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Tag: The Character of God

Unlimited love

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Character of God, What’s new?.

What does it mean that God’s love is unlimited?

God’s love is a one of His foundational attributes (see Psalm 103:8–12; John 3:16; Ephesians 2:4–5; 1 John 4:9–10). God’s love has the power to melt hard hearts and make rebels surrender. It is unlimited, far beyond human comprehension, and serves as a wellspring of all forms of human love. However, human affections pale in comparison to the unlimited love of the Father, who is love Himself (1 John 4:8).

When we say that God’s love is unlimited, we mean that it knows no boundaries, measurements, or exceptions. It is inherent to His nature; since He is infinite, His love is also infinite. Because God’s love is unlimited, no one is beyond redemption. Even some of the most monstrous people have experienced transformation through the revelation of God’s grace. A striking example is David Berkowitz, the infamous “Son of Sam,” a serial killer who was saved by the grace of God in prison (see his testimony at www.ariseandshine.org). What’s the limit of God’s mercy? What sin is too great for Him to forgive? Praise the Lord, “as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant” (Romans 5:20, NLT), and He delights in saving even “the worst” of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).

Questions about God’s unlimited love troubled the mind of author Lee Strobel as he followed the account of a Khmer Rouge killer who later found redemption at the cross. Comrade Duch committed grievous atrocities, and his record is enough to sicken anyone. Yet, the man described as an efficient killing machine in Cambodia ended up as a testament of God’s unlimited love. His life and that of Berkowitz demonstrate that even the vilest sinner can find forgiveness. “When the Bible says God loves the world, it doesn’t footnote any exceptions. God’s grace is inexhaustible” (Strobel, L., The Case for Grace, Zondervan, 2015, p. 103).

God’s unlimited love is further evident in the love shared by the Father, the Son, and the Spirit among themselves. Love, as seen in this eternal and unending relationship, is selfless and sacrificial. Jesus proclaimed, “The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands” (John 3:35). The Father also expressed His love for His Son in Matthew 17:5, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

This love of the triune God secures our salvation. The Father’s justice was satisfied through the sacrifice of the Son, who bore the penalty for our sins. When we place our faith in the Son, the Holy Spirit regenerates us and takes residence within us (Ezekiel 36:27; 1 Corinthians 3:16; Galatians 4:6; 1 John 3:24). Salvation is a complete and unified work of all three Persons of the Trinity.

God’s love is unlimited, and that fact can offend skeptics and baffle believers. The open invitation of God’s grace gets negative reviews from those who don’t fully understand the gospel. Testimonies of individuals like Berkowitz and Duch make the gospel look foolish to some, but to the undeserving sinner, such reports are a reflection of God’s power (1 Corinthians 1:18).

While God’s love is unlimited, deep, and profound, it is not His only attribute revealed in Scripture. God is also infinitely holy and perfectly just (Isaiah 6:3; Leviticus 19:2; Psalm 89:14; 99:9; Romans 2:5–6). Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross reflects not only God’s love but also His holiness and justice. The cross vividly demonstrates how seriously God views sin, as He poured out the just penalty on Christ while, in His boundless love, offering His Son for our transgressions.

God is patient

Written by LWOM Amsterdam on . Posted in The Character of God, What’s new?.

What does it mean that God is patient?

The attribute of God’s patience is evident in both the Old and New Testaments. One example comes from God Himself, who proclaimed to Moses, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Exodus 34:6). The phrase slow to anger illustrates His patience. The psalmist also praises God as “a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Psalm 86:15).

In the New Testament, the apostle Paul describes God as kind, forbearing, and patient (Romans 2:4). The apostle Peter also referred to God’s patience when addressing objections from scoffers then (extending to now) regarding the second coming: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). These are just a few instances of God being described as patient.

When Scripture describes God as being patient, it means that He endures humanity’s flaws, does not easily get angry, and holds back judgment to make room for repentance. His patience is also demonstrated in how He condescended to work through imperfect humans to carry out His plans. Noah, Abraham, Moses, King David, and the prophets are some examples.

Additionally, we view God’s patience toward humans right after the fall, when God made clothing for His shamed creations (Genesis 3:21). He also patiently listened to Cain, even in the face of judgment (Genesis 4:15). Then there is the flood. Scripture describes the inhabitants of the world as being “corrupt in God’s sight and full of violence” (Genesis 6:11). Even with the moral depravity of our day, we would be horrified at the violence of the world in that day. Yet God did not execute swift judgment. Instead, He waited till Noah built the ark, which took a long time (1 Peter 3:20).

In God’s judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah, His patience was revealed when He promised Abraham He would not exercise judgment if there were at least ten righteous people in the city (Genesis 18:32). For context, Sodom and Gomorrah had not only sinned, but there was a great outcry against them (verse 20). Yet God was willing to show mercy to all of them for the sake of only ten people.

Other instances of God’s patience include His dealings with the Canaanites (Genesis 15:16), the Ninevites in Jonah’s day (Jonah 3:10) and the Israelites before their exile (2 Kings 17:13–14). His patience also explains the perceived delay in Jesus’ second coming (2 Peter 3:9, 15).

Perhaps the most exceptional display of God’s patience is in the Person of Jesus. The Son of God took on human flesh, lived among His creation, and endured challenges in His ministry. He also patiently succumbed to humiliation at the cross in order to accomplish His redemptive work for humanity.

Like any other attribute of God, His patience surpasses ours. While this is good news for the struggling believer or those reaching out to an unbelieving loved one, it can also lead to frustration. Like the martyred saints in Revelation 6:10, believers may cry out “How long, Lord?” How long will we remain in the broken world? How long till restoration? How long till we are free from the clutches of sin and suffering? How long do we endure? But even in our perplexed state, we trust that God is absolutely in control and infinitely good.