Paper 2 Overview: The Nature of God

The Divine Counselor explores the essential nature and character of God through an examination of his various attributes: infinity, eternal perfection, justice, mercy, love, goodness, truth, and beauty. These divine qualities are accessible to human understanding primarily through the revelation of the Universal Father as exemplified by Michael of Nebadon and through the religious life of Jesus of Nazareth. The Divine Counselor acknowledges the limitations of mortal mind and language in comprehending infinity, yet emphasizes that God's indwelling spirit presence facilitates human understanding of the divine nature. Through this indwelling presence, God establishes a direct personal relationship with each of his mortal children, despite the inherent limitations of finite beings in grasping infinite realities.

The paper systematically explores how the Universal Father, though infinitely perfect and absolute in nature, lovingly adapts his communication to finite beings through various intermediaries and manifestations. Particular emphasis is placed on God's love as the foundation of his relationship with his creatures, his inherent goodness that inspires trust and devotion, and his absolute commitment to justice tempered by mercy. The Divine Counselor culminates this examination by illuminating how truth, beauty, and goodness represent divine realities that become increasingly coordinated and unified as mortals ascend the scale of spiritual living, ultimately finding their perfect integration in God, who is love.

Recognizing that humanity's highest possible concept of God centers on the ideal of a primal and infinite personality, the Divine Counselor undertakes to study certain characteristics of the divine nature that constitute the character of Deity. The Divine Counselor suggests that God's nature can be best understood through the revelations provided by Michael of Nebadon through his teachings and exemplary mortal life, and through the recognition that humans are spiritual children of a loving Father. The divine nature can be approached through supreme ideas and supernal ideals, but the most enlightening revelation comes through comprehending the religious life of Jesus of Nazareth, both before and after his attainment of full consciousness of divinity.

The Divine Counselor acknowledges several profound limitations in the effort to enlarge and spiritualize the human concept of God: the limited capacity of the mortal mind, the constraints of language, and the scarcity of suitable material for illustration and comparison. Despite these significant handicaps, the Divine Counselor notes that these efforts would be nearly futile were it not for two crucial divine aids: the indwelling Adjuster bestowed by the Universal Father and the pervading influence of the Spirit of Truth of the Creator Son. Relying on these divine presences within the human heart, the Divine Counselor cheerfully undertakes the mandate to further portray the nature of God to the mind of man.

The Divine Counselor begins by quoting various ancient texts that attest to God's unfathomable infinity, noting how the "blinding light" of the Father's presence dwells in "thick darkness" to lowly creatures, and how his thoughts, plans, judgments, and ways remain unsearchable to finite beings. These testimonies affirm God as the one infinite Father, faithful Creator, Supreme Soul, Primal Mind, and Unlimited Spirit of all creation, who makes no mistakes and remains resplendent in majesty and glory. The Divine Counselor further establishes that God is pure and beautiful, deep and unfathomable, most excellent in his self-impartation to mortals, and the Father of every good and perfect purpose who makes all things possible as the cause of causes.

Despite the infinity of his universal manifestations, God remains unqualifiedly self-conscious of both his infinity and eternity, fully aware of his perfection and power. The Father constantly and unfailingly meets the differential demand for himself as it changes throughout his master universe, knowing and understanding himself with infinite self-consciousness of all his primal attributes. God is neither a cosmic accident nor a universe experimenter but sees the end from the beginning, with his divine plan and eternal purpose encompassing all experiments and adventures of his subordinates. The Divine Counselor emphasizes that God exists beyond temporal limitations; to him there is no past, present, or future, as all time is present at any given moment, making him the great and only I AM who, due to his absolute infinity, must rely on various arrangements to communicate with his finite creatures.

God establishes three primary arrangements for contact with his finite creatures: first, through the Paradise Sons of God who sometimes incarnate and become "one of you and one with you"; second, through the personalities of the Infinite Spirit including seraphic hosts who minister to material beings; and third, through the indwelling Mystery Monitors or Thought Adjusters that are bestowed without announcement or explanation. Through these mechanisms and others beyond finite comprehension, the Paradise Father lovingly "downsteps" and modifies his infinity to establish closer contact with the diverse intelligences of his far-flung universe. The Father accomplishes this ongoing process without diminishing his infinity, eternity, or primacy, though finite beings find such truths difficult to comprehend because of the mysteries they involve.

The Divine Counselor observes that even ancient prophets understood the eternal, never-beginning, never-ending, circular nature of the Universal Father who is literally and eternally present in his universe of universes. God inhabits the present moment with all his absolute majesty and eternal greatness, possessing life in himself that is eternal life, and throughout the eternal ages, he gives life to all. The Divine Counselor emphasizes that there is infinite perfection in the divine integrity, as God remains unchanging in his conduct of interplanetary affairs, showing "no variableness neither shadow of changing" and declaring "the end from the beginning." His counsel stands firm, doing all according to his eternal purpose, which makes his plans and purposes, like himself, eternal, perfect, and forever changeless.

The Divine Counselor notes the finality of completeness and perfection of repleteness in God's mandates, where "whatsoever God does, it shall be forever; nothing can be added to it nor anything taken from it." God never repents of his original purposes of wisdom and perfection, maintaining steadfast plans, immutable counsel, and divine, infallible acts. God's perspective on time vastly differs from mortal experience, as "a thousand years in his sight are but as yesterday when it is past and as a watch in the night," placing the perfection of divinity and the magnitude of eternity forever beyond the full grasp of mortal mind. Though God's reactions may seem to vary in response to the changing attitudes of his created intelligences, these apparent variations are superficial, as the changeless purpose and everlasting plan of the eternal God remain constantly present beneath all outward manifestations.

While perfection must necessarily be a relative term in the universes, it remains undiluted in the central universe and especially on Paradise, where in certain phases it is even absolute. God's primal perfection consists not in assumed righteousness but in the inherent perfection of his divine nature's goodness—he is final, complete, and perfect, lacking nothing in the beauty and perfection of his righteous character. The whole scheme of living existences across the worlds of space centers on the divine purpose of elevating all will creatures to share in the Father's Paradise perfection. The Divine Counselor emphasizes that God is not self-centered but continually bestows himself upon all self-conscious creatures throughout the vast universe of universes, and though eternally and infinitely perfect, he shares the consciousness of all experiences of imperfection through the struggling creatures of the evolutionary universes of the Paradise Creator Sons.

The Divine Counselor emphasizes God's inherent righteousness as the foundation of his justice, quoting sacred writings that affirm "The Lord is righteous in all his ways" and that his judgments are "true and righteous altogether." God's justice remains uninfluenced by the acts or performances of his creatures, as there is "no iniquity with the Lord our God, no respect of persons, no taking of gifts." The Divine Counselor cautions against making childish appeals to modify God's changeless decrees to avoid the just consequences of his wise natural laws and righteous spiritual mandates, reminding that one reaps what one sows. Divine justice in harvesting wrongdoing is always tempered with mercy, with infinite wisdom serving as the eternal arbiter determining the proportions of justice and mercy in any circumstance.

The greatest punishment for wrongdoing and deliberate rebellion against God's government, which is actually an inevitable consequence rather than arbitrary retribution, is the loss of existence as an individual subject of that government. The Divine Counselor explains that wholehearted sin eventually results in annihilation, as sin-identified individuals effectively destroy themselves by becoming "wholly unreal through their embrace of iniquity." This cessation of existence is not immediate but follows the full compliance with the ordained order of justice in that universe, typically decreed at dispensational or epochal adjudications through coordinated action of all tribunals from planetary councils to the judgment seats of the Ancients of Days. When finally confirmed, this sentence of extinction is executed by direct act of superuniverse judges, and the sin-identified being instantly ceases to exist, with no possibility of resurrection.

When a personality is extinguished due to sin, the living energy factors of identity are resolved into cosmic potentials, while the personality itself, deprived of a continuing life vehicle due to its own failed choices, is absorbed into the oversoul of creation as part of the Supreme Being's evolving experience. The Divine Counselor explains that in any universe contest between actual levels of reality, the higher-level personality will ultimately triumph because "divinity of quality equals the degree of reality or actuality of any will creature." Undiluted evil, complete error, and unmitigated iniquity are inherently self-destructive, surviving only temporarily through mercy-tolerance pending righteous adjudication. While Creator Sons devote themselves to rehabilitating rebels and wrong thinkers in the local universes, when all loving efforts are finally rejected, the decree of dissolution is executed by forces under the jurisdiction of the Ancients of Days.

The Divine Counselor defines mercy as justice tempered by the wisdom that comes from perfect knowledge and full recognition of the natural weaknesses and environmental handicaps of finite creatures. Sacred writings describe God as "full of compassion, gracious, long-suffering, and plenteous in mercy," promising that "whosoever calls upon the Lord shall be saved" and that God "will abundantly pardon" because "his mercy endures forever." God himself declares that he executes "loving-kindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth," taking delight in these things and not willingly afflicting or grieving "the children of men," positioning himself as "the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort."

God is inherently kind, naturally compassionate, and everlastingly merciful, requiring no external influence to call forth his loving-kindness. The Divine Counselor explains that the creature's need alone suffices to ensure the full flow of the Father's tender mercies and saving grace. Because God knows everything about his children, forgiveness comes easily to him, just as greater understanding between humans facilitates forgiveness and love. Only infinite wisdom enables a righteous God to simultaneously minister justice and mercy in any universe situation. Unlike humans, God is never torn by conflicting attitudes or attitudinal antagonisms when dealing with his universe children; his all-knowingness unfailingly guides his free will in choosing universe conduct that perfectly, simultaneously, and equally satisfies the demands of all his divine attributes.

Mercy naturally and inevitably emerges from goodness and love, as the good nature of a loving Father could not withhold wise ministry of mercy to each member of every group of his universe children. Eternal justice combined with divine mercy constitutes what humans would call fairness. The Divine Counselor explains that divine mercy represents a fairness technique for adjusting between universe levels of perfection and imperfection, serving as the justice of Supremacy adapted to evolving finite situations and the righteousness of eternity modified to meet the highest interests of time-space children. Mercy is not a contravention of justice but an understanding interpretation of supreme justice fairly applied to subordinate spiritual beings and material creatures in evolving universes—the justice of the Paradise Trinity wisely and lovingly administered to the manifold intelligences of creation.

The Divine Counselor begins by affirming that "God is love," which means his only personal attitude toward universe affairs is always a reaction of divine affection. The Father loves his children sufficiently to bestow his life upon them, making "his sun to rise on the evil and on the good" and sending "rain on the just and on the unjust." It is erroneous to think God must be persuaded into loving his children through sacrifices or intercessions, for "the Father himself loves you." This paternal affection motivates God to send the marvelous Adjusters to indwell human minds, and his love extends universally, as he would "have all men be saved by coming into the knowledge of the truth" and is "not willing that any should perish."

The Creator Sons are the first to attempt saving humanity from the consequences of foolish transgressions against divine laws. God's love manifests as fatherly affection, sometimes chastening mortals for their profit so they may "be partakers of his holiness," and during fiery trials, "in all our afflictions he is afflicted with us." The Divine Counselor emphasizes God's divine kindness toward sinners, mercifully receiving rebels who return to righteousness and "abundantly pardoning" transgressions, blotting them out for his own sake and choosing not to remember sins. The greatest evidence of God's goodness and the supreme reason for loving him is the indwelling gift of the Father, the Adjuster who patiently awaits eternal union with the mortal soul.

The Divine Counselor finds it unreasonable not to worship God simply because human limitations make it impossible to see him physically, noting that despite the tremendous physical space and spiritual differential separating mortals from God's Paradise presence, God lives within each person. Through his indwelling spirit, God has bridged the gulf, sending part of himself to live within and assist mortals in pursuing their eternal universe career. The Divine Counselor personally finds it easy and pleasant to worship one so great yet so affectionately devoted to uplifting his lowly creatures, loving God both for his nature and his attributes. By observing the Creator Sons struggling with time's difficulties in evolving universes, the Divine Counselor discovers profound affection for these lesser rulers, suggesting that all beings, including mortals, love the Universal Father because they discern his genuine love for them. God's love follows mortals throughout the endless circle of eternal ages, naturally eliciting increasing love for the Maker. It is an affection comparable to a child's love for an earthly parent.

The Divine Counselor observes that while one may see divine beauty in the physical universe and discern eternal truth in the intellectual world, the goodness of God can only be found in the spiritual realm of personal religious experience. In its true essence, religion represents faith-trust in God's goodness, as humans might fear a great God but trust and love only a good God. God's goodness forms an integral component of his personality, fully revealed only through the personal religious experience of his believing children. Religion implies that the spiritual realm recognizes and responds to humanity's fundamental needs, and while evolutionary religion may develop ethical dimensions, only revealed religion becomes truly spiritual and moral.

The Divine Counselor notes that Jesus dramatically elevated the concept of God from a Deity dominated by kingly morality to the affectionately touching level of intimate family morality within the parent-child relationship—a bond unmatched in tender beauty throughout mortal experience. Sacred writings affirm that God's goodness leads erring humans to repentance, that every good and perfect gift descends from the "Father of lights," and that God serves as the "eternal refuge of the souls of men." The Lord is described as "merciful and gracious," "long-suffering and abundant in goodness and truth," worthy of trust, "gracious and full of compassion," "the God of salvation" who "heals the brokenhearted and binds up the wounds of the soul," functioning as "man's all-powerful benefactor."

The concept of God as king-judge created law-respecting peoples but left individual believers insecure about their eternal status. Hebrew prophets proclaimed God as Israel's Father, but Jesus revealed him as the Father of each human being, illuminating the entire mortal concept of God through his life. The Divine Counselor explains that selflessness inherently characterizes parental love, as God loves not merely like a father but genuinely as a father—the Paradise Father of every universe personality. While righteousness reveals God as the source of cosmic moral law and truth presents him as a teacher, love manifests and seeks the affectionate understanding fellowship typical in parent-child relationships. The erroneous supposition that God's righteousness conflicted with his selfless love presumed disunity in Deity, leading directly to atonement doctrines that philosophically assault both God's unity and free will. The Divine Counselor emphatically states that God loves the sinner while hating sin, clarifying that sin is not a person, and thus God takes no personal attitude toward it; his love saves the sinner while his law destroys sin.

The Divine Counselor establishes that all finite knowledge and creature understanding are relative, with information and intelligence being only relatively complete, locally accurate, and personally true even when derived from high sources. Physical facts maintain fair uniformity, but truth functions as a living, flexible factor in universe philosophy. Evolving personalities possess only partial wisdom and relative truth in their communications, achieving certainty only within the limits of personal experience, so what appears wholly true in one creation segment may prove merely relatively true elsewhere. While divine truth remains uniform and universal, accounts of spiritual matters told by various individuals from different spheres may vary in details due to relative completeness of knowledge, fullness of personal experience, and the extent of that experience.

Although the laws, decrees, thoughts, and attitudes of the First Great Source and Center remain eternally, infinitely, and universally true, their application and adjustment for each universe, system, world, and created intelligence follow the plans of the Creator Sons in their respective universes and harmonize with the local procedures of the Infinite Spirit and associated celestial personalities. The Divine Counselor warns that materialism's false science would make humanity universal outcasts, representing partial knowledge composed of both good and evil, whereas truth's beauty derives from its completeness and symmetry. Philosophers commit their gravest error through abstraction, focusing on one aspect of reality and pronouncing it the whole truth. In contrast, wise philosophers always seek the creative design behind all universe phenomena, recognizing that creator thought invariably precedes creative action.

The Divine Counselor explains that intellectual self-consciousness can discover truth's beauty and spiritual quality not only through the philosophical consistency of concepts but more certainly through the unerring response of the ever-present Spirit of Truth. Happiness follows truth recognition because truth can be acted upon and lived, while disappointment and sorrow accompany error since, lacking reality, it cannot be experientially realized. The eternal quest seeks unification and divine coherence: the physical universe coheres in Paradise, the intellectual universe in the Conjoint Actor, and the spiritual universe in the Eternal Son, while individual mortals cohere in God the Father through the indwelling Adjuster, a fragment of God seeking divine unification. The discernment of supreme beauty constitutes the discovery and integration of reality, with ultimate beauty being the divine goodness in eternal truth. The Divine Counselor concludes by affirming that all truth is both beautiful and good, all genuine beauty both true and good, and all genuine goodness equally true and beautiful, with health, sanity, and happiness representing the integration of these values in human experience.