Expanding from this very
popular thread, I'd like to provide contrary evidence to the majority vote with the following scripture that we all seem to hold as a universal truth that is contextual accurate when talking about what love is and isn't:
1 Cor. 13:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
So if this is our understood standard where God is Love, then how can we reject Universalism in that people go to hell, but are still loved by God.
I think we all can agree on the following:
>People go to hell because of their sin
>People are not forgiven of their sin due to disbelief and lack of real saving faith
If the above is universally true, then it stands to reason that God is keeping a record of their wrongdoing, but we see from the above accepted definition of love, that real love
keeps no record of wrongs, therefore if Love = no record of wrongs, then all sin is forgiven if God loves you. If your sin is not forgiven, then it is still apparent, damning, and recorded. Therefore God, in keeping a record of your sin and withholding forgiveness, cannot love you as love is defined above.
I welcome you to change my mind on this. I've prayed over it and have yet to have a change in my own understanding.
GOD loves everyone, and that's why it is written that GOD so loved the world(all the people)- Ref John 3:16
Look in the old testament (1 Kings 21:17-29) for the king Ahab, husband of Jebel, He did all evils in the eyes of GOD, and he became an idolator. So, GOD said through the prophet Eliyah that He will bring disaster to King Ahab, but after hearing this news King Ahab tored his clothes and put sackcloth over his flesh, fasted, layed in the sackcloth, and went softly. And, So GOD changed His mind from punishing that King as he repented and humbled himself towards GOD. So, In GOD's love what wrong doings are recorded when that person repents and humbles himself? Nothing is recorded.
GOD first loves everyone, but do everyone remain in His love? No. Today we Christans loves GOD, because He first loved us while we are still sinners by sending His Son to die for our sins.(Ref: 1 John 4:19; Romans 5:8).
So, In responding to GOD's love one must repent for sins and humbles himself to have faith in His Son Jesus Christ, so they will receive Holy Spirit and have to abide His decrees -this is the one who remains in the Love of GOD.
The Truth is GOD loves everyone, but not everyone remain in His love even after the gospel is preached. Because everybody not seeks the truth and listens to it. Then how GOD's love can remain in the non-seekers of the truth??. John 15:22, Jesus said, "If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not be guilty of sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin.
A good example for the one who did not remain in the love of GOD is Demas.
2 Timothy 4:10, Paul said: "For Demas deserted me,
because he loved the present age..."
Whoever does not remains in GOD's love, which He first showed on all the people, then GOD's love will be ceased from them. Yet, His patience remains for them to change.
Ezekiel 18:23
Do I take any pleasure at all in having the wicked person die?” asks
Adonai YaH. “Wouldn’t I prefer that he turn from his ways and live?.
GOD is love, the One who remains in Son's Love will remain in Father's love.
John 15:4-10
Lord Jesus said,
4 Remain in me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you, unless you remain in me. 5 "I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him--this one bears much fruit, for apart from me you are not able to do anything. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown out as a branch, and dries up, and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want and it will be done for you. 8 My Father is glorified by this: that you bear much fruit, and prove to be my disciples. 9 "Just as the Father has loved me, I also have loved you. Remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and remain in his love.
GOD is Love......