Sinful housework

[Aquila]

Originally Posted by Luke

Where does the Bible say that the nature of God is love?

Luke... I know that this might be a little alien to you. So, slow down and try to think on an ontological level.

If God "is" love... the nature of love is the only proper explaination of His nature. Thus, God is loving not because God has love as an attribute... but because God is love. Since God "is" love, God cannot be anything else but loving. As a result, God's very nature is loving on account of His very substance being love.

The Bible multiple times clearly says that God is Holy and even puts it forth as a state a state of being:

1 Peter 1:15 but as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Notice in the following scripture which to as far as i can think of is the only one that specificly mentions the divine nature (I could be wrong on that). Notice what the divine nature is contrasted with.

2 Peter 1: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Notice it is contrasted with sinfulnes not hatred but rather filth.

Yes, the Bible states that God is holy. But it doesn't say that God is "holiness". Therefore "holiness" is an attribute, not an element of nature. God is holy on account of being love and demonstrating that love through a loving nature. Being love, God has no petty earthlike hatreds, prejudices, or biases. Nor is there any deceit or darkness in Him at all. Thus, holiness is an attribute of one who is pure love by substance expressed through a loving by nature.

Let's look at this text...

2 Peter 1: 4 whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

What is the opposite of "lust"? Lust is "selfish desire" be it sexual, financial, materalistic, etc. The opposite of "lust" is love... "selfless desire". In this, one is "holy". Sound familiar? Remember the basis of the entire law? Love God with all one's being... and demonstrate that love by loving others as yourself. In loving... we are like God. Therefore, in loving both God and others selflessly we are... holy.

Also as a oneness believer How can you deny that His nature is Holy when one of His manifestations is the HOLY GHOST not the Love Ghost? Also all in the Old Testament one of the more common terms for God used by the prophets was The Holy One of Israel not the loving One of Israel.

Ah, question my sincerety as a oneness believer. That's not cool brother Luke.

Try to understand me. I don't demand that you agree. I demand nothing of you. I simply want to share my perspective. I pray that you seek to understand my perspective better, even if you don't agree entirely. Love makes no demand of you, but rather only leaves you to your own free will to consider the implications of all things and how they indeed serve you and your effort to progress into Christlikeness.

I am not saying that God is not "holy". I'm simply defining that holiness on account of His substance. Being holy is an attribute of God. Remember... God is holy... but God is not holiness. God is love. Thus the holiness possessed by God is an expression of God being love. Hardness isn't holiness. Standards aren't holiness. Wearing tin foil hats or anything else isn't holiness. What is holiness? God-likeness. What is God? Love. Therefore, when one is loving they are expressing God's kind of holiness. Hense the two laws upon which the very heart and intent of every law of the Bible... Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength...And love your neighbour as yourself... come into play. Now, have you ever noticed how these commandments are said to be two, but the second is "like unto" the first? Also, have you ever noticed in Scripture how references to these commandments is often singular, they being expressed as a "commandment"? This is because the first is fulfilled by the second. Thus, God desires this one thing of us... that we love Him by loving others as ourselves. That's what He desires. When we love others as ourselves... we demonstrate our love for Him. Thus, one cannot hate another and say they love God (sound familiar?). Because in not loving another... they are failing to demonstrate their love for God... no matter what they are wearing or what their silly little religious rules are.

When we desire to be filled with God, and we are indeed filled with God, we will be filled with... love.