God Love
God's love is a pure and perfect love that He has for Himself, and it is also reflected in His love for creation, angels, men, and His Son.
A.W. Tozer emphasizes that God's love is pure and perfect, stemming from His nature as the ultimate being who loves Himself. The love within the Godhead is described as a fiery and tender flame, reflecting the intense desire among the Persons of the Trinity. God loves creation, angels, and humanity because they reflect aspects of His own nature, with His active love being more pronounced in those who mirror Him more closely. The sermon highlights that while God loves all men potentially, His love is more fully realized in those who embody Christlike qualities. Ultimately, God's love for His Son is the epitome of perfection, as He is the exact representation of God's glory.
Text
God being who and what He is must love Himself with pure and perfect love. The Persons of the Godhead love each other with a love so fiery, so tender, that it is all a burning flame of intense desire ineffable. God is Himself the only being whom He can love directly; all else that He loves is for His own sake and because He finds some reflection of Himself there . God loves His mute creation because He sees in it an imperfect representation of His own wisdom and power. He loves the angels and seraphim because He sees in them some likeness of His holiness.
He loves men because He beholds in them a fallen relic of His own image.
Potentially God loves all men alike, but His active love lights upon some men more than upon others, the degree depending upon how much of Himself He is able to impart to them. The truly Christlike soul enjoys more of God's love because God sees in it a truer image of Himself than in a soul less purified. God loves His Son with infinite perfection because He is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.
Sermon Outline
- God's Love for Himself points: - God's self-love is pure and perfect
- God's Love for Creation points: - God loves creation for His own sake - Creation reflects God's wisdom and power
- God's Love for Angels and Men points: - God loves angels and men for their likeness to Himself - Angels and men reflect God's holiness and image
- God's Love for Humanity points: - God loves all men potentially - Active love varies depending on God's impartation
- God's Love for the Christlike Soul points: - God loves the Christlike soul more intensely - The Christlike soul reflects God's image more perfectly
- God's Love for His Son points: - God loves His Son with infinite perfection - The Son is the brightness of God's glory and His express image
Key Quotes
“God being who and what He is must love Himself with pure and perfect love.” — A.W. Tozer
“God loves His mute creation because He sees in it an imperfect representation of His own wisdom and power.” — A.W. Tozer
“God loves His Son with infinite perfection because He is the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person.” — A.W. Tozer
Application Points
- We should strive to reflect God's image more perfectly in our lives so that we can experience more of His love.
- God's love is not limited to a select few, but it is available to all people, regardless of their circumstances.
- Our relationship with God is not just about what we receive from Him, but also about how we reflect His love and character to others.