Dividing the Word of Truth. Ralph V. Reynolds

but the very essence of God’s Being.

      The love of God is greater than human comprehension. It is beyond measure and understanding. The love of God is of such a nature that it is extended to all men everywhere at all times. He loves every man regardless of color, nationality and culture. He does not love the sins and habits of man but He loves the soul of man and He constantly has the physical and spiritual welfare of man at heart.

      The Cross of Calvary is the highest expression of the love of God for sinless man.

      “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16).

      “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8).

      References: Isaiah 38:17; Isaiah 49:15-16; Isaiah 63:9; and I John 4:9-10.

      K. DOES GOD HATE?

      “These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him.” (Proverbs 6:16).

      The nature of Love demands a hatred for that which would injure or destroy the object of that love. God loves the sinner but hates the sin. There is nothing inconsistent here. Rather God would not love the sinner if He did not at the same time hate that which is hurting the sinner. This hatred along with God’s anger is not a carnal human emotion but rather the reaction of a holy God to sin which is expressed in terms that man can understand.

      God’s nature is not vindictive but rather vindicative.

      L. GOD IS RIGHTEOUS AND JUST: These attributes are further expressions of God’s holiness. In the fact that God is righteous we see His love for holiness; in the fact that He is just we see His hatred for sin. Because God is righteous there is an imposing of righteous laws and demands upon his children; because God is just there is an executing of penalties which are attached to these laws. God always does that which is right and His justice is free from all passion and vindictiveness. It is these attributes that demand a propitiation for sin before the sinner can be justified.

      References: Psalm 116:5; Exra 9:15; Psalm 145:17; and Jeremiah 12:1.

GOD IS CREATOR

      A. GOD IS THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND MAN:

      “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1).

      “So God created man in his own image.” (Genesis 1:27).

      “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:3).

      The universe did not exist from eternity, nor was it made from existing matter. It did not proceed as an emanation from the infinite but was summoned into being by the decree of God. The true record of creation is given in the first chapter of Genesis. Evolution as taught in our schools is a false theory, which cannot be proven and is aimed at destroying the faith in God’s Word. God spoke the world into being and created from that which does not appear.

      “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.” (Hebrews 11:3).

      B. GOD SUSTAINS CERTAIN RELATIONS TO THE UNIVERSE AND MAN:

      “…Upholding all things by the word of his power…” (Hebrews 1:3).

      “…And by him all things consist.” (Colossians 1:17).

      “…That thou mayest give them their meat in due season…” (Psalm 104:27-30).

      “For promotion cometh neither frorm the east, nor from the west” (Psalm 75:6-7).

      1. All things are held together by Him; if not, this old world would go to pieces quickly. Not blind chance, but a personal God is at the helm.

      2. The physical supplies for all God’s creatures are in His hand: He feeds them all.

      3. God has His hand in history, guiding and shaping the affairs of nations.

      4. God’s care is described with great detail: The sparrows, the lilies, the hairs of the head, the tears of His children.

      C. MAN CREATED IN GOD’S IMAGE:

      “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness…” “So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him.” (Genesis 1:26-27).

      “And the Lord formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life.” (Genesis 2:7).

      We shall be studying this subject again and at that time shall be dealing with it in greater detail.

      Undoubtedly man being created in the image of his creator has reference more to the intellectual and righteous nature of God than to a physical likeness. However, God had a body in which He was going to manifest Himself, a body which, was only in His mind and plan until it was conceived in the womb of the virgin Mary when the Word was made flesh. In other words if there is any reference to a physical likeness it would be to the Son of God, the man Christ Jesus.

      D. THE MEANING OF THE PERSONAL PRONOUNS “US” AND “OUR”:

      Actually, verse twenty-seven makes the meaning very clear. The singular personal pronouns, “His” and “He,” states clearly that creation was the work of ONE Divine Person. Also, verses 3 and 10 of the first chapter of John’s gospel make this clear. “The world was made by Him” (Jesus).

      The meaning of “us” and “our” here must have the same explanation as in Genesis 3:23-24 and Isaiah 6:1-8. In these verses the personal pronouns clearly refer to God and the cherubim, and to God and the seraphim. In each case the plural pronouns referred to God and the angels. He did not counsel with the angels in the sense of seeking instruction (Isaiah 40:12-14). However, He did take them into His confidence. Creation was not done in secret.