Ted,

Since last year's Ligonier Conference, the question brings to mind the talk given by John MacArthur on the Love of God. I'm pasting in the notes of MacArthur's talk taken by my friend ????? (I'd better not give out the name). I think with the question, neither a 'yes' or a 'no' is sufficient without further explanation.

Quote
5. John MacArthur—“An Everlasting Love: The Love of God.”

Most people, including Christians, do not understand the love of God. On a simplistic level, everyone is pleased with and comfortable with the idea that God is love.

a. God’s love for himself. This is intratrinitarian love. John 14:31—Jesus loves the Father, obeys him even to going to the cross. John 15:9-10—perfect love demonstrated in perfect obedience. John 17:23, 26—perfect love from all eternity. John 5:19-27—everything the Father has he gives to the Son; the Son reciprocally holds back nothing. John 6:36ff—God’s love for sinners is secondary to his love for his Son.

b. God’s love for humanity. God does love men and women and there is an indiscriminate, unconditional love extended to all people, necessary because God’s nature is love. Matthew 5:44—love your enemies in order that you may be sons of your Father. Unqualified love. Mark 10:17-23—Jesus had a love for the rich young ruler (verse 21), yet this man did not enter the kingdom of God. God loves those who don’t love him, manifested by common grace and the staying of wrath and judgment. God has compassion, he pities the lost. Jonah 5:11, Jeremiah 48. God incessantly warns man, thus demonstrating his love. John 6:40—the divine Savior is revealed to men indiscriminately. Psalm 48—an invitation to taste and see that the Lord is good. There is an extensive gospel offer. Those who refuse to come are guilty.

c. God’s love for his own. Though God genuinely loves the world (common grace, compassion, warning, gospel opportunity), there is a limit in degree. He especially loves and saves believers. John 13:1—“having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” In one sense, he loved them to the full, to the end of his capacity to love them; in another sense, he loved them to the last. A saving love, a covenant love. Ezekiel 16:1-63—God was faithful to his covenant despite Israel’s infidelity. His love is complete, saving, and eternal. Why did God not choose to love everyone in this way? “Why” is out of bounds regarding God’s sovereign purposes, but a hint might be in his glory. God’s love is not separated from or dominant over his other attributes. It glorifies God to do as he has done. Romans 9.

IMO, MacArthur gives a good take on the tension of God's love.

Last edited by John_C; Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:13 PM.
John Chaney

"having been firmly rooted and now being built up in Him and established in your faith . . ." Colossians 2:7