness, grace and mercy, and His compassion. For this reason God expects us to let these not to stop at us but we should allow them to freely flow to all others around us (Ps.133:2).
QUESTIONS
Describe the Love of God. What does it mean to be compassionate?