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crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#41
God provides us space for repentance. What is that if it isn't love?
I guess some get shorter spaces than others? (see Ananias/Sapphira...Acts 5)
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#43
What did you do to merit God's love before you came to believe?

Or did God not love you until you loved Him?
Nothing like loaded questions, it's like asking someone, 'why did you shoot your wife?'
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
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#45
What about the love of God for humanity as in John 3:16, 17? One should not conveniently forget some Scriptures because they refute our false beliefs.
Right, and why wasn't John 3:16 declared by the Apostles preaching in the Book of Acts, especially Paul in his missionary journeys to the Gentile world?
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#47
Does Jesus Christ dying on the cross for the sins of the world not count as an act of love for you, then?
An act of love for those whom He has predestined as sons...

(Eph 1:5) he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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#48
An act of love for those whom He has predestined as sons...

(Eph 1:5) he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
My Bible says He died for the sins of the whole world.


1 John 2:1-2
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#49
My Bible says He died for the sins of the whole world.


1 John 2:1-2
So does mine (1Jn 2:2); but my Bible also says He predestined some to be sons according to His will.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
60,328
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#50
So does mine (1Jn 2:2); but my Bible also says He predestined some to be sons according to His will.
That sounds like unconditional love.

Unless you want to say you did something to deserve His favor?
 

2ndTimothyGroup

Well-known member
Feb 20, 2021
5,883
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#51
King David once said:

Acts 2:28 - "You have shown me the way of life, and you will fill me with the joy of your presence."

Joy is very much equated to Love.

Zephaniah 3:17 KJV - "The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing."

Zephaniah 3:17 NLT - "For the LORD your God is living among you. He is a mighty savior. He will take delight in you with gladness. With his love, he will calm all your fears. He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."
 

Amanuensis

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2021
1,457
460
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#52
Right, and why wasn't John 3:16 declared by the Apostles preaching in the Book of Acts, especially Paul in his missionary journeys to the Gentile world?
I am sure that the teachings of Jesus from John 3 were included.

Do you really think that the brief words recorded in Acts is all that Peter and Paul said?

Acts 2:40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!

Peter and Paul used many words to preach and teach not recorded in Acts. They must have both mentioned many of the things we read in the Gospels.

We don't know how many times they quoted Jesus teachings we find in John 3 but we know from their letters that they specifically speak of God loving us, Christs love, and Christ caring for us etc. So therefore it would not be logical to think that they did not preach and teach these things during their ministries during the history that Acts summarizes.

Luke does not record all the words Peter preached and we see that from his first sermon in Acts 2. Therefore the other sermons recorded in Acts are summaries as well. Luke is recording the main points that support the message that Luke is inspired to emphasize and he leaves out other details just as he did in his Gospel.

If you can find Peter teaching about Christ caring for us, and Paul teaching about knowing the breadth, length, hieght, of the love of Christ then we know that they taught these things during their ministries that Acts summarizes as well.

To say that they did not preach these things they wrote in their letters is not a logical statement.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
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#53
That sounds like unconditional love.

Unless you want to say you did something to deserve His favor?
Unconditional love on the condition that one is part of the elect.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
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#54
I am sure that the teachings of Jesus from John 3 were included.

Do you really think that the brief words recorded in Acts is all that Peter and Paul said?

Acts 2:40 With many other words he testified and strongly urged them, saying, “Be saved from this corrupt generation!

Peter and Paul used many words to preach and teach not recorded in Acts. They must have both mentioned many of the things we read in the Gospels.

We don't know how many times they quoted Jesus teachings we find in John 3 but we know from their letters that they specifically speak of God loving us, Christs love, and Christ caring for us etc. So therefore it would not be logical to think that they did not preach and teach these things during their ministries during the history that Acts summarizes.

Luke does not record all the words Peter preached and we see that from his first sermon in Acts 2. Therefore the other sermons recorded in Acts are summaries as well. Luke is recording the main points that support the message that Luke is inspired to emphasize and he leaves out other details just as he did in his Gospel.

If you can find Peter teaching about Christ caring for us, and Paul teaching about knowing the breadth, length, hieght, of the love of Christ then we know that they taught these things during their ministries that Acts summarizes as well.

To say that they did not preach these things they wrote in their letters is not a logical statement.
An argument from silence won't fly, we have to go with "It is written", ... following a higher example.
 
P

pottersclay

Guest
#55
God honors his word above his name.
Jesus being the word of God said that he is the way...the truth...the life... no man comes to the father except through him.
That doesnt mean God doesnt love the un saved but because of his love he provided a way. ....Jesus.
The father always expressed that he had no pleasure in the death of the wicked.

There is not one righteous no not one.
For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God
While we were yet sinners christ died for us.

We have a holy holy holy God who has made a way for us to unite with him. There is no other way. Jesus asked this question in the garden. We have a never changing GOD who has made it possible for us to change to be born again.

Gods heart and pleasure is for all to repent and be saved. Sadly this doesnt happen.
To say God has predestined some not to be saved goes against scripture.
God has predestined all of man kind for he is the God of blessing and cursing.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
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#56
To say God has predestined some not to be saved goes against scripture.
God has predestined all of man kind for he is the God of blessing and cursing.
What about where God says we are chosen? Does God choose everyone?

(Rom 8:30) And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Did He call all/justify all/glorify all? It seems you can't say He predestined all without saying He called/justified and glorified all.

Then, there is ...

(Eph 1:4) even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
(Eph 1:5) he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,

I just think we need to realign some of our Arminian presuppositions to align with Scripture.
 

Mem

Senior Member
Sep 23, 2014
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#57
If God revealed HIs love through His Son, and predestined salvation through Him, who loved us by giving Himself, and those of us that accept salvation through His Son, love Him, how does that negate the salvation through His Son and/or His love for those that do not?
That question might be better posed as, "How does God's love for those that are predestined to receive salvation negate His love for the rest of the world?

Is Jesus' dying for the world evidence of His love for it, or is God's judgment of the world evidence or His hate for it? The reality is the cross is the meeting of God's lovingkindness and truth, "righteousness and peace have kissed (Psalm 85:10) Surely, his salvation is near to those who fear Him, that HIs glory may dwell in the land (v.9), faithfulness sprouts from the earth and righteousness looks down from heaven (v. 11).

Is there anyone that can separate the one from the other, and be save? Or join God's lovingkindness with lie, or unrighteousness with peace? None will that fear Him, and although those that don't fear Him might try, they cannot have the one without the other.

I just have difficulty seeing God withholding that choice from anyone, giving the lie and torment as their only choice.
 

Magenta

Senior Member
Jul 3, 2015
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29,575
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#58
Unconditional love on the condition that one is part of the elect.
So Jesus dying on the cross for the sins of the world was not an act of unconditional love in your books. Got it.
 

crossnote

Senior Member
Nov 24, 2012
30,742
3,670
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#59
If Peter, John, Paul all wrote about the Love of God, or the Love of Christ for us in their letters then we have proof that they preached this.
The issue is if God loves the non believer/non elect in the same way He loves His elect/believers. Is this why we never see preaching in the Bible (to the unsaved) saying "God loves you"? If not, why not?
 

Amanuensis

Well-known member
Jun 12, 2021
1,457
460
83
#60
An argument from silence won't fly, we have to go with "It is written", ... following a higher example.
My point was that John, Peter, Paul all wrote about God loving us, and Jesus loving us in their letters. I could quote the verses but I don't think I am being listened to so I will just make my point.

If they wrote about it then they preached it. Writing those letters was an example of their preaching and teaching.

These men were used by God throughout Acts and I am sure that what they wrote in their letters is what they said when they were not writing letters. Their letters are recorded documentation of what they preached and "not an argument from silence"

I really have nothing else to say about it.