DOES GOD LOVE EVERYONE?

[jeremiah1five]

Or is His love particular to one group of people?
And ONLY that group of people.

 

[miamited]

Hi jeremiah1five

I would ask for a definition of God's love. I think that too many people think of love as some oooey, gooey sappy love as humans sometimes feel towards one another. God's love is that He cares for. God loves everyone in the aspect of His caring and providing for everyone. In fact that is the one definition that the Scriptures use for God's love:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

So, I just think we often don't understand the kind of love that God has for us because we have only human love as our example. But there are even cases of human love, that don't fit with the idea of the oooey, gooey, sappy love that I often believe those who ask such questions are considering to be the definition of love.

A father with a drug addicted child may still love his child because he cares for him, but he isn't going to let that child continue in the way that he is going and it can often be very, very painful for both the father and the child.

As I understand the above verse, God loves all of us in that He has made a provision that we don't have to be the drug addicted child, but it can hurt the child to be under such love. God's love can, at times in various situations, be very painful for the person. As the Scriptures also declare, His love is also shown in that His provisions for us to sustain life, the Scriptures use the analogy of rain, falls upon the righteous as well as the unrighteous.

God loves us and wants that all come to the knowledge of His salvation. But we must ultimately understand that it is God who makes the rules,...not us. This life is the proving ground where we make the choice that we will accept God's love and provisions for us,...or we won't.

God bless,
Ted

God bless,
Ted

 

[hawkman]

That is a book title , maybe some should read it .

Does God Love Everyone?

 

[jeremiah1five]

Hi jeremiah1five

I would ask for a definition of God's love. I think that too many people think of love as some oooey, gooey sappy love as humans sometimes feel towards one another. God's love is that He cares for. God loves everyone in the aspect of His caring and providing for everyone. In fact that is the one definition that the Scriptures use for God's love:

Hello Ted.
If God's love is that He cares and that He loves everyone why then are not everyone saved?

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Who are the "we?" and the "us?"

So, I just think we often don't understand the kind of love that God has for us because we have only human love as our example. But there are even cases of human love, that don't fit with the idea of the oooey, gooey, sappy love that I often believe those who ask such questions are considering to be the definition of love.

I think the definition for love would come from God Himself, don't you think?
After all, if God is love then wouldn't it originate with Him, that His love would be defined by Himself?
And if so, what is that definition of love?

A father with a drug addicted child may still love his child because he cares for him, but he isn't going to let that child continue in the way that he is going and it can often be very, very painful for both the father and the child.

As I understand the above verse, God loves all of us in that He has made a provision that we don't have to be the drug addicted child, but it can hurt the child to be under such love. God's love can, at times in various situations, be very painful for the person. As the Scriptures also declare, His love is also shown in that His provisions for us to sustain life, the Scriptures use the analogy of rain, falls upon the righteous as well as the unrighteous.

I think you mean the just and unjust, but where this is quoted who is God speaking to?

God loves us and wants that all come to the knowledge of His salvation. But we must ultimately understand that it is God who makes the rules,...not us. This life is the proving ground where we make the choice that we will accept God's love and provisions for us,...or we won't.
God bless,
Ted

How can we "come to the knowledge of His salvation" when the Holy Spirit says no one seeks Him? And if we don't seek Him how can we becomes saved?

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Rom. 3:10–11.

 

[miamited]

Hi jeremiah1five

If God's love is that He cares and that He loves everyone why then are not everyone saved?

Good question. Let me see if I can help you see and understand the big picture.

God has promised us an eternal life where there is no more pain and suffering. That's not possible with sin. So God has implemented a plan that removes our sin, under His specific conditions. For all those who are unable to agree with His conditions, God can't let them enjoy that eternal life because then He would just be letting sinners in to again destroy His good provision for those who love Him.

I mean consider for a moment, how is the eternal life going to be better if people like say, Adolph Hitler or Idi Amin or Jeffrey Dahmer or any other unrepentant and changed person is allowed access to where He's promised that those who love Him will enjoy the blessed life that He seems to portray for those who do receive His salvation will live?

God has to keep the unrepentant and unbelievers out of His kingdom of painlessness, fearlessness, etc., or else His kingdom just becomes an extension of the life that we live today here on the present earth.

Does that make any sense to you?

After all, if God is love then wouldn't it originate with Him, that His love would be defined by Himself?
And if so, what is that definition of love?

Yes, God is love, and thus, true godly love originates with Him. I've offered up my definition of God's love. You are free to give your understanding if you like.

I think you mean the just and unjust, but where this is quoted who is God speaking to?

I don't know. You tell me. Since you seem to know what words I actually mean to use. Honestly, if you haven't figured out what God's love is, perhaps you need more Scripture knowledge.

How can we "come to the knowledge of His salvation" when the Holy Spirit says no one seeks Him? And if we don't seek Him how can we becomes saved?

That's exactly what Paul asks. His answer: unless someone goes and tells them about it.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

Paul seems to agree with me on this that yes, there are going to be people lost on the day of God's judgment because 'we' didn't preach to them the gospel.


God bless,
Ted

 

[jeremiah1five]

Hi jeremiah1five

Good question. Let me see if I can help you see and understand the big picture.

God has promised us an eternal life where there is no more pain and suffering. That's not possible with sin. So God has implemented a plan that removes our sin, under His specific conditions. For all those who are unable to agree with His conditions, God can't let them enjoy that eternal life because then He would just be letting sinners in to again destroy His good provision for those who love Him.

So, on the subject of salvation, salvation is conditional?

I mean consider for a moment, how is the eternal life going to be better if people like say, Adolph Hitler or Idi Amin or Jeffrey Dahmer or any other unrepentant and changed person is allowed access to where He's promised that those who love Him will enjoy the blessed life that He seems to portray for those who do receive His salvation will live?

God has to keep the unrepentant and unbelievers out of His kingdom of painlessness, fearlessness, etc., or else His kingdom just becomes an extension of the life that we live today here on the present earth.

Does that make any sense to you?

Nope.

Yes, God is love, and thus, true godly love originates with Him. I've offered up my definition of God's love. You are free to give your understanding if you like.

I don't know. You tell me. Since you seem to know what words I actually mean to use. Honestly, if you haven't figured out what God's love is, perhaps you need more Scripture knowledge.

That's exactly what Paul asks. His answer: unless someone goes and tells them about it.

How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?

On the above passage of Scripture who is Paul writing to?

Paul seems to agree with me on this that yes, there are going to be people lost on the day of God's judgment because 'we' didn't preach to them the gospel.
God bless,
Ted

I'll wait for your answer to my question above on who Paul is writing to in his epistle.

 

[miamited]

Hi jeremiah1five

So, on the subject of salvation, salvation is conditional?

Salvation has always been conditional. Haven't you read that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus?

On the above passage of Scripture who is Paul writing to?

Believers.

God bless,
Ted

 

[jeremiah1five]

Hi jeremiah1five

Salvation has always been conditional. Haven't you read that no one comes to the Father except through Jesus?

Believers.

God bless,
Ted

Salvation has not always been conditional.
God chooses.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. Jn 15:16.

According to the Old Testament Scripture declared in the New Testament doctrine no one seeks God:

10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. Rom. 3:10–11.

And Christ says the same thing:

19 And this is the condemnation, that light [CHRIST] is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light [CHRIST], because their deeds were evil.
20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light [CHRIST], neither cometh to the light [CHRIST], lest his deeds should be reproved. Jn 3:19–20.

Christ is the Light of the world.
Men love darkness rather than Christ (Light).
They hate Christ.
They 'neither come to the light (Christ0, so although we must go through Christ to be saved it is the Father that must FIRST draw the person out of their darkness or else they won't become saved.
Jonah said, "Salvation is of the Lord" (Jonah 2:9c).
Everything concerning salvation is a gift of God.
Repentance is a gift of God, faith is a gift of God, regeneration and conversion is a gift of God.
Man is passive in his or her salvation. God is the active 'force' in every salvation since Adam to the last man destined to salvation in the future.
God is following a book of life of every name of every soul written in that book of life that is predestined to salvation.

And the Biblical definition of "love?"
It is found here and it is a verb, and you know a verb is a word describing 'action.'

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave [action] his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. Jn 3:16.

So, you are right that God's love is not that ooey, gooey, emotional love the mankind possesses unless first they possess 'agape' from God and are able to now give a love full of action to their brethren.
Jesus said, what good is saying "God bless you. Be warm and filled" unless you give them a blanket and food [action].

And no, God does not love everyone.

 

[hawkman]

If God's love is that He cares and that He loves everyone why then are not everyone saved?

Everyone does not choose to seek God . It is a choice we have to make .

Seeking God , Paul speaks about it here in Acts 17 . God intended for us to seek Him .
https://bereanbible.com/

Paul’s Address in the Areopagus

22Then Paul stood up in the meetingc of the Areopagus and said, “Men of Athens, I see that in every way you are very religious. 23For as I walked around and examined your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription:



TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.
Therefore what you worship as something unknown, I now proclaim to you.

24The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples made by human hands. 25Nor is He served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. 26From one mand He made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and He determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands.

27God intended that they would seek Him and perhaps reach out for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us.

 

[Padre Pio]

Of course not...

 

[miamited]

Hi jeremiah1five

Salvation has not always been conditional.

Salvation has always been conditional. I think someone once said that only the one who believes and is baptized will be saved. Another one said believe and be baptized and your whole family will be saved. Salvation has always been conditional on the hearer believing the gospel. If it were unconditional, then isn't everyone saved? Jesus did die, right? He paid the price for our sin and without the condition of belief, then everyone will be saved. See you on the other side, if there are no conditions to our salvation.

16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. Jn 15:16.

One of the dangers of cut and paste Scripture is that it generally always leaves out any context. This was when Jesus was speaking to his disciples, and yes, Jesus did choose them, they did not choose him. But it isn't regarding salvation, it is regarding their instructions that he chose them to accomplish, which was to go out and bear fruit.

God bless,
Ted

 

[jeremiah1five]

Hi jeremiah1five

Salvation has always been conditional. I think someone once said that only the one who believes and is baptized will be saved. Another one said believe and be baptized and your whole family will be saved. Salvation has always been conditional on the hearer believing the gospel. If it were unconditional, then isn't everyone saved? Jesus did die, right? He paid the price for our sin and without the condition of belief, then everyone will be saved. See you on the other side, if there are no conditions to our salvation.

Before God created heaven, earth, and man a lamb was slain from [before] the foundation (creation) of the world.
Before God created anything there is a Book of Life with names of souls God has predestined to salvation.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
8 Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence;
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
10 That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
11 In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
12 That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.
13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. Eph 1:3–14.

One of the dangers of cut and paste Scripture is that it generally always leaves out any context. This was when Jesus was speaking to his disciples, and yes, Jesus did choose them, they did not choose him. But it isn't regarding salvation, it is regarding their instructions that he chose them to accomplish, which was to go out and bear fruit.
God bless,
Ted

No man can bear the fruit that God has ordained unless God has chosen that person to bear that fruit and since it is fruit, and not works, it can only come from God and His salvation.
He is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
Every person in Scripture that had a positive relationship with God was called and chosen of God to salvation, whether it was Israel looking forward to their Messiah/Christ, or us looking back to the cross.
Salvation is of the Lord.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Everyone does not choose to seek God . It is a choice we have to make .

Seeking God , Paul speaks about it here in Acts 17 . God intended for us to seek Him .
https://bereanbible.com/

God never intended "us" to seek Him.
The thoughts of our hearts were evil continually.
Our nature is to hate God and love darkness, to hate the light and never come to the light because all we know is to love darkness.
Man has a one-track mind and desire.
Sin.
He is in bondage in sin.
The stronger man must come and bind the strong man and THEN he can pilfer his possessions.

 

[miamited]

Hi jeremiah1five

Before God created heaven, earth, and man a lamb was slain from [before] the foundation (creation) of the world.
Before God created anything there is a Book of Life with names of souls God has predestined to salvation.

That's a different theology than what I've gleaned from the Scriptures.

God bless,
Ted

 

[jeremiah1five]

Hi jeremiah1five

That's a different theology than what I've gleaned from the Scriptures.

God bless,
Ted

It is Scripture:

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world. Rev. 13:7–8.

3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life. Philippians 4:3.

8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, Rev. 17:8.

 

[eddif]

We see through a glass darkly.

IMHO here is conditional liveundertbe law of Moses:
2 Chronicles 7:14 kjv
14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18. Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20. Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

This is conditional for the physical life.
You can not insert eternal life and move it into the new covenant.

I bumped post and I am in edit. Back later

eddif

 

[eddif]

We see through a glass darkly.

IMHO here is conditional liveundertbe law of Moses:
2 Chronicles 7:14 kjv
14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18. Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20. Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

This is conditional for the physical life.
You can not insert eternal life and move it into the new covenant.

I bumped post and I am in edit. Back later

eddif

Old Testament is absolutely conditional
Well sort of. There are some strange exceptions.

Notice there is no mention of heavenly eternal life.

The New Covenant is about eternal life and physical life, and you can die to self. He works in you to get your will and doing in order. It is not up to man by himself.

I think I am hearing predestination rumbles in the background, but maybe not.

You could plug some stuff into the
2 Chronicles scripture and make it say all sorts of things. IMHO that is what happens when one is not careful.

Two different covenants. The first is a type and shadow of things to come, but not the complete reality.

What Jesus did is the reality we look at. We need to let the Holy Spirit enhance our vision.

I look through dark welding lenses. At times things are clearer than others. There are times when glare light comes in the welding helmet and causes problems in vision. Our breath fogs the lenses at other times. There is a glory of the Old Testament that can warp what we see.

Back later. I need to read some more previous posts.

Mississippi redneck
eddif

 

[jeremiah1five]

We see through a glass darkly.

IMHO here is conditional liveundertbe law of Moses:
2 Chronicles 7:14 kjv
14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
15. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place.
16. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there for ever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually.
17. And as for thee, if thou wilt walk before me, as David thy father walked, and do according to all that I have commanded thee, and shalt observe my statutes and my judgments;
18. Then will I stablish the throne of thy kingdom, according as I have covenanted with David thy father, saying, There shall not fail thee a man to be ruler in Israel.
19. But if ye turn away, and forsake my statutes and my commandments, which I have set before you, and shall go and serve other gods, and worship them;
20. Then will I pluck them up by the roots out of my land which I have given them; and this house, which I have sanctified for my name, will I cast out of my sight, and will make it to be a proverb and a byword among all nations.

This is conditional for the physical life.
You can not insert eternal life and move it into the new covenant.

I bumped post and I am in edit. Back later

eddif

God is speaking to a people already in Covenant.

 

[jeremiah1five]

Old Testament is absolutely conditional
Well sort of. There are some strange exceptions.

Notice there is no mention of heavenly eternal life.

There is no need. It is a given:

16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Mt 19:16.

The New Covenant is about eternal life and physical life, and you can die to self. He works in you to get your will and doing in order. It is not up to man by himself.
I think I am hearing predestination rumbles in the background, but maybe not.
You could plug some stuff into the
2 Chronicles scripture and make it say all sorts of things. IMHO that is what happens when one is not careful.
Two different covenants. The first is a type and shadow of things to come, but not the complete reality.
What Jesus did is the reality we look at. We need to let the Holy Spirit enhance our vision.
I look through dark welding lenses. At times things are clearer than others. There are times when glare light comes in the welding helmet and causes problems in vision. Our breath fogs the lenses at other times. There is a glory of the Old Testament that can warp what we see.
Back later. I need to read some more previous posts.
Mississippi redneck
eddif

 

[eddif]

God’s love can be contrasted to Solomon’s love for his foreign wives. Solomon allowed his love for his wives to cause problems. God knows what is correct, and he winked in the days of ignorance, but now he does not.

Agape love is both rod and staff. Draw us near and rebuke. Brotherly love is is not strong enough (we do not forget brotherly love), but we look toward Agape love.

eddif