Is telling someone "Jesus loves you" a true statement?

[I am a olive tree]

"Jesus loves you" is a blanket statement used all the time. Can Jesus love someone if He does not know them? "The Lord God loves you" is always a true statement. "Jesus saves" is always a true statement. If I tell the lost person "Jesus loves you." Would I be deceiving them?

 

[WIP]

"Jesus loves you" is a blanket statement used all the time. Can Jesus love someone if He does not know them? "The Lord God loves you" is always a true statement. "Jesus saves" is always a true statement. If I tell the lost person "Jesus loves you." Would I be deceiving them?

The words of Jeremiah the son of Hilkiah, of the priests who were in Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, to whom the word of the Lord came in the days of Josiah the son of Amon, king of Judah, in the thirteenth year of his reign.
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you;
Before you were born I sanctified you;
I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”
Jeremiah 1:1-2, 5 NKJV

For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well.
My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
the days that were formed for me,
when as yet there was none of them.
Psalm 139:13-16 ESV

When we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Romans 5:6-10 NKJV

In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
1 John 4:9-10 NKJV

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
John 3:16-17 NKJV

 

[I am a olive tree]

Are these verses not saying, that Jesus is the Lord Gods expression of Love for the world?

 

[electedbyHim]

Here is a concise answer from Gotquestions.org

There is a sense in which God loves everyone in the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; Romans 5:8). This love is not conditional—it is rooted in God’s character and based on the fact that He is a God of love (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love for everyone could be thought of as His “merciful love,” since it results in the fact that God does not immediately punish people for their sins (Romans 3:23; 6:23). “Your Father in heaven . . . causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). This is another example of God’s love for everyone—His merciful love, His benevolence extended to everyone, not just to Christians.

God’s merciful love for the world is also manifested in that God gives people the opportunity to repent: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise. . . . Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s unconditional love is related to His general call to salvation and what is often called His permissive or perfect will—that aspect of God’s will that reveals His attitude and defines what is pleasing to Him.

However, God’s love for everyone does not mean that everyone will be saved (see Matthew 25:46). God will not ignore sin, for He is a God of justice (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Sin cannot go unpunished forever (Romans 3:25–26). If God simply disregarded sin and allowed it to continue to wreak havoc in creation forever, then He would not be love. To ignore God’s merciful love, to reject Christ, or to deny the Savior who bought us (2 Peter 2:1) is to subject ourselves to God’s wrath for eternity (Romans 1:18), not His love.

The love of God that justifies sinners is not extended to everyone, only to those who have faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). The love of God that brings people into intimacy with Himself is not extended to everyone, only to those who love the Son of God (John 14:21). This love could be thought of as God’s “covenant love,” and it is conditional, given only to those who place their faith in Jesus for salvation (John 3:36). Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are loved unconditionally, securely, forever.

Does God love everyone? Yes, He shows mercy and kindness to all. Does God love Christians more than He loves non-Christians? No, not in regards to His merciful love. Does God love Christians in a different way than He loves non-Christians? Yes; because believers have exercised faith in God’s Son, they are saved. God has a unique relationship with Christians in that only Christians have forgiveness based on God’s eternal grace. The unconditional, merciful love God has for everyone should bring us to faith, receiving with gratefulness the conditional, covenant love He grants those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior.

 

[JLB]

"Jesus loves you" is a blanket statement used all the time. Can Jesus love someone if He does not know them? "The Lord God loves you" is always a true statement. "Jesus saves" is always a true statement. If I tell the lost person "Jesus loves you." Would I be deceiving them?

The Father and His Son Jesus Christ, love the world.

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:16

The world.

What person of the world is excluded from God’s love?

 

[I am a olive tree]

No person of the world is excluded from the love of the Lord God. But if a sinner hears Jesus loves you their whole life and never believes or repents. What will they hear at judgement? Are we not deceiving a lost person by telling them Jesus loves them?

 

[electedbyHim]

No person of the world is excluded from the love of the Lord God. But if a sinner hears Jesus loves you their whole life and never believes or repents. What will they hear at judgement? Are we not deceiving a lost person by telling them Jesus loves them?

Depart fom me, I never knew you.

We must understand that the Love of God is nothing like or near to what humans believe love is.

Too many Christians do not have a proper understanding of the love of God.

 

[I am a olive tree]

Depart fom me, I never knew you.

We must understand that the Love of God is nothing like or near to what humans believe love is.

Too many Christians do not have a proper understanding of the love of God.

Can Jesus love you if He never knew you? The bible tells me what love is, 1 corithians 13:4-8. I can't love anyone like the Lord God does but I understand what real love is. According to what the bible says about love. I don't believe Jesus can love the lost because He does not know them until they believe and Repent.

 

[electedbyHim]

Can Jesus love you if He never knew you? The bible tells me what love is, 1 corithians 13:4-8. I can't love anyone like the Lord God does but I understand what real love is. According to what the bible says about love. I don't believe Jesus can love the lost because He does not know them until they believe and Repent.

God's love is a huge doctrine.

You could always start with this verse...

Romans 9:13 Just as it is written, “JACOB I LOVED, BUT ESAU I HATED.

Then you have this verse.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.

I happen to believe He does love the unregenerate.

Again, I do not believe we can fathom His love and how He works.

 

[Bruce.Leiter]

"Jesus loves you" is a blanket statement used all the time. Can Jesus love someone if He does not know them? "The Lord God loves you" is always a true statement. "Jesus saves" is always a true statement. If I tell the lost person "Jesus loves you." Would I be deceiving them?

Jesus is fully God; God loves the world; Jesus, therefore, loves everyone.

 

[Whatever]

Is Jesus the Lord?

Psalm 11:5 The LORD tests the righteous, But the wicked and the one who loves violence His soul hates.

Could you tell somebody who loves violence that Jesus loves them?

 

[electedbyHim]

There is a sense in which God loves everyone in the whole world (John 3:16; 1 John 2:2; Romans 5:8). This love is not conditional—it is rooted in God’s character and based on the fact that He is a God of love (1 John 4:8, 16). God’s love for everyone could be thought of as His “merciful love,” since it results in the fact that God does not immediately punish people for their sins (Romans 3:23; 6:23). “Your Father in heaven . . . causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:45). This is another example of God’s love for everyone—His merciful love, His benevolence extended to everyone, not just to Christians.

God’s merciful love for the world is also manifested in that God gives people the opportunity to repent: “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise. . . . Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s unconditional love is related to His general call to salvation and what is often called His permissive or perfect will—that aspect of God’s will that reveals His attitude and defines what is pleasing to Him.

However, God’s love for everyone does not mean that everyone will be saved (see Matthew 25:46). God will not ignore sin, for He is a God of justice (2 Thessalonians 1:6). Sin cannot go unpunished forever (Romans 3:25–26). If God simply disregarded sin and allowed it to continue to wreak havoc in creation forever, then He would not be love. To ignore God’s merciful love, to reject Christ, or to deny the Savior who bought us (2 Peter 2:1) is to subject ourselves to God’s wrath for eternity (Romans 1:18), not His love.

The love of God that justifies sinners is not extended to everyone, only to those who have faith in Jesus Christ (Romans 5:1). The love of God that brings people into intimacy with Himself is not extended to everyone, only to those who love the Son of God (John 14:21). This love could be thought of as God’s “covenant love,” and it is conditional, given only to those who place their faith in Jesus for salvation (John 3:36). Those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ are loved unconditionally, securely, forever.

Does God love everyone? Yes, He shows mercy and kindness to all. Does God love Christians more than He loves non-Christians? No, not in regards to His merciful love. Does God love Christians in a different way than He loves non-Christians? Yes; because believers have exercised faith in God’s Son, they are saved. God has a unique relationship with Christians in that only Christians have forgiveness based on God’s eternal grace. The unconditional, merciful love God has for everyone should bring us to faith, receiving with gratefulness the conditional, covenant love He grants those who receive Jesus Christ as Savior.
Gotquestions.org

​

 

[follower]

"Jesus loves you" is a blanket statement used all the time. Can Jesus love someone if He does not know them? "The Lord God loves you" is always a true statement. "Jesus saves" is always a true statement. If I tell the lost person "Jesus loves you." Would I be deceiving them?

Jesus knows all the ones He Loves.
The Lord God loves you is not always a true statement.
Jesus saves is truth, but not for everyone.
If you tell anyone anything that the Father has not directed to say , it is not of faith, and is sin.

 

[miamited]

Hi I am a olive tree

I imagine that's going to depend on how one defines love. As I understand God's love, it is that He cares for us and provides all that we need. While some define love as some gushy sort of emotional connection that would never allow anything bad to happen to someone, I don't think that's the correct definition.

Jesus took upon himself the responsibility for the curse of death that we are all under and gave his life as a ransom for ours. That's love. Now, whether or not someone wants to return that love is on them. Jesus died for all and therefore loves all of us. Whether someone wants to love him back is up to them.

 

[electedbyHim]

Election is a biblical doctrine, affirmed with the utmost clarity from beginning to end in Scripture. The highest expression of divine love to sinful humanity is seen in the fact that God set His love on certain undeserving sinners and chose them for salvation before the foundation of the world. There is a proper sense in which God’s love for His own is a unique, special, particular love determined to save them at all costs.

It is also true that when Scripture speaks of divine love, the focus is usually on God’s eternal love toward the elect. God’s love for mankind reaches fruition in the election of those whom He saves. And not every aspect of divine love is extended to all sinners without exception. Otherwise, all would be elect, and all would ultimately be saved. But Scripture clearly teaches that many will not be saved (Matt. 7:22–23). Can God sincerely love those whom He does not intervene to save?

British Baptist leader Erroll Hulse, dealing with this very question, has written,

How can we say God loves all men when the psalms tell us He hates the worker of iniquity (Ps. 5:5)? How can we maintain that God loves all when Paul says that He bears the objects of His wrath, being fitted for destruction, with great patience (Rom. 9:22)? Even more how can we possibly accept that God loves all men without exception when we survey the acts of God’s wrath in history? Think of the deluge which destroyed all but one family. Think of Sodom and Gomorrah. With so specific a chapter as Romans [1,] which declares that sodomy is a sign of reprobation, could we possibly maintain that God loved the population of the two cities destroyed by fire? How can we possibly reconcile God’s love and His wrath? Would we deny the profundity of this problem? (Erroll Hulse, “The Love of God for All Mankind,” Reformation Today [Nov–Dec 1983], 18–19).

Yet Hulse realizes that if we take Scripture at face value, there is no escaping the conclusion that God’s love extends even to sinners whom He ultimately will condemn. “The will of God is expressed in unmistakable terms,” Hulse writes. “He has no pleasure in the destruction and punishment of the wicked” (Ez. 18:32; 33:11). Hulse also cites Matthew 23:37, where Jesus weeps over the city of Jerusalem, then says, “We are left in no doubt that the desire and will of God is for man’s highest good, that is his eternal salvation through heeding the gospel of Christ.” (Ibid., 21–22)

It is crucial that we accept the testimony of Scripture on this question, for as Hulse points out,

We will not be disposed to invite wayward transgressors to Christ, or reason with them, or bring to them the overtures of the gospel, unless we are convinced that God is favorably disposed to them. Only if we are genuinely persuaded that He will have them to be saved are we likely to make the effort. If God does not love them it is hardly likely that we will make it our business to love them. Especially is this the case when there is so much that is repulsive in the ungodliness and sinfulness of Christ-rejecters. (Ibid., 18)

Biblically, we cannot escape the conclusion that God’s benevolent, merciful love is unlimited in extent. He loves the whole world of humanity. This love extends to all people in all times. It is what Titus 3:4 refers to as “the kindness of God our Savior and His love for mankind.” God’s singular love for the elect quite simply does not rule out a universal love of sincere compassion—and a sincere desire on God’s part to see every sinner turn to Christ.

Mark 10 relates a familiar story that illustrates God’s love for the lost. It is the account of the rich young ruler who came to Jesus and began asking Him a great question: “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” Scripture tells us:

And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, ‘Do not murder, Do not commit adultery, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Do not defraud, Honor your father and mother’ ” (vv. 18–19).

Every aspect of Jesus’ reply was designed to confront the young man’s sin. Many people misunderstand the point of Jesus’ initial question: “Why do you call Me good?” Our Lord was not denying His own sinlessness or deity. Plenty of verses of Scripture affirm that Jesus was indeed sinless—“holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners and exalted above the heavens” (Heb. 7:26). He is therefore also God incarnate (Jn. 1:1). But Jesus’ reply to this young man had a twofold purpose: first, to underscore His own deity, confronting the young man with the reality of who He was; and second, to gently chide a brash young man who clearly thought of himself as good.

To stress this second point, Jesus quoted a section of the Decalogue. Had the young man been genuinely honest with himself, he would have had to admit that he had not kept the law perfectly. But instead, he responded confidently, “Teacher, I have kept all these things from my youth up” (v. 20). This was unbelievable impertinence on the young man’s part. It shows how little he understood of the demands of the law. Contrast his flippant response with how Peter reacted when he saw Christ for who He was. Peter fell on his face and said, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!” (Lk. 5:8). This rich young ruler’s response fell at the other end of the spectrum. He was not even willing to admit he had sinned.

So Jesus gave him a second test: “One thing you lack: go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me” (Mk. 10:21).

Sadly, the young man declined. Here were two things he refused to do: he would not acknowledge his sin, and he would not bow to Christ’s lordship. In other words, he shut himself off from the eternal life he seemed so earnestly to be seeking. As it turned out, there were things more important to him than eternal life, after all. His pride and his personal property took priority in his heart over the claims of Christ on his life. And so he turned away from the only true Source of the life he thought he was seeking.

That is the last we ever see of this man in the New Testament. As far as the biblical record is concerned, he remained in unbelief. But notice this significant phrase, tucked away in Mark 10:21: “Looking at him, Jesus felt a love for him.” Here we are explicitly told that Jesus loved an overt, open, non-repentant, non-submissive Christ-rejector. He loved him.

John Macarthur

 

[miamited]

Simply stated, to be elect means to be chosen. In common usage, the word elect as a verb denotes the idea of choosing something.

Read more: https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/who-are-the-elect-in-the-bible/#ixzz8rkw0eCIF

God has chosen and established before the foundations of the world were set in place, that all of those who will believe the testimony and sacrifice of His Son, then repent of sin and strive to live as His Son did, will be saved. This is why James said that faith without deeds is dead. This is why believers are given the indwelling Holy Spirit. Their lives are supposed to change as regards how they live before being shown the guilt of their sin and after accepting that they don't have to live a sinful life. Those people who will believe and repent and establish the law of their life to be the law that God sets in our heart through His Holy Spirit, will be saved and are the elect. They have been chosen before the foundations of the world were set in place.

 

[electedbyHim]

Simply stated, to be elect means to be chosen. In common usage, the word elect as a verb denotes the idea of choosing something.

Read more: https://www.whatchristianswanttoknow.com/who-are-the-elect-in-the-bible/#ixzz8rkw0eCIF

God has chosen and established before the foundations of the world were set in place, that all of those who will believe the testimony and sacrifice of His Son, then repent of sin and strive to live as His Son did, will be saved. This is why James said that faith without deeds is dead. This is why believers are given the indwelling Holy Spirit. Their lives are supposed to change as regards how they live before being shown the guilt of their sin and after accepting that they don't have to live a sinful life. Those people who will believe and repent and establish the law of their life to be the law that God sets in our heart through His Holy Spirit, will be saved and are the elect. They have been chosen before the foundations of the world were set in place.

This is not Bublical.

You will not find it in the Bible anywhere.

God has chosen and established before the foundations of the world were set in place, that all of those who will believe the testimony and sacrifice of His Son,

Romans 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God's purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls,

 

[Whatever]

Jesus died for all

John 10:11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.

Then all people must be sheep! Well, Jesus says that isn't true:
John 10:26 but you do not believe because you are not among my sheep.

John 17:2 since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.
There is a contrast between "all flesh" and "whom you have given Him."

John 17:6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me
People you have given me out of the world. Kind of like:
Rev 5:9 . . . by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation . . .

The Father gave Jesus people out of the world to ransom, and then by His blood He ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. These people that no one could number (Rev 7:9) represent the world. God saves the world and the human race by redeeming a representative group. Just like He saved all the breathing animals by taking representatives on the Ark.

 

[Whatever]

God has chosen and established before the foundations of the world were set in place, that all of those who will believe the testimony and sacrifice of His Son, then repent of sin and strive to live as His Son did, will be saved.

Again, God chooses those who choose themselves by filling some obligation. But Paul says no:

Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him who wills, nor of him who runs, but of God who shows mercy.

It is not of him who wills (makes one choice over another) or of him who runs (any human effort like striving) but only of God who shows mercy.

Rom 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.

 

[Tenchi]

"Jesus loves you" is a blanket statement used all the time.

Is it? Maybe a bit of over-generalizing hyperbole, here...

You know, the term "love" is pretty corrupted now, even within the Church, the toxic "compassion" of Woke ideology infecting the Church widely, its proponents spouting the false idea that "Love is love." In the Church, a biblical understanding of what is meant by "Jesus loves you" has been twisted to mean "Jesus accepts you the way you are," and "Jesus affirms you," and "Jesus just wants you to be happy." These lies couldn't be farther from the truth of what it means for Jesus to love us.

Jesus is our Savior precisely because we are in desperate need of saving - from ourselves. And so, Jesus does NOT accept us just the way we are, wicked rebels deserving of eternal punishment in hell. He calls all who would be saved by him to repent of their God-independent, rebellious, sinful lives and submit themselves to his rule as their Lord, confessing their sinfulness and need of him as their Savior (James 4:6-10; 1 John 1:9; Acts 3:19; Romans 10:9-10). If the lost don't, if they continue unto death unrepentant in their rebellion and sin, the Jesus who loves them and died for them, will cast them into "outer darkness" forever (Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 25:46; Matthew 22:8-14). This isn't quite what "Jesus loves you" is often meant to convey these days, is it? It turns out, that he doesn't accept us just the way we are, lost sinners, bound under the power of the World, the Flesh and the devil, rebels headed for hell. If we won't abandon our own wicked way and yield to him as our Redeemer and Lord, he will be to us only a wrathful, implacable Judge.

In all this it's evident that Jesus doesn't affirm us in our sinful lostness. No, he utterly rejects this condition and if the lost don't come to him in repentance, confession and faith, trusting in him as their Savior and Lord and thus are saved from their wicked condition, he won't give them a hug and pinch their cheeks on Judgment Day and say, "You're wonderful whoever you've chosen to be!" Not hardly.

Romans 1:18-32
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,
19 because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.
21 For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
22 Professing to be wise, they became fools,
23 and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them.
25 For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen.
26 For this reason God gave them over to degrading passions; for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural,
27 and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire toward one another, men with men committing indecent acts and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error.
28 And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper,
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed, evil; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, malice; they are gossips,
30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, arrogant, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
31 without understanding, untrustworthy, unloving, unmerciful;
32 and although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same, but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Our happiness is not Jesus's chief concern, either. Many other things are far more important than the ephemeral feeling we call happiness. Justice, Truth, Holiness, Peace, Love, Humility, Faith, Integrity, Courage - these all (and others besides) are much greater in value than being happy. And, often, in order to pursue and defend these enormously valuable things, we must forego happiness.

Jesus's love is not aimed, first and foremost, then, at our happiness; no, his love is of an entirely different sort, powerful and deep, unconcerned with being happy, moving him through the horrors of the cross in order to achieve our redemption. And he is determined to reproduce the same self-sacrificing love - his love - in us.

Can Jesus love someone if He does not know them?

Being God, Jesus is omniscient. There is, then, no one he does not know.

If I tell the lost person "Jesus loves you." Would I be deceiving them?

No, but, these days, you definitely need to make some biblical clarifications about what "Jesus loves you" means. See above.