The Character of God: A Righteous and Loving Being

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Julius Mosley II’s Living Life with Blinders On: Living Life as God Intended is a book intended for people to learn how to live according to the character of God.

But what exactly is the character of God?

And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

– Exodus 34:6

The character of God has been hotly debated ever since the time of Job–and, perhaps, even before then. Yet, it is clear where His nature comes from: love and justice. Of course, what people may label as His “love” and His “justice” may seem beyond their understanding, but these words are the closest ones within the realm of human comprehension.

But it’s not too far off from how mortals may understand these two concepts, only that taken to His scale, they are grander and far more overwhelming than what “love” and “justice” may be for a single man, woman, or child. Throughout Scripture, though, it is obvious that there may be a grand distance between human understanding and divine perspective, but it is still very much a reflection of His dealings with humanity, His unwavering mercy, and His embodiment as the greatest justice of all.

The Character of God: Infinite Love for All

God is love, and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God and God in him.

– 1 John 4:16

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The foundation for God’s character is what believers and Scripture describe as “love.” This love emanates from His being, covering all of humanity. There is no requirement for His infinite love. One is even flummoxed to say that it is an action from Him and to compare it with human “love” would demean it. The love of God is more of an attribute than a result of will. He is love. He loves, yes, but it is merely an expression of what He is, which is love, pure and without exhaustion. It is a love that transcends frail and arbitrary human notions of race, gender, and whatever else.

Perhaps His love is best revealed in the story of Genesis. For all of His grandeur and power, there was no need to create a universe where evil would exist. Yet, He did so anyway. This is because He is love. It is through love that everything–and everything in it–came to be, from the smallest worm to the largest whale. Everything is a manifestation of His endless love. To create is to love, as some might say.

This love is further exemplified through His covenant with Abraham. For humans, to love is to persevere and deliver. And this is what God showcases with Abraham, appointing him and his descendants as His people. This covenant was not borne out of Abraham’s character but because the character of God was of love.

Perhaps the greatest expression of God’s love is the incarnation of Jesus of Nazareth. He did not need to sacrifice His son for the sins of the world, but because He was love, He did so.

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

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The Character of God: The Eternal Righteousness

I said in mine heart, God shall judge the righteous and the wicked: for there is a time there for every purpose and for every work.

– Ecclesiastes 3:17

On the other side of the coin is the glorious righteousness of God. Where His love can be said to be without bounds, so the same can be said about His sense of justice. Often, people see justice as incompatible with love, yet through God, it can be seen that the two are actually quite intertwined with one another. From His love, the universe was created and all that exists within it, including evil, but because of His love, God cannot simply look away where evil might corrupt His creation. And from that infinite love–justice and righteousness blossom.

The Ten Commandments are a reflection of the righteousness of God. The commandments outline the moral principles that should govern how one behaves and engages with one’s fellows and God’s creation. The Law exposes the sinfulness of man, but it also reveals His desire for people to follow in His righteous footsteps.

Feel God’s righteousness and God’s love in Julius Mosley’s Living Life With Blinders On: Living Life As God Intended. Click the link to grab a copy!