Comments on: Does God Love Whom He Does Not Save?

By: Frank

Frank — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 16:12:25 +0000

First of all,every person coming into the world is a total sinner.in that regard nobody should be or deseverses salvation. But we know that JESUS is a loving merciful God who is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to a saving knowledge of HIS grace 2 peter chap 3 ver 9.The BIBLE also teaches that HE JESUS not only died for our sins but the sins of the whole world, now note in the text the word “OUR” means CHRISTIANS, so if the writer is saying that not only “OUR” but the “WORLD” that means that there is no favoritism or partiality.For we know that GOD is no RESPECTER of persons.1John2:2 and ACTS10:34 The BIBLE also says in John3:16 for GOD so loved the “WORLD”that HE gave HIS only begotten SON that “WHOSOEVER” believeth on HIM should not perish but have everlasting life.Then JESUS went a step further and said that HIS FATHER didnt send JESUS to condem the “WORLD” but that the “WORLD” through JESUS might be saved.The BIBLE also says the day you hear HIS voice “HARDEN”not your heart.Which means if JESUS is telling you not to do it then obviously you can,not GOD but YOUUUUUUU.I hate it when people get alittle bit of scripture and try to build a doctrin of there own.The fact is that JESUS will save anyone who will come to HIM in true faith,and that is the will of the FATHER that we will come to the SON and be saved.I think that we sometimes spend to much time and energy on things that are not going to make us more productive christians.We should spend more time spreading the GOSPEL and let GOD give the increase,not trying to figure out who is going to be saved and who is not.We need to make our calling and “ELECTIION”sure.Check ourselves daily to see if WE,not somebody else, is growing in the grace and knowledge of the LORD lest we deseive ourselves and not be saved at all.

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 16:00:00 +0000

What do y’all think about Christian Universalism as a way to reconcile the love/ hate of God. Have you read anything about that?

By: Seek the Holy

Seek the Holy — Sun, 04 Nov 2007 04:35:36 +0000

The Love Of God…

Picked up from Challies.com, I’ve just stumbled on John MacArthur’s blog and a recent two-part series of his in which he discusses the love of God.
The entries are:
Does God Love Whom He Does Not Save?
God’s Love For Those Neve…

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 17 Oct 2007 15:15:16 +0000

One thing that I think is important is that we do not love all people in the same way. We do not love our friends the same way I love my mother or the way a man loves his wife (or at least he better not). I think it is important to realize that God also is able to love the whole world in a general since, while only loving the elect in a salvific since. I think that John 3:16 is a good passage to consider. It tells that God loved the whole world, but that only those who believe will be saved.

We cannot require God to love every person the exact same way, when we do not love everyone the same way. This would require that there be no eternal judgement of the wicked.

Although God does not save everyone, He requires His saints love there neighobrs. I see this as a way for God to extend His love to all people, as well as His own glory. At the judgement no man will be without excuse.

Great article!

Grace and peace,
Robert Wiesner

By: Daniel Chaney

Daniel Chaney — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 17:05:58 +0000

Well said Bob.

By: bob

bob — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 05:46:58 +0000

It may seem simplistic but is not God’s love demonstrated in the beauty of the fall season, the air we all breath, the cool water that refreshs each of us, the sustenance of our life? And on and on… If each of us receive from God what we deserve wouldn’t all receive wrath. He has elected some to demonstrate his glory not to demonstrate solely his love but his mercy to receive glory for himself as he will from his redeemed saints in heaven. There is nothing we the elect has done to deserve or earn our election it is a free gift from God!! Our minds soaked with sin tend to believe the word “LOVE” and apply the sin soaked version of interruptation.

By: Henry (Rick) Frueh

Henry (Rick) Frueh — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:39:20 +0000

Of course God loves everyone, saved or lost. The question is why does His “love” for the non-elect elicit not even an manifested “offer” of redemption as an expressive proof of that Love? He loves the elect and redeems them, He loves the non-elect and will not even extend a token offer. It that case it does’t matter to the non-elect whether God loves them or not, God’s manifestation of that assumed love is no different than that of a tree. Benign.

I’m not sure what of love that represents.

By: daniel hamilton

daniel hamilton — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 15:39:45 +0000

It is possible to love and hate a soul, as God “hatest all workers of iniquity” (Ps. 5:5), yet has “no pleasure in the death of the wicked: but that the wicked turn from his way and live” Ezek. 33:11). Likewise we must “of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh” (Jude 1:22-23).

As regards Calvinism, while i see the essence of Calvinism taught in Rm. 9-11, the problem, which Paul anticipates, is that of reconciling the apparent conclusions of Calvinism with God’s declarations of jurisprudence. For if souls who are born with the Adamic nature and are thus “carnal, sold unto sin” (Rm. 7:14) are never given grace to repent, then they are ultimately damned due to Adam’s sin. And while children realize effects of their parents actions, whether they be good or evil, the final judgment is based upon what they personally did (Rv. 20:12, 13). Yet God states that He will not punish the children for their father’s iniquity (Dt. 24:16; 2Kg. 41:6; Jer. 31:29, 20).

Outside of the essential Arminian position, in which Jesus calls and draws all souls to Himself (Jn. 12:32; Mt. 22:14) in prevenient grace, and who commands all souls to repent (Acts 17:30), and thus all lost are fully culpable for rejecting Christ, it would appear that the aforementioned dilemma can be reconciled by making every soul culpable for Adam’s sin. But as Moses asked, “shall one man sin, and wilt thou be wroth with all the congregation” (Num. 16:22). The answer is that God can do whatsoever He pleaseth, and while what Rm. 9 describes may appear unjust (just as requiring “all” to always mean the elect as needed), we can be assured that God will be justified in all that He speaketh, and that “the judgment of God is [and will be] according to truth against them which commit such things” (Rm. 2:2) such as violate His laws and deny Christ. Meanwhile, God judges souls when intercessors fail them (Ezek. 2:30), and to his glory we must generally seek to preach the gospel to every creature (and as God draw us specifically to some), as if they are fully responsible to repent as God commands, by His grace.

However, it is sad to see a good man like McArthur lately requiring everyone must acquiesce to what i see as the torture logic of Limited Atonement, as if the refusal of most to come to the prepared banquet (Mt. 22:1-14) somehow makes the latter insufficient, and attributes deficiency to the host. The atonement offered for Israel under Moses was offered for all (Lk. 15:34), but was only efficacious for those who believed. I do not see the “L” in TULIP as required in Calvinism.

By: Dave B.

Dave B. — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 16:47:45 +0000

Phil He loves them but seperately and differently than the elect. Brian’s story is trying to just give an example of the varying degrees/types of love that are present in us, far less beings thand God.

By: Phil Bradshaw

Phil Bradshaw — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 15:21:40 +0000

Good grief people, the question is -does God love the ones whom he does not save? (has not saved, has appointed for wrath) Of course we know that God loves whom he WILL save, but what about the ones whom He will NOT save (in Hell)?