God is love. 1 John 4:8, 16
Yet, what is love?
What does it mean to say Someone IS Love?

We use the word "love" quite freely, yet "love" isn't about "loving" chocolate cake; love is a complex, powerful and often hard to grasp reality
Following are questions we may be wrestling with concerning love and justice.

Is love a principle, an action, a feeling, a character, what is love?
Does God's love only give like an outflowing river, or does it also receive?
Is divine love purely self-sacrificial, or might God's love find delight in a relationship love?
Is God's love emotional, or a just a holy principle, or can it be both?
Does God really care about humans?
Can God's love be rejected or forfeited?
Does God enter into a back-and-forth love relationship with creatures?
Is anger and/or displeasure incompatible with love?
Does love punish?
What is Justice?
How do love and justice go together?
How does the way we display love and justice differ from God's love and justice?
If God is love, why is there evil in the world, and so much of it?
Why do "good" people who believe in Him suffer? Why does God heal some and not others?
Can humans love the way God does? If so, what would that look like? And how can we achieve it?

Love is a word often used by people, but it is a very complex subject.
The hope of these lessons is that many of the above questions (and countless more) can find Biblical answers as we explore these and other questions throughout this quarter.

And that we will realize that God's love is far greater than we might think. God's love as depicted in Scripture is far superior to the ideas that pass for "love" in much of our world today.

In the coming weeks, we will look more closely at some of the most prominent and beautiful aspects of God's love that are revealed in the Bible.

Covenantal Love

It's an interesting adjective to define Love.
A covenant is an agreement. A serious agreement where the parties make binding promises.

God promised: Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, [saying], Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

In turn we are to: (Duet. 6:5) love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
God keeps His covenant but we all end up breaking our part of the covenant.

At this point people usually start arguing as to whether God's love is conditional on our part upholding our end of the agreement?

But notice the subject of the question has changed.
God's love is not conditional, it is everlasting, drawing us to God, even when we we turn our backs on God. God's love is tirelessly working to win us back. Christ will weep over the rejecters of His mercy, for He loves everyone of them, but just like He wept over Jerusalem saying, "how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, but you would not! And thus He could not grant them the covenantal promises, and wept saying, Behold, your house is left unto you desolate. (Matt. 23:37-38)
It's not God's love that is conditional, He loves every person, far beyond our capability to ever love.. His love is everlasting, faithful and true.

But what about the covenant promises? Is the covenant conditional or are the promises conditional?
We probably need to define "covenant" as well. But, yes, God will fulfil His promises,
yet who actually partakes of the blessed promises, that is conditional on whether we accept Him and respond to the transforming light .

Love is relational.
Scripture defines God's relationship with us in terms we understand in a close relationship setting.
Scripture speaks of God as our Father.

Matt. 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven
Romans 1:7 Grace to you and peace from God our [b]Father
Phil. 4:20 Now unto [b]God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
2 Thess 2:16 God, even our Father, which hath loved us,

Jesus becomes our brother
Hebrews 2:11 he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
John 20:17 Jesus *said to her, ?Stop clinging to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to My brethren and say to them, ?I ascend to My Father and your Father, and My God and your God.?
Matt. 28:10 Jesus said to them, Be not afraid: go tell my brethren that they go into Galilee, and there shall they see me.

God is likened as a husband unto us.
Isaiah 54:5 For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name
Jeremiah 31:32 my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD:

Jesus is likened to a bridegroom and His church as the bride.
Isaiah 62:5 [as] the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee.
Matt. 9:15 the bridegroom is with them, but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
John 3:29(John the baptist spoke) He that has the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which stands and hears him, rejoicing greatly
Rev. 19:7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.
Hosea depicts the suffering husband who loves his wife, but she is unfaithful, till finally he has to let her go, divorce her, but he doesn't stop loving her. When she is in desperate condition due to the destructive life she chose, he is seeking her, (going out to seek and save her) he finds her, and buys her back and wins her back.

God's love is everlasting.
Love doesn't stop even when God has to back away, or even let go, of someone who keeps telling God to stay out of their lives.

His covenant is an everlasting covenant. Heb. 11:20
That covenant was already agreed upon by the heavenly trio, before anything was created. As plans were laid to create intelligent beings, the question of free will needed to be addressed. If these intelligent beings would be given free will, would they freely walk in the ways of God, or would they chose to disobey and doubt God with all its disastrous results?
God could have stopped creating intelligent beings, they realized the risk was great. How could there be a universe filled with love, if sin was allowed to manifest itself?
Mankind could be pre- programed to always do the right thing. But that isn't love, that is robotic behavior.
The everlasting covenant was a plan by which these intelligent beings not only had the ability and freedom of choice, but were also given the ability to love. They were free to worship with genuine love pouring out from their hearts in gratitude to the Creator! It was a plan in which all could fully know and experience the goodness of the LORD and be in a relationship that was deeply meaningful with God and with each other.

Yet it also included a negative -- it included great pain both for God, requiring of Him a great sacrifice, and also pain for the created. It included seeing the absolute terrible consequences which sin brings. Somehow, to remove the deceitful desire for sins' very temporary pleasures, sins' true reality needs to be demonstrate in it's utter destructiveness and miserable reality. In contrast would be seen God's great love to restore and redeem people from that evil power. But the plan was an expensive one -- one of great sacrifice for God, and a lot of pain for a fallen race. Yet the result will be eternal life, happiness and love. A complete, everlasting restoration for all who turn from sin in belief in God's redeeming love. A universe where love reigns, and where sin will never manifest itself again.

To be pleasing to God.

As we look through this week's lesson we will see what brings the greatest joy to God our Father and to all in heaven!

What is it?


Three stories that Jesus told illustrates this.
There's the sorrow of loss --
a lost sheep
a lost coin
lost sons

All reflecting God's grief over the loss. The relentless searching and longing for the lost to be found.

The greatest joy, is to see and welcome the lost who is found. To see the lost restored.

We are far more valuable than a coin or a sheep. Jesus did not give His life to redeem coins or sheep, but to redeem the human race.
The greatest joy and love comes from a reciprocating, loving relationship. We were created to be friends with God!
Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

In the beginning, God Himself walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the evening, but sin brought a separation. The greatest joy for God and all heaven is when that relationship is restored!

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
15:14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knows not what his lord does: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

To be pleasing to God.

"He will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing. Zeph 3:17

The story which we call the prodigal son, speaks of rejoicing when the lost son comes home.

It's a joyous time!

BUT the story goes deeper. Because it speaks of two ditches into which Satan tries to lock people and keep them away from entering into this joyous relationship with the Father.

Both sons were, in a sense lost, outside of that relationship that brings joy both to the children and to the Father.
The first was lost in open sin, running away from the Father, living the sinful life till he realized how bad his choices had been and remembered the Father's care and comfort and decided to TURN back to Him.

The other son stayed "in church" so to speak. He stayed and worked, took care of what needed to be done. But the relationship with the Father was not there. His response to the Father's joy when the younger son came home, was " Lo, these many years do I serve thee, neither transgressed I at any time thy commandment: and yet you never even gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends"

I worked hard. I deserve deserve something, I am righteous as to the law...... and what did it get me?. I want you to give me something so I can go out and party with my friends. (Was he secretly jealous of his younger brother's former life?)

And the Father replies -- you were with Me, those with Me already own everything I have, and should be rejoicing over the lost that are found and brought back into the blessings.

Neither sons were deserving -- both were loved by the Father who wanted them to enjoy the inheritance.
One chose a life leading to death and would have lost out, but he repented and returned to the Father, whose love and care was drawing him.
The other was working for his inheritance, didn't even realize it was right there, but his works did not entitle him to the inheritance, it's a son who receives the inheritance. He needed that relationship with Father. If he had been in tune with the Father he would rejoice over sinners being saved.

A Jealous God?

Exodus 20:4-5 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image,...Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,...

Exodus 34:14 For thou shalt worship no other god: for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God:

Duet 4:23-24 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the LORD your God, which he made with you, and then make for yourselves a graven image, or the likeness of any thing, which the LORD thy God has forbidden you. For the LORD thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.

Duet 6:14-15 You shall not go after other gods, don't go follow the gods of the people which are round about you; For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against you,

Ezekiel 39:25 Therefore saith the Lord GOD; Now will I bring again the captivity of Jacob, and have mercy upon the whole house of Israel, and will be jealous for my holy name;

Nahum 1:2 God is jealous, and the LORD revenges;

The Bible tells us in many places that God is jealous.
What does it mean?
Human use of the word "jealous," is usually in the sense of being envious of someone who has something we do not have. It is coveting something. A person might be jealous of another person because he or she has nice possessions. Or a person might be jealous or envious of another person because they have some ability or a talent that the jealous person does not possess.

God does not have that kind of jealousy,
He does not set up idols that He can worship. He does not covet anything, everything already belongs to Him!

so in what way is a righteous God Jealous?

Jealousy is sin when we desire, or we are envious, (jealous) of someone because he or she has something that we do not have but wish we did. But it is a very different use of the word "jealous" when God says He is jealous. He is not wishing for anything that doesn't belong to Him as He already own everything. He is jealous because He loves and cares so deeply, it hurts when His people go submitting themselves to other "gods".
Perhaps a practical example will help us understand the difference. If a husband sees another man becoming too familiar with his wife, it is right for him to be jealous, for only he has the right for that type of familiarity with his wife. This type of jealousy is not sinful when the husband loves his wife and wants the best for her and for their relationship to remain strong and loving. Jealousy is a sin when it is a desire for something that does not belong to you. A jealousy that wishes to remove someone else's possessions and happiness to appropriate it to themselves, is selfish and sinful and destructive. To be jealous for another man's wife is sin. But even that example falls short.

Worship, praise, honor, and our ultimate love, belong to God alone, for only He is truly worthy of it. Not only is He worthy of it, He also knows those who go after other gods will be misused, hurt damaged and end up in trouble. Therefore, God is rightly jealous, for He loves, and only in Him can anyone find life, peace, and true happiness, which only He has the ability to give them. When worship, praise, honor, and our love is given to idols, not only does it destroy the relationship with God, but it destroys the person as well. Idols can not give life, redemption, and true happiness. This is precisely the jealousy the apostle Paul described in 2 Corinthians 11:2, "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy..."

Compassion,
Compassionate.

These are words in this weeks lesson. But what do they mean?

Let's see how the Bible uses the word?

Exodus 2:6,10 And she (Pharaoh's daughter) had compassion on him, (baby Moses) ...and he became her son.

Duet. 13:17,18 that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of his anger, and show you mercy, and have compassion upon you, and multiply thee, as he has sworn unto your fathers; When you shall hearken to the voice of the LORD your God, to keep all his commandments which I command you..to do what is right in the eyes of the LORD your God

Duet.30:2-3 return unto the LORD thy God, and obey his voice according to all that I command thee this day, you and your children, with all thine heart, and with all thy soul;
Then the LORD your God will turn your captivity, and have compassion upon you,

2 Chron. 36:14-17 Moreover.. the priests, and the people, transgressed very much ...And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers...sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy....they were given into the hands of the king of the Chaldees, no compassion

Psalms 78:38,39 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.
For he remembered that they [were but] flesh;

Psalms 86:15 But thou, O Lord, [art] a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.

Psalms 45:8,9 The LORD [is] gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
The LORD [is] good to all: and his tender mercies [are] over all his works.

Micah 7:18,19 Who [is] a God like unto thee, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retains not his anger for ever, because he delights [in] mercy.
He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.


Matthew 9:36 But when Jesus saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.

Matthew 14:14 Jesus saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick.

Matthew 20:34 So Jesus had compassion [on them], and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him.

Mark 1:41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth [his] hand, and touched the man with leprosy , and said unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Luke 7:13 the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, (had died)... And when the Lord saw her, he had compassion on her, and said unto her, Weep not.

1 Peter 3:8,9 Finally, be all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, [be] pitiful, [be] courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing;

So what is compassion?
Compassion is a caring response to someone else's distress.

It isn't just empathy. Empathy is much more feeling oriented. Empathy cries with those who cry
feel the pain with those in pain, or laughs and rejoices with those who rejoice -- empathy share in the "feelings".
Compassion can include empathy, but goes further. It seeks a solution or an action to help alleviate the distress or problem. It greatly desires to help people find solutions and comfort, healing and forgiveness and salvation.
God is very compassionate. God's heart of love and compassion is ready to help everyone, but, as the verses above show, it's not unconditional.

This week's lesson is entitled "THE WRATH OF DIVINE LOVE"

Sunday's lesson deals with the cyclic rise and fall of people who claim to be God's followers.

It's a sad condition of the human race.
God reveals Himself, calling, wooing, offering people life and goodness.
They may respond, and for awhile rejoice over their deliverance.
BUT
Soon forget and slip into sin.

The lesson shows Israel's deliverance from Egypt! Their great joy on the shores of the Red Sea after their deliverance, BUT -- they forget all that and murmur, actually wishing they were back in Egypt, Egypt where their baby boys were thrown into the Nile, Egypt where they were whipped and forced into labor. Oh, but in Egypt they had food, not just manna, so they actually wanted to go back!
Well God finally got them into the promised land. It was pretty exciting when the walls of Jericho fell, but the whole following history goes round and round,
Drift away from God into sin
Loose God's protection and get harassed by surrounding enemies,
Cry out to God for deliverance
God sends someone or something to rescue them, and for a short time they turn to God,
BUT drift away from God into sin again.

The cycle seems to be unending.

We see the same thing in our time.
There was the great reformation, men risked their very lives to bring the gospel out of the darkness. Love for truth sprung up, BUT drifted and receded back.
In the early 1800's a great reformation swept across the western world, thousands flocking to hear the gospel powerfully preached. But that too drifted and faded.
In the mid 1800's God raised a church to continue the reformation, O the zeal of those early believers. But as the church grew and gained favor with the world, they too lost their zeal and first love. And sadly we see alarming slides backward.

But most important -- what about our personal connection with our Redeemer?
Having once rejoiced in baptism, have we drifted into dead formulism, rationalizing compromises that help smooth the way as we drift further away.

Do we heed the warnings?
It's not that God has lost His love for us, it's because He loves us that he sends warnings.
He hates sin and WILL destroy sin, but He wants each one of us to come to Him for life and cleansing.

Rev.2:4-5 you have left your first love.
Remember what you had before you fell, and repent, and do the first works; or else I will come unto you quickly, and will remove your candlestick out of his place, except you repent.

Rev. 3:15 I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot:.. because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue you out of my mouth...
3:19-21 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if anyone hears my voice, and opens the door, I will come in to him, and will dine with him, and he with me.
3:21 To him that overcomes will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.