Does God So Love the World? (John MacArthur)

OnePlace.com ^ | July 21, 2005 | John MacArthur

[buckeyesrule]

Does God So Love the World?

by: John MacArthur

Love is the best known but least understood of all God's attributes. Almost everyone who believes in God these days sees Him as a God of love. I have even met agnostics who are quite certain that if God exists, He must be benevolent, compassionate, and loving.

All those things are infinitely true about God, of course, but not in the way most people think. Because of the influence of modern liberal theology, many suppose that God's love and goodness ultimately nullify His righteousness, justice, and holy wrath. They envision God as a benign heavenly grandfather-tolerant, affable, lenient, permissive, devoid of any real displeasure over sin, who without consideration of His holiness will benignly pass over sin and accept people as they are.

Liberal thinking about God's love also permeates much of evangelicalism today. We have lost the reality of God's wrath. We have disregarded His hatred for sin. The God most evangelicals now describe is all-loving and not at all angry. We have forgotten that "It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Hebrews 10:31). We do not believe in that kind of God anymore.

We must recapture some of the holy terror that comes with a right understanding of God's righteous anger. We need to remember that God's wrath does burn against impenitent sinners (Psalm 38:1-3). That reality is the very thing that makes His love so amazing. Only those who see themselves as sinners in the hands of an angry God can fully appreciate the magnitude and wonder of His love.

In that regard, our generation is surely at a greater disadvantage than any previous age. We have been force-fed the doctrines of self-esteem for so long that most people don't really view themselves as sinners worthy of divine wrath. On top of that, religious liberalism, humanism, evangelical compromise, and ignorance of the Scriptures have all worked against a right understanding of who God is. Ironically, in an age that conceives of God as wholly loving, altogether devoid of wrath, few people really understand what God's love is all about.

How we address the misconception of the present age is crucial. We must not respond to an overemphasis on divine love by denying that God is love. Our generation's imbalanced view of God cannot be corrected by an equal imbalance in the opposite direction, a very real danger in some circles. I'm deeply concerned about a growing trend I've noticed-particularly among people committed to the biblical truth of God's sovereignty and divine election. Some of them flatly deny that God in any sense loves those whom He has not chosen for salvation.

I am troubled by the tendency of some-often young people newly infatuated with Reformed doctrine-who insist that God cannot possibly love those who never repent and believe. I encounter that view, it seems, with increasing frequency.

The argument inevitably goes like this: Psalm 7:11 tells us "God is angry with the wicked every day." It seems reasonable to assume that if God loved everyone, He would have chosen everyone unto salvation. Therefore, God does not love the non-elect. Those who hold this view often go to great lengths to argue that John 3:16 cannot really mean God loves the whole world.

Perhaps the best-known argument for this view is found the unabridged edition of an otherwise excellent book, The Sovereignty of God, by A. W. Pink. Pink wrote, "God loves whom He chooses. He does not love everybody." [1] He further argued that the word world in John 3:16 ("For God so loved the world…") "refers to the world of believers (God's elect), in contradistinction from 'the world of the ungodly.'"[2]

Pink was attempting to make the crucial point that God is sovereign in the exercise of His love. The gist of his argument is certainly valid: It is folly to think that God loves all alike, or that He is compelled by some rule of fairness to love everyone equally. Scripture teaches us that God loves because He chooses to love (Deuteronomy 7:6-7), because He is loving (God is love, 1 John 4:8), not because He is under some obligation to love everyone the same.

Nothing but God's own sovereign good pleasure compels Him to love sinners. Nothing but His own sovereign will governs His love. That has to be true, since there is certainly nothing in any sinner worthy of even the smallest degree of divine love.

Unfortunately, Pink took the corollary too far. The fact that some sinners are not elected to salvation is no proof that God's attitude toward them is utterly devoid of sincere love. We know from Scripture that God is compassionate, kind, generous, and good even to the most stubborn sinners. Who can deny that those mercies flow out of God's boundless love? It is evident that they are showered even on unrepentant sinners.

We must understand that it is God's very nature to love. The reason our Lord commanded us to love our enemies is "in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous" (Matthew 5:45). Jesus clearly characterized His Father as One who loves even those who purposefully set themselves at enmity against Him.

At this point, however, an important distinction must be made: God loves believers with a particular love. God's love for the elect is an infinite, eternal, saving love. We know from Scripture that this great love was the very cause of our election (Ephesians 2:4). Such love clearly is not directed toward all of mankind indiscriminately, but is bestowed uniquely and individually on those whom God chose in eternity past.

But from that, it does not follow that God's attitude toward those He did not elect must be unmitigated hatred. Surely His pleading with the lost, His offers of mercy to the reprobate, and the call of the gospel to all who hear are all sincere expressions of the heart of a loving God. Remember, He has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but tenderly calls sinners to turn from their evil ways and live.

Reformed theology has historically been the branch of evangelicalism most strongly committed to the sovereignty of God. At the same time, the mainstream of Reformed theologians have always affirmed the love of God for all sinners. John Calvin himself wrote regarding John 3:16, "[Two] points are distinctly stated to us: namely, that faith in Christ brings life to all, and that Christ brought life, because the Father loves the human race, and wishes that they should not perish." [3]

Calvin continues to explain the biblical balance that both the gospel invitation and "the world" that God loves are by no means limited to the elect alone. He also recognized that God's electing, saving love is uniquely bestowed on His chosen ones.

Those same truths, reflecting a biblical balance, have been vigorously defended by a host of Reformed stalwarts, including Thomas Boston, John Brown, Andrew Fuller, W. G. T. Shedd, R. L. Dabney, B. B. Warfield, John Murray, R. B. Kuiper, and many others. In no sense does belief in divine sovereignty rule out the love of God for all humanity.

We are seeing today, in some circles, an almost unprecedented interest in the doctrines of the Reformation and the Puritan eras. I'm very encouraged by that in most respects. A return to those historic truths is, I'm convinced, absolutely necessary if the church is to survive. Yet there is a danger when overzealous souls misuse a doctrine like divine sovereignty to deny God's sincere offer of mercy to all sinners.

We must maintain a carefully balanced perspective as we pursue our study of God's love. God's love cannot be isolated from His wrath and vice versa. Nor are His love and wrath in opposition to each other like some mystical yin-yang principle. Both attributes are constant, perfect, without ebb or flow. His wrath coexists with His love; therefore, the two never contradict. Such are the perfections of God that we can never begin to comprehend these things. Above all, we must not set them against one another, as if there were somehow a discrepancy in God.

Both God's wrath and His love work to the same ultimate end-His glory. God is glorified in the condemnation of the wicked; He is glorified in every expression of love for all people without exception; and He is glorified in the particular love He manifests in saving His people.

Expressions of wrath and expressions of love-all are necessary to display God's full glory. We must never ignore any aspect of His character, nor magnify one to the exclusion of another. When we commit those errors, we throw off the biblical balance, distort the true nature of God, and diminish His real glory.

Does God so love the world? Emphatically-yes! Proclaim that truth far and wide, and do so against the backdrop of God's perfect wrath that awaits everyone who does not repent and turn to Christ.

Does the love of God differ in the breadth and depth and manner of its expression? Yes it does. Praise Him for the many manifestations of His love, especially toward the non-elect, and rejoice in the particular manifestation of His saving love for you who believe. God has chosen to display in you the glory of His redeeming grace.

[1]Arthur W. Pink, The Sovereignty of God (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1930), 29-30.

[2]Ibid., 314.

[3]John Calvin, Commentary on a Harmony of the Evangelists, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, William Pringle, trans. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1979 reprint), 123.

Adapted from The God Who Loves © 2001 by John MacArthur. All rights reserved.

• Grace to You (Thursday, July 21, 2005)

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[Quix]

AGREED.

SAFE TRAVELS AND EFFECTIVENESS ALONG THE WAY.

[nobdysfool]

There is nothing unfair if they equally have the ability to choose not to. When you say that some are given the ability for whatever reason and some are not given the ability, then that is not justice, that is singling out someone for special consideration, and God is no respecter of persons, "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.."

"All have sinned, and fallen short of the glory of God". "There is none righteous, no, not one". "There is none who seek after God".

Your view would only work if man was born innocent, and then decided to sin, or not. But that's not the case. All men are sinners from birth, indeed from conception. As such, they are guilty before God, and rightly deserve God's Wrath. If God chooses to save some and not others, that is not an issue of unfairness, it is a manifestation of His Mercy. God is not obligated to save even one person. Mercy is God's to give, to whom He wills, not man's to demand on the basis of a flawed concept of fairness and equal opportunity.

All mankind is equally guilty before God. Thus, the field is level at that point. God can choose some to save, and do no injustice to those not chosen, because He is not obligated to any of them, and it's His choice to make, not theirs to demand. The unchosen are done no injustice, because their fate is Just, and they are guilty. Injustice would be leaving one unsaved who was not guilty of sin. But, if he was not guilty of sin, he would not need to be saved, because he already is right with God.

[stuartcr]

I do not believe there is a Christian God, anymore than I believe there is a Hebrew or Muslim or anything God. I cannot qualify God with an adjective. I believe there is only one God, which is inclusive of Christianity, Judaism, etc. I don't believe that God belongs to anyone.

[oprahstheantichrist]

Thanks! I'm only half kidding....

[RnMomof7]

The verse that states that God is fair is John 3:16.

Is that "fair " according to your standards or His?

Was God "fair" when he destroyed all the men women, children and infants in the flood .. without giving them hundreds of years of "fair warnings"?

Was God "fair" when he destroyed the women and the children and the babes in the womb and arms in Sodom without giving them time to repent ?

Was God "fair" when he killed all the "innocent" 1st borns in Egypt or drown the army that was just following orders?

I believe God was being "fair" in all those situations and if God was Fair not ONE man deserves to be saved. We have ALL been tried and found guilty at the only court that counts.

Let us look at what mercy is

If a man is convicted by a just judge and sentenced justly to life in jail and the governor orders the guilty man freed THAT is mercy

If that man serves a part of that sentence and does every thing that is expected of him and so earns an early , that is not Mercy it is an earned release.

When that Governor looks at the long lists of the guilty pleading for mercy he is the one that selects those that will be saved , and then gives Mercy.

Could you show me in the Bible where it says God has mans definition of fairness as an attribute?

[suzyjaruki]

I know that you do not believe in the Christian God, but I do. I believe that the scriptures of the Old and New Testament are true and in them God reveals Himself to me. You and I do not believe in the same God, so how can I expect you to understand His attributes, His will, etc.?

[nobdysfool]

God simply chose to punish them for the accident of their birth.

Poppycock! God Judgment is given to sinners, those guilty of sin. It is Just, and it is Fair. As you pointed out, Romans 1 indicates that all men are without excuse. They can't plead ignorance, nor can they claim they weren't given a chance. Their inherent sinfulness prevents them from choosing Christ. Thus, they are rightly and righteously judged for their sin and sinfulness. That judgment is valid whether or not they hear the Gospel.

Underlying your opposition is a belief that men are "owed" a chance by God, that they cannot be held accountable for their actions because of what they are. Again, Romans 1 undermines that idea, by indicating that man has gotten more than a fair shake already, and is without excuse before God. That God chooses some and not otheres is a matter of His Mercy, granted as He Wills, and withheld as He Wills, because it is His to give. There is no obligation toward man which demands God's Mercy.

[stuartcr]

If there is only one God, then we must both believe in the same God...only our perceptions differ, not God.

[RnMomof7]

And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent:"
Why would God command all men everywhere to do something they are utterly incompetent to do?

He gave men the 10 commandments and ordered them to adhere to them and no man could do that do that but Christ

He has told men to love God with their whole heart and man can not do that .

God indeed calls all men everywhere to repent. Just as every man is called to believe . Every man will stand before God and have to explain why they did not follow His command to repent and believe and they will be judged according to the standard he has given to all men

Mat 22:2	The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain king, which made a marriage for his son,
Mat 22:3	And sent forth his servants to call them that were bidden to the wedding: and they would not come.
Mat 22:4	Again, he sent forth other servants, saying, Tell them which are bidden, Behold, I have prepared my dinner: my oxen and [my] fatlings [are] killed, and all things [are] ready: come unto the marriage.
Mat 22:5	But they made light of [it], and went their ways, one to his farm, another to his merchandise:
Mat 22:6	And the remnant took his servants, and entreated [them] spitefully, and slew [them].
Mat 22:7	But when the king heard [thereof], he was wroth: and he sent forth his armies, and destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city.
Mat 22:8	Then saith he to his servants, The wedding is ready, but they which were bidden were not worthy.
Mat 22:9	Go ye therefore into the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage.
Mat 22:10	So those servants went out into the highways, and gathered together all as many as they found, both bad and good: and the wedding was furnished with guests.
Mat 22:11	And when the king came in to see the guests, he saw there a man which had not on a wedding garment:
Mat 22:12	And he saith unto him, Friend, how camest thou in hither not having a wedding garment? And he was speechless.
Mat 22:13	Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast [him] into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
Mat 22:14	For many are called, but few [are] chosen.

[RnMomof7]

I am on my way out for a time , I will scare up the page and send it to you

[PetroniusMaximus]

***it would seem that everyone and everything is worthy of, and exposed to daily, God's glory.***

Worthy of? - No. Exposed to? - To some degree that is true...

"Psalm 19
The heavens tell of the glory of God.
The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak;
night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or a word;
their voice is silent in the skies;

yet their message has gone out to all the earth,
and their words to all the world."




***I guess it depends on how much you want me to understand it***

As much as I wish I could, I can not do it for you.

God promises... "You will seek me and find me. When you seek me with all your heart, I will be found by you, declares the LORD," - Jeremiah 29

and...

"And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him." - Heb 11

[stuartcr]

I can't see anything in your descriptions, that would preclude hardly anyone, from being worthy of, and experiencing God's glory.

[suzyjaruki]

Oh, I believe that there is more than one god, but believe that there is only one True God, The Triune God of the bible. He, the Christian God, says, "Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God..."

[stuartcr]

I have no comprehension of what or who, another God could be. I suppose some could think there are other Gods, but how can there actually be any but one God?

[suzyjaruki]

As I told you, the Christian God declares Himself to be the only True God and you do not believe in this God but another, so that is already 2.

[stuartcr]

You are correct, I believe in God.

[PetroniusMaximus]

***I can't see anything in your descriptions, that would preclude hardly anyone, from being worthy of,***

Would Joseph Stalin be "worthy" to be included in the list of the 10 most compassionate me of all time?

Do you see the point?

According to the Bible, who is "worthy" to stand in God's presence...?

"Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?

He who has clean hands and a pure heart,
who does not lift up his soul to what is false
and does not swear deceitfully."


Are your hands completely clean? Is your heart totally pure?

[blue-duncan]

There isn't any question that all have sinned and merit punishment. Therefore, all start out on the same depraved level, guilty before God. The Psalmist (33:5) says He loves justice and judgment and (85:10) that "mercy and truth are met together, justice and peace have kissed each other." Mercy, truth and justice are not mutually exclusive attributes of God. His justice demands that His mercy be offered to all sinners and His justice demands that those that do not avail themselves of that mercy be punished. His truth demands that the offer be real. No, no one can demand anything of God except what He has already revealed about Himself and that He act in character.

[suzyjaruki]

According to the Bible

Petronius,
The Christian God of the Bible, who proclaims Himself to be the only true God, is not Stuart's god. How can Stuart understand what you are talking about?

[HarleyD]

”Why would God command all men everywhere to do something they are utterly incompetent to do?”

God gave us 10 commandments. He knows we’re not capable of keeping them either yet He gave them to us. It doesn't excuse us.

”The Bible states that the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart after Pharaoh hardened his own heart - though clearly God knew it beforehand. Point is that the Bible seems to indicate that Pharaoh's choice to harden his played a role in his destruction.”

I look at it more as God understands us better than we understand ourselves. He manipulates the events to cause His desired outcomes. Consider the following events:

Ex 3:19, “But I know that the king of Egypt will not permit you to go, except under compulsion.” God raised Pharaoh up to be king knowing Pharaoh wouldn’t give in to Moses. (Prov 8:15 “By Me kings reign, and rulers decree justice.”) He also knew what it would take for Pharaoh to give in.

Exodus 8:15 “But when Pharaoh saw that there was respite, he hardened his heart,…” Pharaoh hardened his heart only because God knew this is how he would respond.

Ex 9:12 states “And the Lord hardened Pharaoh’s heart, and he did not listen to them, just as the Lord has spoken to Moses.” This refers back to God’s conversation with Moses in Ex 3:19. The Lord takes credit for hardening Pharaoh’s heart because He created the circumstances by which Pharaoh hardened his heart.

It was Pharaoh who hardened his heart but it was God who placed him in that position knowing what would happened and what it would take to make Pharaoh release the Israelites. And it was God who made Pharaoh; his understanding, knowledge, dreams, etc. Less you think this is a little tough of God manipulating people, God did this for 1) show His power, 2) proclaim His name over the earth, and 3) to humble Pharaoh (Ex 9:16-17). I would submit this is how God works with each of us. "The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps." Prov 16:9

”But does not Jesus weeping over Jerusalem indicate more than just his acceptance of the fact of their nature? No one weeps that a rock is a rock. But one could weep that a rock could have been one's child - if it had been willing.”

You’re looking at the verse as our Lord Jesus’ compassion on a city that right above it has our Lord Jesus chastising them for murdering the prophets. I don’t think this is a message of compassion. Otherwise our Lord Jesus would have said, “How I want to gather…but you are unwilling” rather than “How I often wanted to gather...but you were unwilling”. This is more like Jeremiah’s Lamentations over knowing the destruction that was about to come and not being able to do anything about it. There are many places throughout the Old Testament where God says, “If you repent….but I know you won’t”. It all has to run according to God’s plan including the death that our Lord Jesus knew He was about to suffer.

God knows the type of people we are and we all start out with evil natures. He places us in correct positions to carry out His plan. It is our choices but His plan. He knows what choices we will choose simply because He made us-just like He knew the choices of Pharaoh, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, Judas, etc.

He weeps because without changing out nature we would all rush to evil. We would all murder the prophets. We would all choose to kill the Christ. Those are (and were) the choices of man.