God's love as a potential model for Christian behaviour

what is the basic model for Christian behaviour?

is the love shown for humans by God Himself. In both the OT and NT, God is presented as a God of love

what does Exodus 34:6-7 reveal about God?

God reveals Himself to Moses and, in words attributed to God Himself, describes his own character

how does God reveal Himself to Moses? What qualities does He proclaim to have? (1)

• merciful - does not punish us as we deserve

• gracious - gives us what we do not deserve

• slow to anger - he is long-suffering, patient

• abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness - his love and faithfulness are unchanging

how does God reveal Himself to Moses? What qualities does He proclaim to have? (2)

• keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation - active love for the entire human race

• forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin - he forgives - iniquity (our fallen nature), transgression (deliberate and defiant revolt against His law) and sin

how does God reveal Himself to Moses? (2)

• Yet by no means clearing the guilty - He is nevertheless a God of justice, his love includes correction, those who insist on doing evil will be punished

• visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children, and upon the children’s children to the third and fourth generation - consequence of sin is likely to be felt by the family of the guilty, but will be limited to 3 or 4 generations

visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and upon the children’s children to the 3rd and 4th generation - what could this mean?

God doesn’t push them but instead the sins of their generations will profoundly impact them with guilt

what does the NT teach?

that god’s steadfast love and faithfulness was revealed fully in the life and particularly the death of Jesus. Since God has so loved humans, humans must so love God

what does John state in 1 John 4:19-21?

insists that it is impossible to love God without also loving other people. Those who love God, or say they do, but hate their brothers and sisters are liars. If they do not love their brothers and sisters, whom they have seen, how can they love God, whom they have not seen?