Vol.VIII No.XI Pg.1
January 1972

God Is ~ ~ ~

Robert F. Turner

GOD IS SPIRIT. (Jn. 4:24)

Jesus does not speak of Gods personality, but of His essence. He is not a spirit, among many; but He is Spirit — absolutely free from all limitations of space and time. He dwelleth not in temples made with hands; neither is worshipped with mens hands, as though He needed any thing. (Acts 17: 24-25) He must be worshipped from the heart, in spirit — the inner self, which God made in His image — a self wholly given to God; with will bowed submissively to Gods will — hence, in truth.

GOD IS LIGHT. (1 Jn. 1:5)

John does not say He is a light; nor, in this passage, not even the light. John describes the nature of God; what He is not what He does. Westcott says, Physically light embodies the idea of splendor, glory: intellectually, of truth: morally, of holiness. God is truth, absolutely; the very essence of holiness and glory. In Him is no darkness at all.

Hence, all who would have fellowship with God must walk in the light, renouncing and casting off the works of darkness (Rom. 13: 12-14). For imperfect man, this fellowship is possible only through Jesus Christ, who cleanses us of sin.

GOD IS LOVE. (1 Jn. 4:8, 16)

Love, like Spirit and Light, is the very essence of God. It is not merely an attribute. These passages say far more than that God loves, or is loving. They say God is love; so much so that if we love, after a godly fashion, this is proof that God is in us. We can not know God, except we know and manifest love. (Read carefully, 1 Jn. 4: 7121)

The mortal, finite mind can only accept these marvelous truths, and seek to grasp their significance by application at our own level.

We can worship from the heart and God searches the heart and knows our spirit. We can struggle against darkness, and have Christ as advocate and mediator. We can determine to love our brethren, and learn something of God, who is love. And He beckons us, higher and higher!!