Does God Love Everyone?

Digg ThisShare via email

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” ~ John 3:16

For the sake of rightly dividing the word, another way to pose the question could be: Does God love the reprobate?

In scriptures, the triune God is often furious with the unrepentant and rebellious – those who act freely and sin willfully without the least bit of coercion. So the blame falls directly on the shoulders of the rebellious. We are the issue. We have the problem. We are the ones in a quandary.

“Without you, what am I to myself but a guide to my own self-destruction?”

Obviously scriptures also mentions many places how ‘they’ were never of ‘us.’ So we know there is an elect of God. I’ve ran in circles where we never got past election. We waited around for some type of evidence of being ‘chosen.’ There is much danger in that. The door is wide open for those willing to take the narrow way.

“I sighed and you heard me. I wavered and you steadied me. I travelled along the broad way of the world, but you did not desert me.”

For God so loved the world that WHOSOEVER…

He loves the disciple for Jesus’ sake alone and will not ultimately love those who are not in Jesus because they refuse to be reconciled. It’s not that hard a concept to grasp; but ultimately, we are wholly responsible.

“What am I to you that you command me to love you, and that, if I fail to love you, you are angry with me and threaten me with vast miseries?”

On the last day, when we stand in judgement, we will be without excuse. The greater the grace, the greater the gratitude and accountability. God will hold all non-reconciled sinners accountable for their hardened rebellion and animosity toward the righteousness of Christ.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

When we were yet sinners we were loved and known by Him. But it’s curious to consider how no matter how potent the apologetic, or obvious the truth, some will remain perpetually hostile to the mere consideration of a sovereign deity.

“In their perverted way all humanity imitates you. Yet they put themselves at a distance from you and exalt themselves against you.”

If God didn’t love us, then what was Jesus for? Now, what will we do with this truth? He came down for us and we have an obligation to respond. That’s the bottom line. I no longer argue strong meat with babes. I’ve broken out of that cage.

“Uneducated people are rising up and capturing heaven, and we with our high culture without any heart–see where we roll in the mud of flesh and blood. Is it because they are ahead of us that we are ashamed to follow?”

At the end of the day, we have a duty not only to decide what we are willing to believe, but more importantly, what is actually true. Our preference and desire to reject a vital truth does not release us from the consequence. Don’t turn from these loving truths.

“O God, our Father, listen to me groping amid these shadows, and stretch out to me Thy right hand.”

Don’t turn away the free offer of grace. Only through faith will we ultimately find rest. Redemption is at hand. Know where ye stand!

“You have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.” *

If we believe, we can know we are safe. Blessed are those whom are secure in Christ!

https://bible.org/article/divine-sovereignty-vs-human-responsibility

* All quotes from The Confessions of Saint Augustine

This article is printed with the permission of the author(s). Opinions expressed herein are the sole responsibility of the article’s author(s), or of the person(s) or organization(s) quoted therein, and do not necessarily represent those of American Clarion or Dakota Voice LLC.

Comment Rules: Please confine comments to salient ones that add to the topic; Profanity is not allowed and will be deleted; Spam, copied statements and other material not comprised of the reader’s own opinion will be deleted.

Similar Posts:

• The Great Equalizer
• Bad News/Good News Bible
• A Prayer for Sandy Hook
• For My Mother
• Leftist Mordor is on the March

A.J. Castellitto is a freelance writer who resides in NJ with his wife and five children. He holds a B.S. in Counseling and Human Services from the University of Scranton and his writings have been published at The Center for Western Journalism, The Christian Post, Intellectual Conservative and Reformed Perspective Magazine.

A.J. Castellitto

View all articles by A.J. Castellitto