While we where yet sinners (enemies) Christ died for us.
in my understanding the bible says simply that God is Love....
So who does love love more?
In my understanding the bible says simply that God is an all consuming fire...
Love is like that you know.
The part about Jesus blood taking away all sins.
Treating the sacrifice of the First born son of Love(God) given to save your life as nothing, as something to be wasted...
A Father God who loved you that much, might take that personal.
Yes, God loves us before we love Him - that's what the Bible says! But great as that love is - i don't see scripture as saying it is equal with the love God has for a person when and if they choose to accept Jesus as Saviour in their life. I know that often, many sincere Christians explain this subjects in a different way, than others like me, who choose to explain the 2 aspects on the subject.
John 15:14
14 Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.
KJV
Comment: We are His friends if we obey Him. In my words, that means to let God be lord of one's life (accept Jesus as Lord and Savior of one's life). It isn't talking about sinless perfection, as only Jesus was capable of that.
Rom 9:13-16
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
KJV
Comment: God "hated" Esau, it says. Though of course, God would have loved him if he'd chosen to serve the Lord as Jacob had. But he chose not to serve God, and so that was the result.
Heb 12:28-29
28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:
29 For our God is a consuming fire.
KJV
Comment: I think this is saying that if we have no fear of getting punished by God for sins that we refuse to repent of - then we would be targeted in the end - with punishment, which is described by the phrase, "For our God is a consuming fire."
John 3:36
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
KJV
Comment: He's under God's wrath, until or unless he accepts Jesus as Lord and Savior. If he never does do so in this life, God's full wrath will be directed at him. A person who loves someone doesn't have wrath towards the loved one. The same is true of God.
Ps 37:12-13
12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
KJV
Comment: This passage says that God will laugh at those who willingly reject Him in this life, and who never come to repentance and to a right relationship with God. This may sound cruel to some. But God, though His love is great and greater than anyone else's - also is a God of judgment, and is always just in His judgments of people. He wants all people to be saved, yet knows most will not choose to be saved.
As you say, I don't think there are any scriptures that say in words, "God loves His people more than those who do not choose to accept God. Yet other words like "friends, enemies", etc. plus other scriptures on the subject indicate until or unless people repent and accept Him as Lord - they are not fully loved or accepted by God.
On the other hand, it's true the Bible says that there is more rejoicing in heaven over a person getting saved, as compared to those who are already saved. To me, this just means that He feels more joy over the saving of the lost, at first, just because He's relieved that they finally got saved. Just like we feel glad and relieved when we find something we've lost and then found - that is precious to us.
Luke 15:7
7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.
KJV
