The Depth of Reality Behind God is Love – Misunderstandings and Conditions for Eternal Life

"God is Love. " This simple yet complex statement is found only twice1, 2 in the Bible and is commonly presented out of context. It is generally misunderstood and often circulated in a fashion that leads many into Hell. The statement –while very easy to make and accept when presented in its undefined form– has a depth of reality far beyond what the average person wants to know even though such knowledge is critical to salvation. 1. "Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love. " [1 John 4:8 ] 2. "We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us*.

God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him. " [1 John 4:16] * This usage of the term "us" refers only to men of faith. In the following important prelude to the above passages the term "if" is used five (5) times. Entry into eternal life must always be considered as conditional: "Now this is the message that we have heard from him and proclaim to you: God is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say, "We have fellowship with him," while we continue to walk in darkness, we lie and do not act in truth.

But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of his Son Jesus cleanses us from all sin. If we say, "We are without sin," we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we acknowledge our sins,3 he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing. If we say, "We have not sinned," we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. " [1 John 1:5-10] 3. "Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained. [John 20:23] — This authority was given by Jesus to the eleven apostles –even though only ten were present at the time– and to their validly ordained successors on Easter Sunday during His first visitation with them. All validly ordained priests (also known by the terms presbyters and elders) have this authority even though not materially present during this visitation. NOTE: The references in the book of Hebrews to Jesus being High Priest should be seen as a clear statement that there were other priests serving under His authority. (Priests can only be ordained by someone with demonstratable authority from God to ordain.

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They can never be elected or self-appointed. ) It must be understood that true love reflects the totality of goodness. Absolute goodness resides in God alone and is shared by Him with those who have sincerely sought association with Him. When one honestly seeks out God one is looking for that fullness of truth found only in God. A fullness of truth that few have any real desire to put into practice. Those who eventually reach Heaven have all truth present to them and can utilize any truth they seek, but they remain incapable of possessing at any given time the totality of truth.

Goodness is dependent upon truth and truth leads to justice. Not only must one desire truth and make a sincere effort to acquire all of the spiritual truths that are available and within one's capacity to understand, but one must also be willing to put them into practice as opportunities present themselves. Without truth their can be no understanding of goodness and goodness demands service to God and neighbor according to the teachings of Jesus, Son of Man/Son of God. Justice is a cohort of goodness and has as its foundation the Word of God that is always truth.

Justice is the exercise of works in the service of both positive and negative commands of God – what one must do and what one must not do to obtain eternal happiness. Good deeds are meritorious works (witnesses to faith), benefitting the Heavenly Kingdom, that are performed by those who still reside in this life. While no quantity or quality of works can substitute for the salvific act accomplished once by Jesus on the cross – that allowed access to Heaven to those judged worthy (Matthew 25:32), they are necessary witnesses to that love of God which is required for one to enter Heaven.

Again, the mercy of God has been made obtainable only through the redemptive act of Jesus. Prior to this act no one was permitted entry into Heaven no matter how worthy they might be deemed to have been including Able, Enoch, Abraham, Joseph, Moses and many others. The ultimate mercy –redemption from the sin of Adam that caused separation from God– is received only by those who have put the fullness of God's Word (commands - direct or implicit) into practice by actions of faith. Summarization: God is love and love is shed upon those who seek knowledge of required truths that lead to the practice of justice in respect for the goodness of God.

A greater appreciation of God can be obtained by meditating upon the qualities or attributes of God. Anyone who pursues truth and practices justice is loved by God, that is, comes under the umbrella of that love which can be received from God alone. For those who do not pursue goodness, through the seeking of truth and the practice of justice, God is for them anger, hatred and wrath. To be a recipient of salvation/mercy one must sincerely develop a full love of God and pursue Him through the practice of justice that can be understood only through the acquisition of spiritual truth.

One must develop a sincere interest in God, listen –accept and practice– to His word, and grow in God's love. God is love for those who love truth and practice justice and mercy –Reference the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy– according to His will. This is the true meaning of the phrase, "God is love. " One should never mistake the statement, "God is Love," to mean that God does not condemn those who do not seek His love according to His (God's) definition of love while sincerely seeking His mercy.

Those who ask for His mercy must be sincerely repentant, turn their lives around, and develop a humility that allows them to be of true service to the Lord through service in this life demonstrated in the form of good deeds/good works. Without the witness given by good works, any protestation that one loves God or has faith in God is meaningless. God's mercy –salvific act of redemption for people of active faith– does not benefit those who culpably profess a false position of faith or love. In effect such people are lovers of evil and servants of Satan. God is good. Goodness loves and associates with that which is good.

Perfect goodness –which is the nature of God– is only able to associate with that which has been made/becomes perfectly good. Perfection is not gratuitous. Absolute perfection is necessary before one can enter the presence of God. If perfection is not achieved in this life by those not condemned to Hell, then it must be obtained through a purification process in an intermediate state of existence. In this state –referred to as Purgatory by those who accept Catholic doctrine (mandatory for Catholics)– one's attachment to any imperfections, brought about by self-will, is gradually overcome.

The removal of attachment to sin –often a degree of denial relating to bad habit(s) not fully dealt with in this life– is facilitated through the application of that degree of encouragement (pain) that proves necessary over an extended period of time to make one accept the necessity of turning away from accumulated dysfunctional desires and activities that had been accepted by the spiritual mind. It should be understood that many opportunities (much encouragement) are presented while in this life to turn away from sin.

Problems and sufferings in this life were meant to focus one's attention and reliance upon the stated will of God. One must learn to accept what is universally good instead of that which is only self-serving. In life one is given instructions and at times painful encouragement that is focused upon turning one away from sin and all attachment to it. Purgatory is for those who have only made a partial effort at turning away from association with sin. Please keep in mind that there are no free rides into Heaven, for anyone.

Further, there is no simple method for gaining perfection at the conclusion of life. After years of stubbornness relating to the retention of wrong doing one should not expect to be instantly made perfect. No one is gratuitously made perfect as this would limit that quality of free will which is necessary for one to effectively share with God in eternal life to the degree deserved through meritorious actions during life. Those who are not redeemable (unrepentant grave sinners) through a process of purification are condemned to eternal suffering commonly referred to as Hell.

Eternal suffering is necessary for incorrigible sinners. They have eternally living spirits that would be destructive to the harmony of Heaven if allowed freedom. Ceaseless pain keeps them from developing into a force that would be disruptive to those living in eternal happiness. When one fails to adhere to the commands of God –statements of His will that are either positive or negative– one is not in the love of God. Everyone wants to be able to do things their own way. They want to consider their way as the right way.

This is a product of egocentrism (self-centeredness). Most are not willing to accept that God's way is the product of great wisdom known through the explicit true teachings of the one authorized and unified (under supreme but controlled papal authority) Church established by Jesus. The avenue of established truth does not often agree with one's personal preferred way. God is love, but He is also light, truth and justice. Mercy is a by product of justice and while necessary for salvation it is not gratuitous even though Jesus' redemptive act was gratuitous.

Mercy is not granted to those who do not have sincerity of repentance. Everyone must make a humble request for mercy that has been warranted as worthy of being granted through meritorious deeds. Depending upon circumstances such deeds can be either simple or complex. SUMMARY: God, being love, has the perfection of that love which is goodness. He sheds Light (knowledge) upon those who seek truth and then put the acquired truths into practice (justice - good works versus misdeeds or indifference).

One who truly loves God will act in a way that demonstrates a sincere love of God. One must give God sincere worship and humble himself before Jesus. Service to Jesus is through placing into action spiritual knowledge that has been obtained. A major part of learning is focused upon love of neighbor. The simple way to accomplish this is to put into practice the Golden Rule, that is, "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. " The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are of major importance in relation to serving others in this life in the service of almighty God.

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