KnOWING GOD

1John 4: 16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

All of my Christian life I was told God is love. I knew love was the more excellent way, that love was greater than faith and hope, and that God would have us love Him above all things and love our neighbor as we love ourself. I don't think anyone would argue against these statements for everything stated above is entirely scriptural and true. But have you ever taken the love chapter (1Corinthians 13) and applied verses 4 - 8 to the character of God?

1Corinthians 13:

⁴ Charity (God) suffereth long, and is kind; charity (God) envieth not; charity (God) vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
⁵ (God) Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
⁶ (God) Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
⁷ (God) Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
⁸ Charity (God) never faileth...

Once again I don't think anyone would argue this description of God. Most of what we read above is understood concerning Christ and His Father. I say most because I'm not sure we realize the implications of verse 5, "love thinks no evil". The word "think" is the very same Greek word translated in other verses as "impute". This word literally means "to take an inventory, or to make a list".

Think about it! God is love and love does not make a list of evil. This is key if we are to understand the mechanics of salvation and exacty what it is God is wanting to achieve in His church. God does not make a list of evil, we do. The list of wrongs we have committed that are stored in our minds have created guilt and shame. What others have done to us have created anger, bitterness, and resentment. Salvation is to allow God access to our hearts that He might cleanse the inside of the cup.

Remember John 20: 21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
²² And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost:
²³ Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained (unto you).

There are two types of sin, what we have done and what others have done to us. If we are unwilling to forgive others their sin becomes ours because we refuse to let it go. Therefore, resentment, anger, and bitterness becomes a part of our character and is lived out in our daily lives. Jesus came that He might deliver us from our sin. Only a correct understanding of the cross will set us free from all sin.

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.
¹⁷ For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.

If we make Jesus anything different than the only begotten Son of God we lose the passion of God's love for humanity. God actually was willing to allow His Son to die that we might be saved from sin. Knowing Jesus to be the actual Son of God shows us that God loves us as much as He loves Jesus. Jesus was the price God was willing to pay for us. This truth allows me to experience a true sonship with my heavenly Father. I am a son of God not because the bible says so but because I believe God gave His Son for me.

I have two daughters ages 14 and 12. What if they were playing in the front yard and a stranger came into the yard and killed one of them? What kind of response do you think would come from me, their father? You would see an instant retaliation of rage and anger! But, what if one daughter killed the other? You would see a completely different response. Why? Because I love them both the same. That is the picture God would have us see at Calvary's cross. Christ was not dying to pay a debt to God. God used the event to manifest love toward those who killed His Son showing us His willingness to forgive and giving us an understanding of love. God has not made the list of sin we have. The death of the Son of God was for us not God.