The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum "Love your enemies" and "Does God love all"

That's a good summary, at least I'm satisfied with it. However, I do want to add that I refrain from referring to God's beneficent mercy (aka: benevolence) as "love" as it is less than helpful, especially when speaking to an unbeliever. My introductory remarks were not in reference to what I might have thought you believed personally, but rather to simply state what the current belief is re: God's love for all mankind. So I reserve the word "love" when speaking of God's love for that which pertains to the elect and/or believers since it is salvific. And I use such terms as goodness, mercy, benevolence, kindness, patience, etc., when referring to God's dealings with unbelievers.

One of the most used misused texts in the Bible to support a universal love of God for all mankind aside from THE most misused (John 3:16) is here:

Titus 3:4 (ASV) "But when the kindness of God our Saviour, and his love toward man, appeared,"

The two highlighted words, although translated differently in many versions, are actually the same word in the Greek philanthropia, from which we get our English word "Philanthropy". It is to do good to others less fortunate; to be generous toward others, etc. And in a very general sense, it can be referred to as loving others. But in the Bible, it is to be seen in contrast to the salvific agape love that God has for His own. This is not to say that the word "agape" isn't used in a more general sense in the Bible too; it is. But as always, the CONTEXT will determine the real meaning of a word.

One last note in regard to William's remark concerning God's beneficence:

The Sun and Rain on the non elect are not blessings for they glorify him not as God, neither are they thankful and because of their hard and "impenitent heart" they treasure up "wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. . ."

I can't be sure where this came from but I highly suspect it is from someone in the Protestant Reformed Church. But, wherever it's source, it is typical of hyper-Calvinism where any idea whatsoever of Common Grace is rejected. In my estimation and that of the vast majority of Calvinists, God's bestowal of goodness upon all men indiscriminately, e.g., rain, sunshine, talents, etc., is not done with the specific intent of damning them further, although such blessings rejected surely will be used against them at the Judgment. These things are sincere and are an indication of God's mercy upon ALL.

In His grace,