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The Love of GOD

By Christopher Thompson

Part 1

It does not matter what people do to you. Look to God for everything. To know God and his acts, we need to observe from scriptures in the Bible. For example, in John 3:16, it reads. “For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.” This scripture presents a remarkable act in a marvelous display of God’s love for man his creation. 

 Keeping the scripture of John 3:16 in mind, let us proceed to describe God’s love. God’s love is General, (Love of Beneficence), Conditional, Forgiving, Compassionate and Self-sacrificing.  When God’s love is spoken of as being General (Love of Beneficence), it refers to a kind of general love that God dispenses to all his creation. The focus here is man. In Matthew 5:45, the scripture reads, “That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven; for he makes his Sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the just and the unjust.” This is an example of God’s Love of Beneficence or General love.  Both groups benefit there is no condition needed to receive it. Everyone receives it by the grace of God.

1. What do we do to know God and His acts?

2. List or reference a scripture that puts God’s love for man on display.

The Love of GOD

By Christopher Thompson

Part 2

What is meant by the Love of Beneficence or General Love? In simple words, a love that is the Love of Beneficence or General, is one that does not require any effort on the part of the recipient to do something or not to do anything to receive this love. As described above in Matthew 5:45, nothing is required of the recipient. He or she just receives it. It is given by the grace of God. An example of this love of beneficence or general love is God's provision of supplying benefits to all; providing sunlight, rain and air to all. Where does man fit in this story? He is the guilty one because he is a sinner and is unable to free himself from the cords of sin. He needs someone other than himself to free him. The person he needs is Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. In clear contrast, the conditional aspect of God’s love occurs all over the Old Testament in many instances; notably, with the children of Israel after Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt to the mountain of Sinai (Mt. Sinai) by the hand of God. There, they received the law of God on two tablets of stone from Moses. 

1. What do we mean when we say God’s love is General or Love of Beneficence?

2. Give an example of God's General Love or Love of Beneficence.

3. Why is Christ the only person who can free man from sin?