The Trinitarian Essence of God

A quote from Stanley Grenz:

"Because throughout eternity and apart from the world the one God is love, the God who is love cannot but respond to the world in accordance to his own eternal essence, which is love. Thus, this essential characteristic of God likewise describes the way God interacts with his world. 'Love,' therefore, is not only the description of the eternal God in himself, it is likewise the fundamental characteristic of God in relationship with creation. With profound theological insight, therefore, John bursts forth, 'For God so loved the world that he gave . . .' (John 3:16)."

Theology for the Community of God, 72.

In preparation for preaching on the Trinity this quote screamed at me with all importance. Though Grenz had lots to say to build up to this point there are a few things to point at.

1) In discovering who our Trinitarian God is, we see that God in essence is the God we see active in this world. If we simply analyze God in who he is in himself then we forsake the very essence of God. But we must affirm what Grenz states: that God does not need us to exist. He exists in his essence of love before the creation of the world.

2) I wonder then, why did God create the world? If he was in and of himself complete in his community of love, why bother creating. Maybe the fullness or completeness of God overflows. If Love's purpose is to love someone else, is it not complete when it finds the other to love. Maybe not. Maybe the point of Love is to keep loving beyond. Maybe God's essence overflows. So God in overflowing Love creates the world.

3)Despite if that is true or not and since we know the world does in fact exist, Grenz points out that since God's essence is love, then God indeed interacts with his creation with love. God is love.