Does God Love Everyone?

[Wynona]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here.

 

[JohnDB]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here.

God opposes the proud but gives grace (unearned favor) to the humble.

 

[Wynona]

Honestly, I feel like you can make a case for a yes or no answer. Im on the fence with this time.

 

[amadeus]

1jo 4:8

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

But then...

Ro 9:13

As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated. [see Malachi 1:2-3]

But then...the unchanging God. Does He love? Does He hate? Does He loves the ones He hates?

Mal 3:6

For I am the LORD, I change not...

And also...

Jas 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

[Lambano]

 

[Lambano]

 

[Behold]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here

1 John 4:19

John 3:16

 

[Augustin56]

God loves everyone. But not everyone accepts His love.

 

[Fred J]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here.

Indeed GOD so loved the world (John 3:16), and the Son too loved, gave Himself as a sacrifice to take away the sins of the world. (Romans 5:8/John 1:29)

 

[Fred J]

Everything is done and all paid for, and GOD consider all of them clean. (Acts 10:15/John 16:8&9)

 

[Fred J]

Next, how then the world shall call upon Him they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? (Romans 10:13-15)

Even we fail to reach out, probably majoritively 'lukewarm' and 'laidback', and in trouble. HE apparently sends out HIS angels to preach and make sure the Gospel reaches every ear. (Hebrews 1:14)

 

[Fred J]

The world fail to respond, instead of loving the Gospel and come into the Light, they loved darkness rather. (2Thessalonians 2:9-12)

Who else did not love back GOD?

Christians who did not minster the Gospel, as one's amour not put on. (Ephesians 6:15) And,those who transgress and not abide in the doctrine of Jesus Christ after being saved. (2John 1:9-11)

Shalom in the name of Jesus

 

[Lambano]

I hear that God even loves His enemies. (And tells us to go thou and do likewise.)

 

[Lambano]

I think...

It is best that I assume that God has some modicum of love for each and every person. And I think this attitude is justified by the verses I've cited. The other reason is that we can get into some real pride issues if we assume that God loves us but hates the other guy.

It is also important to realize that if human relationships are complicated, God's relationships are probably more so. As a parent's relationship with their offspring is affected by many factors (not least of which is the offspring's own behavior and attitude), so must God's relationships with us be complex.

 

[Wynona]

I think...

It is best that I assume that God has some modicum of love for each and every person. And I think this attitude is justified by the verses I've cited. The other reason is that we can get into some real pride issues if we assume that God loves us but hates the other guy.

It is also important to realize that if human relationships are complicated, God's relationships are probably more so. As a parent's relationship with their offspring is affected by many factors (not least of which is the offspring's own behavior and attitude), so must God's relationships with us be complex.

I am torn. I see that someone can make a case for God not loving everyone---so Im always going to heed Scripture if that's what it says.

Its possible, in my thinking, that God does not love everyone but I agree that this can lead to the whole "I don't have to love *those* people" which is wrong. We are clearly commanded to love and do good to all.

I think God is the only being who potentially has the right to not love every person. We grieve Him in so many ways. But I don't think we as people have that right. Who are we?

 

[Lambano]

I am torn. I see that someone can make a case for God not loving everyone---so Im always going to heed Scripture if that's what it says.

Does He loves the ones He hates?

From what I've seen of human relationships, it is possible to love someone and yet be angry with them and hate them at the same time.

One sad case I remember from forty years ago. A friend of my dad's had to have his own son jailed for sexually assaulting his sister. He still loved his son - but he couldn't let him back into the family. If memory serves, the father died a broken man soon afterwards.

Another sad case from a coworker whose children took wrong paths. One son was an addict who'd steal to support his habit. His daughter became a prostitute. Another son was always in trouble with the law. He still loved them - but he told me, "If I could do it over again, I would've gotten a vasectomy." (Despite a second daughter that actually turned out okay.)

It's dangerous of me to assume I know what God's thinking - but if humans made in the image of God can love and hate simultaneously, I suspect God may be able to too.

 

[Bob Estey]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here.

First, in this context, is love about the way the Lord feels, or the way he treats people?

Certainly the Lord is not always happy with what we do. He has feelings.

But he is bound to treat all of us as a loving parent would. So he gives all of us his love, and he gives all of us his discipline - whichever is appropriate at the moment.

Yes?

 

[GodsGrace]

I am torn. I see that someone can make a case for God not loving everyone---so Im always going to heed Scripture if that's what it says.

Its possible, in my thinking, that God does not love everyone but I agree that this can lead to the whole "I don't have to love *those* people" which is wrong. We are clearly commanded to love and do good to all.

I think God is the only being who potentially has the right to not love every person. We grieve Him in so many ways. But I don't think we as people have that right. Who are we?

I was going to post John 3:16 but many beat me to it.

Romans 5:8 states that God loved us while we were still sinners.

1 John 4:10 states that God loved us and sent His Son to be our propitiation.
Jesus is the propitiation for everyone. 1 John 2:1-2 and so it means that God loves everyone.

Does He love His children in a different way?
Yes.

It's like a human family since God created the family.
We love a son no matter what....even if he abandons us.
But we're very sorry for it and will not give to him what we give
to a son that loves us back, stays with us, helps us, etc.

I believe, scripturally, it's the same with God.
Also, I'm thinking of The Prodigal Son.

 

[bro.tan]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here.

For all who trust in Him (Jesus), and do His commandments, salvation will come. But to those who turn away, God's wrath abides upon them: (John 3:36) He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

(Psalm 5:5) The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity.


(Prov 6:16-19) (v.16) These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him (v.17) A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,(v.18) An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,(v.19) A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

(Hosea 9:15) All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters.

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)

 

[Episkopos]

Not offering my thoughts. I'm the student here, not the teacher here.

In principle God loves all people....all people have the potential to either be accepted with God or please Him. We all have an inner man created in God's image. The problem is our rebellious attitude.....lodged in the sin nature of the outer man...and so many won't let go of it. People who look for advantage, self-interest, self-advancement. These things God hates. Those who persist in such things God will either destroy or else cut-off. Modern doctrines are set up to deny the truth and justify people in their rebellious attitude. Love, in that case, destroys what brings destruction of the innocent, the meek and the righteous.

God doesn't want any to perish. He gives us time to change our direction, to repent and relent. He sends His servants to correct and rebuke...but the nature of carnal men is to destroy what is sent to help them. We are to allow the stripes of Jesus to heal us from our outer man sin nature. How far will we go to defend our sinful nature? How long will we deny the power of the gospel? How long will we pervert the truth to cater to an ingrained self-interest?

God is love. God is selfless. Those who wish to live with Him must become as He is.