God Is Simple

I’ve just posted at Out of the Ordinary on the simplicity of God. The piece starts like this:

A woman I know once told me God would never condemn anyone to eternal hell because God is love. If God had wrath, and she wasn’t sure he did, it was only temporary. God’s final attitude toward everyone would be love, because God is love. She kept repeating these three words, emphasizing the “is” each time as if it settled everything. If God is love, she thought, love must be his most important attribute—the one attribute to rule all the others.

Understanding God’s simplicity should protect us from this error—and a few others, too. Do you want to know more about how this doctrine helps guards against distorted images of God? If so, read the rest. 

Sunday's Hymn: According to Thy Gracious Word

According to thy gracious word,
In meek humility,
This will I do, my dying Lord,
I will remember thee.

Thy body, broken for my sake,
My bread from heav’n shall be;
Thy testamental cup I take,
And thus remember thee.

Gethsemane can I forget?
Or there thy conflict see,
Thine agony and bloody sweat,
And not remember thee?

When to the cross I turn mine eyes,
And rest on Calvary,
O Lamb of God, my Sacrifice,
And not remember thee?

Remember thee, and all thy pains,
And all thy love to me:
When thou shalt in thy Kingdom come,
Jesus, remember me.

—James Montgomery

Three different tunes:

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• How Precious Is the Book Divine at By Grace Alone
• Twixt Gleams of Joy and Clouds of Doubt at The Happy Wonderer
• The light and glory of the word at The Upward Call
• Compassion for the bruised reed at Tried With Fire
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: What we want at Pyromaniacs
• Burdens Cast on Him at Theology for Girls

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.

Sunday's Hymn: Awake, My Soul, and With The Sun

Awake, my soul, and with the sun
Thy daily stage of duty run:
Shake off dull sloth, and joyful rise
To pay thy morning sacrifice.

By influence of the light Divine
Let thine own light to others shine;
Reflect all heav’n’s propitious rays
In ardent love and cheerful praise.

All praise to thee, who safe hast kept,
And hast refreshed me whilst I slept:
Grant, Lord, when I from death shall wake,
I may of endless light partake.

Lord, I my vows to thee renew,
Disperse my sins as morning dew;
Guard my first springs of thought and will,
And with thyself my spirit fill.

Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
Praise him, all creatures here below;
Praise him above, ye heav’nly host:
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

—Thomas Ken

Other hymns, worship songs, prayers, sermons excerpts, or quotes posted today:

• The Old Book Stands at The Happy Wonderer
• Exhortation to Prayer at The Upward Call
• The Remembrance of Christ at Tried With Fire
• Your weekly dose of Spurgeon: Ridiculed? We could only wish! at Pyromaniacs
• Whom, When, How to Deliver at Theology for Girls

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.