Quote
John_C said:
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.

John,

After reading the quotes you included, I have to say I'm not sure how you can say MacArthur answers with neither a 'yes' or a 'no'. There may be some more quotes from your material that you did not include, but unless they clarify more of what he means, I would concluded that MacArthur is saying that God loves all people, but he loves the elect more (unto salvation). What kind of love it is that does not save someone from Hell. I see nowhere in these quotes God's displeasure with the non-saved. I've always thought that Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hand of Angry God" (http://www.ccel.org/e/edwards/sermons/sinners.html) does a good job of expressing God's displeasure with those who are not saved. Even in solidly reformed churches, such directness in this day and age is rare. Also, as for God's love shown in "common grace", there is no question that the non-elect benefit from common grace, but is it really because God loves them. In Romans 9:22-23 it says God puts up with the sins of the non-elect for the sake of the elect. It doesn't say that God endures the sins of the non-elect because he loves them. As someone else said in another thread (don't recall where), even though the non-elect are enjoying benefits of common grace, they are just increasing the judgement against them when they die.

Quote
What if God, although willing to demonstrate His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?
And He did so to make known the riches of His glory upon vessels of mercy, which He prepared beforehand for glory,


I guess we probably need to define our definitions of "love" more precisely. I see MacArthur trying to do this and, hence, your "neither a 'yes' or 'no'", but I get the feeling we may not be on the same page with our ideas of "love".

John