THEOLOGY the Study of God
Theology The Study of God
The Love, Grace, Mercy, Longsuffering
and Faithfulness of God
(Attributes of God Continued)
Definitions
Love – (verb) to feel and exhibit esteem and affection to a person and to find one’s joy them
–(noun)the benevolent affection of God for His creatures
“Its benevolence, however, is not shown by doing what the person loved desires but what the one who loves deems as needed by the one loved. God’ love for man is His doing what He thinks best for man and not what man desires.” - Zodiates
Grace – (Zodiates) A favor done without expectation of return; absolute freeness of the loving-kindness of God to men, finding its only motive in the bounty and freeheartedness of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.
– (Thayer’s) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.
– (Strong’s) graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life;
Mercy–A disposition to be kind and forgiving; kindness towards a person, especially an enemy, who is in one's power; leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
Longsuffering – patient, slow to anger
Faithfulness - firmness, fidelity, steadfastness, steadiness; Worthy of trust or belief
The Love of God
1Jo 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
1John 3:1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)
Theology The Study of God
The Grace of God
1Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Romans 3:24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Exodus 33:19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.
The Mercy of God
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Ps 103:8 The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.
Ps 103:11 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him.
Ps 103:17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children’s children;
The Longsuffering of God
Numbers 14:18 The LORD is longsuffering, and of great mercy, forgiving iniquity and transgression, and by no means clearing the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation.
Psalm 86:15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.
2Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us–ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
1Timothy 1:16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.
“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)
Theology The Study of God
The Faithfulness of God
Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the LORD thy God, he is God, the faithful God, which keepeth covenant and mercy with them that love him and keep his commandments to a thousand generations;
2Timothy 2:13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.
Lamentations 3:23 They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
*quote from Pink pg. 52
Romans 3:3 For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?
Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.
pistis
1. To be persuaded or convinced of the reliability of a thing
2. Fidelity, Faithfulness
Christian faith or saving faith is the response of the Christian to God’s faithfulness.
“In the beginning God…” (Genesis 1:1)
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