Does God Love Some People More Then Others?

[Guest Teditis]

14 hours ago, MorningGlory said:

Teditis, have you considered reading the online book that O Man posted a link to in this thread?  You might find it very interesting and it ties right in to your post above.  Here's the link he posted:

http://s3.amazonaws.com/tgc-documents/carson/2000_difficult_doctrine_of_the_love_of_God.pdf?utm_source=StandFirm&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=link

I'll give it a look... thanks MG!

[saved34]

Algots said:

"Jesus is the Savior as He is the Lord of all people. That's positional. It is a statement of fact. It is His Title. That doesn't mean that they are to be saved, or can be"

So, he is the savior of ALL people, but there are some people who still cannot be saved? So when the verse says "not only did he pay for our sins, but the sins of the WHOLE world" it does not really mean he paid for every human beings sin? Even though you yourself acknowledged he is savior of all people? If they cannot be saved, why did he pay for there sin? Please Elaborate."

I'm going to address your post but please respond to the above questions. I think it gets to the heart of whether God loves some more than others. You in your own words claimed him as Savior even of the Lost, which makes no sense in light of your Theological view.

[saved34]

Algots said:

"Makes no sense? The focus of the thread is if God loves some more than others. That is the context. So, if some are, currently, under God's wrath, while others are not, shows there is a difference."

I'm honestly not getting where you equate God's coming wrath as hatred or lack of Love. God is allowing them to live another day, he allows them to benefit from his resources. He extends the Gospel to them daily. His wrath is on them because they refuse to believe.

"Acts 17:26-28 NIV
From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. [27] God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. [28] 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.'

Algots said:

"They are still lost, but they are not under God's wrath for rejecting it."

Not that I agree with your understanding of this (I don't) but if the end result of both is Eternal separation from God in hell fire, what exactly is the difference?

Algots said:

"The falling away in the Book of Hebrews is to the Jews, because if you notice it also says it is IMPOSSIBLE to bring then again to repentance. Do you imply that this "impossibility" refers to Christians?"

No, the scope goes beyond just the Jews. Of course the original audience were Jews but this letter is in our Bibles and it is a warning for us also, and of course I don't believe Christians will fall away, my question was rhetorical. Not only were Jews endanger of falling away from the truth of Christ, we know Gentiles had the same issues so the warnings apply.

"2 Timothy 4:10 NIV
for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia."

"1 John 2:19 NIV
They went out from us, but they did not really belong to us. For if they had belonged to us, they would have remained with us; but their going showed that none of them belonged to us."

Algots said:

The entire book of Hebrews is to show JEWS that Jesus if the fulfillment of the entire Judaic Law.

So, am I to just throw out all the rich truths found in Hebrews? I mean Paul wrote a masterful letter to the believers in Galatia concerning Christ's fulfillment of the law.

God made no distinction, whether Jew or Gentile the law was applicable and it found you guilty.

Romans 2:12 NIV
All who sin apart from the law will also perish apart from the law, and all who sin under the law will be judged by the law.

Romans 3:9-10 NIV
What shall we conclude then? Do we have any advantage? Not at all! For we have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under the power of sin. [10] As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one;

 

[*Deidre*]

On 3/24/2016 at 0:26 PM, LadyKay said:

I know right off that most of you are going to answer "no" to this question and that God loves us all the same. But it seems sometimes that some people are so blessed by God and never have anything really bad happen to them. While others loss all that they have and more, even though they are just as much a Christian as the other person who's live seems to be over flowing with blessings from God. When I know what I am going through and what has happen to me and my family; and I look around at other Christians and see that they are  living happy lives and living without need. It makes me wonder if God loves them more then he loves me. I feel as though I am under attack by the  enemy everyday. 

The measure of God's love for us though, isn't determined by how the world defines 'success,' etc. What I've come to learn is that not everything is as it seems, either. I've known many people who have terrible struggles, but on the outside, they appear to have it all together. It is hard sometimes to not compare our lives to others, but every single person has a cross to bear...the cross is just different for each person. I know many people who have what the world would consider 'great success,' and they are miserable people, and treat people unkindly. Without a strong relationship with Christ, it's all meaningless, to me. Even if I suffer at times, knowing that I belong to Christ, helps me feel at peace with my life. 

[gdemoss]

On 3/25/2016 at 4:39 PM, algots said:

Many confuse God is love with love is god.

Yeah, I beleive that to be true.  When I am the center for the source of love then love is vain but when my love is sourced in God then my love is true.  Thank you for clarification.  You are a blessing.

[Marilyn C]

On ‎24‎/‎03‎/‎2016 at 3:26 AM, LadyKay said:

I know right off that most of you are going to answer "no" to this question and that God loves us all the same. But it seems sometimes that some people are so blessed by God and never have anything really bad happen to them. While others loss all that they have and more, even though they are just as much a Christian as the other person who's live seems to be over flowing with blessings from God. When I know what I am going through and what has happen to me and my family; and I look around at other Christians and see that they are  living happy lives and living without need. It makes me wonder if God loves them more then he loves me. I feel as though I am under attack by the  enemy everyday. 

Hi LadyKay,

Great topic - God`s love. Right off God`s love `agape,` means a giving of Himself. `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)

Thus we see that God gave of Himself, His Son, to all...

The discrepancy you see is related to `rain comes down on the just & unjust.` Life in this fallen world is damaged, thus there are those who have more (because there is always the greedy) & those who have less, or those who are not so sick to those who are greatly afflicted. It is not a just world because of sin which passes down generic diseases etc, & man`s insatiable desire for power & control throughout Political, economic & religious spheres.

Hope that helps, Marilyn.

[kwikphilly]

I like that Scripture reference Marilyn used from the 5th Chapter in Matthew

Quote

rain comes down on the just & unjust.

It is true & we also must consider that unless we are reconciled to the Father then who are we exactly? Gods creation or Gods children?Before we are reconciled is there any reason God should DO anything for us? And yet He surely does,,,,,,,,,,Loving ,Compassionate,Merciful

It is indeed a sick & dying world but I still believe as His Word says that He will have Mercy on who He will have Mercy on........Chastisement is sometimes what will bring someone to Himself,sometimes letting someone fall to the deepest darkest place & I have no doubt that God allows whatever He allows for a very good reason,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,I do not think ,as I said earlier,that He does not love anyone MORE but Differently,as their needs or His Plans & purpose require,,,,,,,To God be the Glory                                    With love-in Christ,Kwik

[saved34]

4 hours ago, algots said:

Some of us don't see it as to "all" people.

Jesus died to save, not to create a pool of "potential salvation".

 

If you're of the view that John 3:16 means everyone, then you have to acknowledge the flip side of the coin...John 3:36.

According to this view, you have two people who hear the Gospel. One believes and one does not. The one who believes crosses over the line and is saved, while the one who does not, crosses the line over into God's wrath.

So, you mean to say that God loves both the same?

God shows the one who believes, love, by showing that person His salvation.

While, He shows the other who doesn't believe, love, by showing that person His wrath?

Seriously?

If my family experiences my wrath perpetually, continually, and on a daily basis do you imply it is my show of love to them? 

I guess, with that view, there's no such thing as spousal, or child abuse.

 

what wrath is God presently showing the unbeliever? I'm really trying hard to follow your train of thought. It seems you are confusing the wrath to come with some kind of present wrath God is excercising on the unbeliever. 

Sound doctrine teaches that even we who believe are saved from the wrath to come. The present tense comes from Christ being the only way, you are condemned as long as you do not believe.

Give me an example of this present wrath on the unbeliver. 

[saved34]

1 minute ago, algots said:

Look it up. The word is the present tense word "abides". What does that mean?  It doesn't say abidED, or WILL abide, but abides (present tense).

Whether I can explain it, or not, is of no relevance to the fact that Scripture says it. Those who reject Christ, currently, ABIDE in God's Wrath. I can explain what it means. However, in my doing so will (notice future tense) open the door to you questioning me on my explanation, instead of focusing upon the meaning of the verse. Scripture says what it means and means what it says.

Don't deny Scripture to fit into your Theology. But rather, mold your Theology to fit around Scripture.

I figured as much my friend. 

[FresnoJoe]

18 minutes ago, algots said:

Those who reject Christ abide (NOW) under God's wrath....
along with being condemned in the future for all eternity....

However, I will give you a hint. Romans 1 does not only refer to homosexuals....
The example may be homosexuals, in Romans 1....
but homosexuality is only one of....
a plethora of symptoms....

And

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

Yet God Calls

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

Come Sinner, Come

I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:16-17