Communicable Giving

What do you know about God’s communicable attributes?

I’m reading through a systematic theology book with a number of men and our reading assignment these last couple weeks has been the chapters on Theology Proper, considering God’s nature. My class at ECS is also about to hit the same -ology in our Pocket Dictionary of Theological Terms project.

Incommunicable attributes are those that distinguish God from His creation, examples would include His eternality and omnipotence. Communicable attributes are those that God shares with created beings, in particular with image-bearers.

What is the most important communicable attribute? Throw the attributes into a tumbler and let them bounce around and ping off of each other, that’s good. We know enough to know that none can be separated from God without making Him other than He is.

That said, when Jesus Himself summarized the whole Old Testament into a first and second commandment, they both related to the same attribute: love. And when we come to the communion table we remember that God demonstrated His love while we were still sinners, sending His Son to die.

Love connects with how we feel, and love comes out in what we give. The Father loved and gave His Son. The Son loved and gave Himself. The Spirit loves and gives us life.

This is a communicable attribute. Affection driven generosity is a way we share God’s nature. We are made to love, which means we are made to give. You do not redeem anyone by giving for them, but you do reflect the Redeemer.