On the way to town today, I saw a sign on the side of the road "God is Love". Yes, He is. The bible has many more descriptions of what God is, I'll put some here, for those who may not know the attributes of His Person.
God is love:
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God. Christ is the supremest manifestation. See notes on Joh_3:16.
Herein is love. Love manifested. The heights of love are shown, not only in sending the Son, but sending him to be a propitiation for our sins; to become a sin offering for us, and to die for us. See notes on 1Jn_2:2.
Beloved. If we are of God, and God so loves us, we must love one another.
God is light:
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Notice the verse tells us there is No darkness in Him at all- no deceit, no corruption, no lying, no trickery.
Question: Have you unconfessed Lying, trickery, deceit in your life?
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
This verse tells us if we say we have fellowship with him, but if any darkness or corruption is in us, we are liars, and aren't in the truth.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we desire to walk in righteousness, are forgiven of our sins, covered by the blood of Christ- we are cleansed, we are walking now in fellowship, and free from sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have no sin. To say that we have reached a sinless state in which we no longer need the blood of Christ to cleanse us is a deception. This language is in square opposition to the claims of the "Perfectionists" of all ages.
If we confess our sins. Instead of affirming that we are sinless we should confess our sins, and ask for the help and strength from the Holy Spirit to stay away from places/people/circumstances that would tempt us to sin, as much as possible.
Faithful and just. If we confess our sins the Lord will be faithful to his promise of mercy, and just in requiring us to have the atonement of Christ, to forgive us our sins.
If we say that we have not sinned. God says we have sinned. He declares "There is none righteous; no, not one." Hence, if we affirm that we are sinless we make God a liar.
In realizing we are all sinners- Have you gone to the Savior, and confessed your sins, and asked for His forgiveness? If not, you are walking in unconfessed sin, and out of fellowship with God.
God is rich in mercy:
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Having shown that both Jews and Gentiles were spiritually dead, Paul now declares the spiritual resurrection of the saints. This lifting up from death to a new life is due to God, rich in mercy, and on account of the great love wherewith he loved us. The next verse affirms the fact.
Hath quickened us together with Christ. As he quickened Christ and raised him, so when we were dead in sins he gave us spiritual life by the gospel and lifted us to a new life. "We were planted in the likeness of his death and resurrection" (Rom_6:5).
By grace ye are saved. Not by works of the law, as he has shown so fully in the Galatian letter.
And hath raised us up together. Buried into the death of Christ, we are risen with Christ (Col_2:12). We are risen as new creatures to walk with the Risen Christ, with our minds on heavenly things (Col_3:1).
To sit in heavenly places. In our present state, to have our minds above (Col_3:2).
That in the ages to come. In all coming time.
The exceeding riches of his grace. In saving, purifying and blessing his children.
See also: Eph_2:7, Eph_1:7, Eph_3:8; Exo_33:19, Exo_34:6-7; Neh_9:17; Psa_51:1, Psa_86:5, Psa_86:15, Psa_103:8-11; Psa_145:8; Isa_55:6-8; Dan_9:9; Jon_4:2; Mic_7:18-20; Luk_1:78; Rom_2:4; Rom_5:20-21, Rom_9:23, Rom_10:12; 1Ti_1:14; 1Pe_1:3
God is a consuming fire:
Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Yes, jealous in the sense that He will not turn aside, nor ignore those who follow after, and worship other gods:
Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
See also:
provoked: Deu_5:9; 1Ki_14:22; Nah_1:1-2; 1Co_10:22
abominations: Deu_7:25; Lev_18:27; 2Ki_23:13
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
See that ye refuse not. The whole Old Testament shows that those who refused to listen to God's message delivered by men did not escape. How can those escape then who refuse to listen to God's own Son?
Whose voice then shook the earth. At Sinai (Exo_19:18).
But now he hath promised. See Hag_2:6, which declares the removal of the heavens and earth at Christ's coming.
And this word, Yet once more. This means, says the apostle, that there is only one more shaking after the time of Haggai. It is not a material, but moral and spiritual event. It began when Christ came and will continue until all that is temporal or erroneous be removed and only the eternal remains. Among the things removed is the covenant of Sinai.
Wherefore we, etc. We Christians have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken and which is eternal. Hence should serve God with reverence and godly fear since we are called to so high an estate.
For our God is a consuming fire. Because, while God is very merciful and loving, he will not overlook willful disobedience, but will destroy those who despise his commandments.
God is angry:
What?.....God, angry?....Yes. He is angry with the wicked, every day.
These verses describes the way of the wicked:
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isa 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
People wink at sin, God does not. He is very longsuffering, merciful, and entreats people to come to Him, repent and turn from their wicked ways, but if they do not, the following verses describes His response to the unrepentant sinner:
Psa 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
Psa 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Psa 7:15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psa 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
In the last verse, the righteous sing praises to Him, for they see the just rewards given to the enemies of God.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Most churches do not preach on these verses, because they'd lose people-but God's word does not change. One day, every person will stand and give an account to God for their deeds, if they have not confessed and turned from their sins, they will be judged for them. May we take the Lord seriously, and take heed to our ways.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
May this verse be our aim, and our prayer:
Psa 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
If we stand ready, and heeding the warnings the bible gives us, we will be counted worthy to escape the judgment coming to those who practice wickedness, and sin. If not, we will join them as they tremble, when every eye will see him, and that day will surely come:
The Rider on a White Horse
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The Lord Jesus tells us very clearly who will NOT be found in the Lambs book of life:
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
I examine myself often, and ask the Lord to show me where I may need to repent of a sin, and I'll leave you to ponder where you fit into these verses; if you are practicing wickedness- repent, believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, and surrender to Him, now, while we are still in this age of grace; because my friend, it's coming to a close. No one knows the day or hour, but we surely can read the signs.
This is only a short devotion of who God is- much more could be added. But, perhaps someone reading this will be moved to do more investigating, it's well worth it.
Blessings,
Lorna Couillard
God is love:
1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.
In this was manifested the love of God. Christ is the supremest manifestation. See notes on Joh_3:16.
Herein is love. Love manifested. The heights of love are shown, not only in sending the Son, but sending him to be a propitiation for our sins; to become a sin offering for us, and to die for us. See notes on 1Jn_2:2.
Beloved. If we are of God, and God so loves us, we must love one another.
God is light:
1Jn 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
Notice the verse tells us there is No darkness in Him at all- no deceit, no corruption, no lying, no trickery.
Question: Have you unconfessed Lying, trickery, deceit in your life?
1Jn 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth:
This verse tells us if we say we have fellowship with him, but if any darkness or corruption is in us, we are liars, and aren't in the truth.
1Jn 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
If we desire to walk in righteousness, are forgiven of our sins, covered by the blood of Christ- we are cleansed, we are walking now in fellowship, and free from sin.
1Jn 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jn 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have no sin. To say that we have reached a sinless state in which we no longer need the blood of Christ to cleanse us is a deception. This language is in square opposition to the claims of the "Perfectionists" of all ages.
If we confess our sins. Instead of affirming that we are sinless we should confess our sins, and ask for the help and strength from the Holy Spirit to stay away from places/people/circumstances that would tempt us to sin, as much as possible.
Faithful and just. If we confess our sins the Lord will be faithful to his promise of mercy, and just in requiring us to have the atonement of Christ, to forgive us our sins.
If we say that we have not sinned. God says we have sinned. He declares "There is none righteous; no, not one." Hence, if we affirm that we are sinless we make God a liar.
In realizing we are all sinners- Have you gone to the Savior, and confessed your sins, and asked for His forgiveness? If not, you are walking in unconfessed sin, and out of fellowship with God.
God is rich in mercy:
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 2:5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
Eph 2:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Having shown that both Jews and Gentiles were spiritually dead, Paul now declares the spiritual resurrection of the saints. This lifting up from death to a new life is due to God, rich in mercy, and on account of the great love wherewith he loved us. The next verse affirms the fact.
Hath quickened us together with Christ. As he quickened Christ and raised him, so when we were dead in sins he gave us spiritual life by the gospel and lifted us to a new life. "We were planted in the likeness of his death and resurrection" (Rom_6:5).
By grace ye are saved. Not by works of the law, as he has shown so fully in the Galatian letter.
And hath raised us up together. Buried into the death of Christ, we are risen with Christ (Col_2:12). We are risen as new creatures to walk with the Risen Christ, with our minds on heavenly things (Col_3:1).
To sit in heavenly places. In our present state, to have our minds above (Col_3:2).
That in the ages to come. In all coming time.
The exceeding riches of his grace. In saving, purifying and blessing his children.
See also: Eph_2:7, Eph_1:7, Eph_3:8; Exo_33:19, Exo_34:6-7; Neh_9:17; Psa_51:1, Psa_86:5, Psa_86:15, Psa_103:8-11; Psa_145:8; Isa_55:6-8; Dan_9:9; Jon_4:2; Mic_7:18-20; Luk_1:78; Rom_2:4; Rom_5:20-21, Rom_9:23, Rom_10:12; 1Ti_1:14; 1Pe_1:3
God is a consuming fire:
Deu 4:24 For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.
Yes, jealous in the sense that He will not turn aside, nor ignore those who follow after, and worship other gods:
Deu 32:16 They provoked him to jealousy with strange gods, with abominations provoked they him to anger.
See also:
provoked: Deu_5:9; 1Ki_14:22; Nah_1:1-2; 1Co_10:22
abominations: Deu_7:25; Lev_18:27; 2Ki_23:13
Heb 12:29 For our God is a consuming fire.
See that ye refuse not. The whole Old Testament shows that those who refused to listen to God's message delivered by men did not escape. How can those escape then who refuse to listen to God's own Son?
Whose voice then shook the earth. At Sinai (Exo_19:18).
But now he hath promised. See Hag_2:6, which declares the removal of the heavens and earth at Christ's coming.
And this word, Yet once more. This means, says the apostle, that there is only one more shaking after the time of Haggai. It is not a material, but moral and spiritual event. It began when Christ came and will continue until all that is temporal or erroneous be removed and only the eternal remains. Among the things removed is the covenant of Sinai.
Wherefore we, etc. We Christians have received a kingdom which cannot be shaken and which is eternal. Hence should serve God with reverence and godly fear since we are called to so high an estate.
For our God is a consuming fire. Because, while God is very merciful and loving, he will not overlook willful disobedience, but will destroy those who despise his commandments.
God is angry:
What?.....God, angry?....Yes. He is angry with the wicked, every day.
These verses describes the way of the wicked:
Isa 3:11 Woe unto the wicked! it shall be ill with him: for the reward of his hands shall be given him.
Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt.
Isa 57:21 There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked.
Psa 7:11 God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.
People wink at sin, God does not. He is very longsuffering, merciful, and entreats people to come to Him, repent and turn from their wicked ways, but if they do not, the following verses describes His response to the unrepentant sinner:
Psa 7:12 If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready.
Psa 7:13 He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors.
Psa 7:14 Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood.
Psa 7:15 He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made.
Psa 7:16 His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate.
In the last verse, the righteous sing praises to Him, for they see the just rewards given to the enemies of God.
Psa 7:17 I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high.
Pro 1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:
Pro 1:29 For that they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:
Pro 1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Pro 1:31 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.
Most churches do not preach on these verses, because they'd lose people-but God's word does not change. One day, every person will stand and give an account to God for their deeds, if they have not confessed and turned from their sins, they will be judged for them. May we take the Lord seriously, and take heed to our ways.
Rom 14:11 For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Php 2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
Php 2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
May this verse be our aim, and our prayer:
Psa 5:8 Lead me, O LORD, in thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make thy way straight before my face.
If we stand ready, and heeding the warnings the bible gives us, we will be counted worthy to escape the judgment coming to those who practice wickedness, and sin. If not, we will join them as they tremble, when every eye will see him, and that day will surely come:
The Rider on a White Horse
Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.
Rev 19:12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.
Rev 19:13 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.
Rev 19:14 And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.
Rev 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Rev 19:16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written,
KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.
Rev 19:17 And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God;
Rev 19:18 That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.
Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.
Rev 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.
Rev 19:21 And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their flesh.
The Lord Jesus tells us very clearly who will NOT be found in the Lambs book of life:
Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
I examine myself often, and ask the Lord to show me where I may need to repent of a sin, and I'll leave you to ponder where you fit into these verses; if you are practicing wickedness- repent, believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, and surrender to Him, now, while we are still in this age of grace; because my friend, it's coming to a close. No one knows the day or hour, but we surely can read the signs.
This is only a short devotion of who God is- much more could be added. But, perhaps someone reading this will be moved to do more investigating, it's well worth it.
Blessings,
Lorna Couillard
