Does God love everyone?

[Crusader]

Does God love everyone? (http://www.biblebb.com/files/macqa/1301-W-11.htm) - Q&A with John Macarthur

Questioner

It’s a two-part question. It says, does God love everyone? Second part, two kinds of love for the elect, for the world. Here’s my clarification, it says, I understand the proclamation of the Gospel as a love-letter from God, penned with the blood of Christ. This proclamation of God’s love is to be shared with all the world. I see it as the manifestation or revelation of God’s love to all humanity. But, I see a special, intimate for ordained love relationship that God has with the elect that is unique only to them, which the world as described in John, chapters 14-17, cannot share in. And, I was wondering if you could help me understand that.


John MacArthur's Answer

Well, I think you’ve answered your own question. I think that’s correct. I believe that God loves the whole world because he said that God so love the world. I believe there’s a sense in which God, in His great love, offers the world the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but the sins of the whole world. And, I believe, that God loves all men because it is God’s character to love. You see, God doesn’t love you because you are lovable. Once you understand that, then you’re off the hook. I’m not lovable, either. God loves because it’s His nature to love, and if you exist, you get loved, okay? That’s an attribute, right? It isn’t something that’s drawn out of Him by you or me. So, He loves the whole world. But, yes, He has an intimate and special, unique love for His own. That’s right. For example, in Amos 3:2, he says, “Israel only have I known.” What does He mean? They’re the only people He knows about? He knows about all people. He knows everything. He is omniscient. But, He has an intimate knowledge of a special people. And, so does He love all, but has an intimate love with a special people, and that’s what John 10 is trying to say when it says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them and they follow me.” And, so forth, and so forth.

[Crusader]

Does God so love the world? (http://www.oneplace.com/Articles/Print-Friendly.asp?article_id=1047)- by John MacArthur

Love is the best known but least understood of all God's attributes. Almost everyone who believes in God these days sees Him as a God of love. I have even met agnostics who are quite certain that if God exists, He must be benevolent, compassionate, and loving.

All those things are infinitely true about God, of course, but not in the way most people think. Because of the influence of modern liberal theology, many suppose that God's love and goodness ultimately nullify His righteousness, justice, and holy wrath. They envision God as a benign heavenly grandfather-tolerant, affable, lenient, permissive, devoid of any real displeasure over sin, who without consideration of His holiness will benignly pass over sin and accept people as they are.

Liberal thinking about God's love also permeates much of evangelicalism today. We have lost the reality of God's wrath. We have disregarded His hatred for sin. The God most evangelicals now describe is all-loving and not at all angry. We have forgotten that "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). We do not believe in that kind of God anymore.

Continue... (http://www.oneplace.com/Articles/Print-Friendly.asp?article_id=1047)

[HeIsEnough]

Liberal thinking about God's love also permeates much of evangelicalism today. We have lost the reality of God's wrath. We have disregarded His hatred for sin. The God most evangelicals now describe is all-loving and not at all angry. We have forgotten that "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). We do not believe in that kind of God anymore.


To quote a former poster round these parts, "That makes for great preaching anyway."

God is love.
God is angry.

Which one is in the scriptures?

I suppose if one thinks the Olsteen's of this world are the majority voice, that could be true. I am not fully persuaded that his brand of teaching is in the majority in evangelical circles. <perhaps within the RCC as well, but I don't know how true that is...any catholics desire to chime in?>

[jmak]

God hated esau.
(Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13)

[Deb]

God hated esau.
(Malachi 1:3; Romans 9:13)

God preferred the nation that came from Jacob over the nation that came from Esau for His specific plan. God did not hate the individual, Esau. Paul was referring to Malachi in Romans 9, and Malachi was referring to the nations they would become. Understand the word "hate" in the sense it was meant considering the Hebrew word used in Malachi. Do a study on it. Actually, this has been dealt with quite a bit in the other Calvinist threads.

[joy4Him2day]

I was thinking about John penning the words regarding himself: the disciple whom Jesus loved. John 13:23; 19:26;20:2; 21:7,20.

I don't think God was letting us in on a secret, I think John was revealing that he got it. I think John's adoration was the result of figuring out where he stood in God's eyes. I am afraid if we start preaching that God's love is conditional, we are in a lot of trouble.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. (proverbs) see also: Luke 22:32...and when you are converted, strengthen thy brethren. (He doesn't say be careful whom you tell that I love them) In fact, in 1 John 5:16: If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give unto him life for them that sin not unto death. (Not that I necessarily understand this verse....:freaked )

How about this one: Mark 10:21 The Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and take up the cross and follow me. 22: and he was sad at that saying and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

which leads one to believe this man did not continue to follow Jesus---however, it is written: beholding him, loved him.........

thoughts.....

[Deb]

I was thinking about John penning the words regarding himself: the disciple whom Jesus loved. John 13:23; 19:26;20:2; 21:7,20.

I don't think God was letting us in on a secret, I think John was revealing that he got it. I think John's adoration was the result of figuring out where he stood in God's eyes. I am afraid if we start preaching that God's love is conditional, we are in a lot of trouble.

My soul shall make her boast in the Lord, the humble shall hear thereof and be glad. (proverbs) see also: Luke 22:32...and when you are converted, strengthen thy brethren. (He doesn't say be careful whom you tell that I love them) In fact, in 1 John 5:16: If any man see his brother sin a sin which is not unto death, he shall ask, and he shall give unto him life for them that sin not unto death. (Not that I necessarily understand this verse....:freaked )

How about this one: Mark 10:21 The Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest; go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven; and come and take up the cross and follow me. 22: and he was sad at that saying and went away grieved, for he had great possessions.

which leads one to believe this man did not continue to follow Jesus---however, it is written: beholding him, loved him.........

thoughts.....


I came to the scripture in Mark 10 earlier, but was rushed to get to bible study and didn't have time to post it. Thx for that, and for the rest of your thoughts. I like what you said about "the disciple whom Jesus loved ..." John "got it." I like that.

[Crusader]

which leads one to believe this man did not continue to follow Jesus---however, it is written: beholding him, loved him.........

thoughts.....
Exactly. Here we see evidence of God's love for the unsaved. Jesus loved him even though the man loved his riches more than God.

[HeIsEnough]

Exactly. Here we see evidence of God's love for the unsaved. Jesus loved him even though the man loved his riches more than God.

:thumb