Sermon Tone Analysis

Review of God’s love:

Last week, we Defined God’s love, mostly using J.I. Packers definition, as this:

(Adapted from J. I. Packer, Knowing God, Pg. 123)

Love Defined: God’s love is an exercise of his goodness toward individual sinners whereby, having identified himself with their welfare, he has given his Son to be their Savior, and we now are adopted as sons of God being free to know and enjoy God.

(Adapted from J. I. Packer, Knowing God, Pg. 123)

Love Defined:

God’s love is an exercise of his goodness toward individual sinners whereby, having identified himself with their welfare, he has given his Son to be their Savior, and we now are adopted as sons of God being free to know and enjoy God.

The ways God Loves:

- God's Providential love (Matthew 5:45)

- God's Yearning, Salvific Love (Provision of Salvation)

- God's Elective Love (Application of Salvation)

- God's Shepherding Love (Jude 21)

D.A. Carson, Love, found in Alexander, T. Desmond, and Brian S. Rosner, eds.

New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

- God's Providential love (Matthew 5:45)

- God's Yearning, Salvific Love (Provision of Salvation)

- God's Elective Love (Application of Salvation)

- God's Shepherding Love (Jude 21)

D.A. Carson, Love, found in Alexander, T. Desmond, and Brian S. Rosner, eds.

New Dictionary of Biblical Theology.

Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2000.

Today I would like to talk to you about another part of God’s love.

Millard Erickson calls the following categories The Dimensions of God’s Love:

Persistence, Benevolence, Mercy, and Grace.

(Introduction to Christian Theology, pg.

92-95.)

Persistence, Benevolence, Mercy, and Grace.

(Introduction to Christian Theology, pg.

92-95.)

[These are the abstract categories of God’s love.]

Often when we think of how God loves, this is what comes to mind.

But when we consider a list like the one D.A. Carson put together, we recognize that Millard Erickson’s Dimensions of Love are different from D.A. Carson’s Ways of God’s Love.

What is the difference between Carson’s list and Erickson’s List?

The difference is Carson’s list is a practical look at God’s love - How does he love us?

Millard Erickson’s list is a an abstract look at God’s love.

[These are the abstract categories of God’s love.]

Millard Erickson calls the kinds of love (the abstract ideas): The Dimensions of God’s love.

Now understand, there is some precedence for this 4 fold distinction of God’s love.

Examples of this 4-fold distinction: Exodus 34:6, Psalm 103:8.

Examples of this 4-fold distinction: Exodus 34:6, Psalm 103:8.

Millard Erickson’s list will serve as an outline of the lesson this morning.

Persistence:

This at first seemed like an odd word to use to describe God’s Love.

What other words might we use to describe God’s persistent love?

Ex. faithful, steadfast, unconditional, …

Millard Erickson choose this word in order to avoid a difficulty with steadfast, faithful, and unconditional.

Millard Erickson choose persistence in order to avoid a difficulty with steadfast, faithful, and unconditional.

What is the difficulty with describing God’s love with one of those terms?

What is the difficulty with describing God’s love with one of those terms?

It may appear that God is unfaithful, not steadfast, and conditional when he gives the final judgement.

Persistence avoids this problem by showing God’s commited love to humanity while avoiding the difficulty other words have in the final judgement.

Thus, Persistence is a really good word selection for this dimension of God’s love.

It may appear that God is unfaithful, not steadfast, and conditional when he gives the final judgement.

Persistence avoids this problem by showing God’s commited love to humanity while avoiding the difficulty other words have in the final judgement.

Persistence Defined: God is persistent in pursuing humanity in love.

(Personal Definition)

Persistence Defined: God is persistent in pursuing humanity in love.

(Personal Definition)

This is exhibited in God’s long suffering.

This is exhibited in God’s long suffering.

(Romans 9:18-22; 1 Peter 3:20, Ezra 3:11)

The Generation of Noah:

Israel:

Israel sang a song in Ezra 3:11 about God’s enduring love.

Israel sang this first with David, 1 Ch 16:34.

Yet, after the exile, the Israelites repeat this song recognizing God’s persistent love, even through an exile.

The NT Generation:

Reason for God’s Patience: The Salvation of Souls.

Reason for God’s Patience: The Salvation of Souls (2 Peter 3:9-10).

There is a sense of God’s immediate judgement that he is patience.

Ninevah was an example of that.

And a sense of the ultimate judgement, salvation in Jesus Christ.

Throughout Human history God has shown persistent love through his long suffering and continued pursuit.

Throughout Human history God has shown persistent love through his long suffering and continued pursuit.

Benevolence:

Benevolence Defined: “Concern of God for the Welfare of those whom He loves”.

(Erickson, pg 92)

Benevolence Defined: “Concern of God for the Welfare of those whom He loves”.

(Erickson, pg 92)

What is the extent of who God loves?

John 3:16 clarifies that the extent of God’s love is for all of the world.

John 3:16 clarifies that the extent of God’s love is for all of the world.

We will not spend an extensive time on this idea because we did last week when we discussed the definition of God’s love.

What is driving the “welfare” in the definition of God’s love is the dimension of benevolence.

What is driving the “welfare” in the definition of God’s love is the dimension of benevolence.

[For further information, see the definition of God’s love]

Mercy:

Mercy Defined: God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress.

(Grudem, Systematic Theology, pg.

200.)

Mercy broadly describes anyone in distress.

Mercy Defined: God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress.

(Grudem, Systematic Theology, pg.

200.)

Mercy broadly describes anyone in distress.

Examples of mercy not related to Salvation: Jeremiah 31:20 (Ephraim refers to the N. Kingdom of Israel in this passage); Psalm 103:13-14; Daniel 9:9; Ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:41, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Mark 6:34).

Examples of mercy not related to Salvation: Jeremiah 31:20 (Ephraim refers to the N. Kingdom of Israel in this passage); Psalm 103:13-14; Daniel 9:9, Ministry of Jesus (Mark 1:41, Matthew 9:36, Matthew 14:14, Mark 6:34).

This is having mercy on someone in distress, but not salvific specifically.

Eternal Salvation is a specific example of Mercy: Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 Peter 1:3.

Eternal Salvation is a specific example of Mercy: Ephesians 2:4-5, 1 Peter 1:3.

Because of these Acts, God is often mentioned broadly as being merciful: 2 Corinthians 1:3, Psalm 25:6.

Because of these Acts, God is often mentioned broadly as being merciful: 2 Corinthians 1:3, Psalm 25:6.

All of these verses focus on God exhibiting his goodness (kindness) upon those in misery.