The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Extent of God's Love

hisalone,

In reverse order:

2) The was just an expression of my having looked at the length of my intended "brief" response and seeing it wasn't so very brief.

1) It is true that Shedd did not stand with the majority along with a few other doctrines, e.g., he took a "realist" view in regard to imputation of Adam's sin which is hard to defend. But Shedd isn't one to throw out as he stood squarely on the vast majority of doctrines.

I am very pleased to hear that you are seriously considering different "evidences". Remember, most of those before us didn't simply sit down and dream up things to write in Systematic Theologies or to write down for what was to become the official statement of faith for an entire denomination. They searched the Scriptures, sometimes for years, consulted the "stalwarts" before them having great respect for the gifts given to them for the edification of the Church and then committed themselves to a conclusion. Some, e.g., Augustine to mention but one, changed his mind about many things as he matured. Arthur Pink mellowed considerably in his latter years yet never wavered from the doctrines set down in the great Confessions.

It has been mentioned before and perhaps it bears repeating... All that is needed is one verse from Scripture that shows that God doesn't love all men and the view that declares that God loves ALL men falls to the ground. Not only is there one, but there are many; Deut 7:6-8; Lev 20:23; Ps 5:4-6; 11:5, 6; Prov 6:16-19; Mal 1:1-3; Mk 4:10-12; Jh 6:39; 17:9, 11, 24; Rom 9:6-13, 20-24; 11:5-10, et al.

Let me finish with some reasoning from what Scripture teaches about the thrice Holy God:

1. Was it God's intention to save all men?
2. Did God covenant with the Son to save all men?
3. Did God decree that Christ would be given as a Savior for all men?
4. Was the love of God the fountain from which He predestinated and elected those to be saved? (Eph 1:4; Rom 8:28, 29) {see: prognosko = foreloved}
5. Is the Father's love efficacious so that it accomplishes that which He purposed? (Jh 6:36-40; Rom 5:8-10)
6. Did the Lord Christ possess the same love of the Father? (Jh 13:1; 15:9, 13; 17:9, 10, 26; Rom 8:37; Eph 5:25, 26; 1Jh 4:19; Rev 1:5; cf. Jer 31:3)
7. Is it therefore logical that God would love all men yet Christ not save them?
8. Since salvation is the ultimate expression of God's love, mercy and grace and Christ who came to redeem those whom the Father gave Him and is thus the ultimate expression of God's love, then can it be said that the sending of Christ displays a universal love of God for all men?
9. Is not reprobation a display not only God's inexorable holiness and hatred of sin, but also of His love for righteousness? Is this not epitomized in the cross; we see the love, grace and mercy of God AND His holiness, wrath and justice.

In His grace,