A Complete Perspective on God’s Character
It is easy for us to dichotomize the character of God. We simply split Him into two parts. On the one hand, we fear the consuming fire who hates sin so much He is going to send sinners to hell. On the other hand, we celebrate the Heavenly Father who loves us so much He sent His Son to take the place of all our sin. It’s almost like we think of Him as two separate people. We really like the good part but are almost embarrassed about His other attributes. We love His love but not the other half of His wrath. Here’s the thing: God is both! Whether we are considering the rightness of justice or the kindness of mercy, they are both Him!
John 1:14 – The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John is describing Jesus as the expression of God to man, when He “tabernacled” or “tented” among us. He wants to compare Him to the glory of the Heavenly Father and so he uses the phrase: “Full of grace and truth.” He is saying here is what it means to be God, being 100% love and 100% just. God is glorious in that He is all of His attributes all of the time.
John is picking up on how God described himself back in the Old Testament time of establishing the tabernacle. As God passed in front of Moses in Exodus 34:6-7 He referred to Himself as loving, forgiving and gracious. But He did not stop there. He also said, “Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation.” If we want to see God in the fullness of His glory then we have to view Him with a complete perspective. As He says in this passage He is “…abounding in love and faithfulness…” He is both compassionate and judging and this is how He wants us to know Him.
How we see God has dynamic implications in our life. If we think that God is primarily grace we may turn it into a license for sin. If we think that He is mainly truth our Christianity will become a harsh, hard-working religion.
What about you? Do you lean one way or another in your perspective on God? Do you give first place to grace and need to be reminded of His righteousness? Or are you so focused on His truth that you overlook His love? How can meditating on the “full” character of God help you better reflect Him in your actions and attitudes towards others?
Just the other day some one asked me who God was. I gave all of these descriptions but left out that he is my Father. Then it was pointed out to me that a father loves his children. I some times forget that God is a God of love and what that encompasses. Thank you Bobby for this great reminder that God is both grace and truth.
I have been reading in Luke, and in chapter 12 you see again God’s character on display in ways that we might see as contradictory. Verse 5 says, “But I warn you whom to fear: fear the One who after He has killed has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!” But the next couple of verses talk about how God knows every sparrow, and numbers the hair on our heads, and values us much more than the birds. A God of judgment and a God of love. Our God is amazing!
Bobby! I love the blog! Its legit, and yes I do give first place to His grace
Bobby, I was wondering if you can do me a favor?
Can you be my blog accountability partner? This summer I want to blog it up! Because blogging is similar to preaching a sermon, and using my new logos program I got for my birthday, I want to get deep into the scriptures then post about my new learnings so everyone can see….. So if you can help me creat a blog schedule and hold me too it that would be awesome!
I don’t wanna be the kid who blogs every now and then, or the kid who blogs a good amount, but I want to blog as much as you do and as serious as you do as well, so if you could please help me, it would be a major blessing!
Speak with me when you can about this, and thank you!