"Jacob Have I Loved"              

Romans 9:13

 

     All the talk of men about God's universal love is nonsense! To declare that God loves all men is to speak in direct contradiction to God himself, who declares "Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated." Any honest exposition of Romans 9 must recognize that in that declaration Jacob represents God's elect and Esau represents the non-elect. The chapter was written so that we might understand that the purpose of God according to election stands "not of works, but of him that calleth."

     Not only does the assertion that God loves everyone contradict God's Word, it also has very serious implications. For one thing, it makes God subject to change. If God loves men in time, but ceases to love them when he casts them into hell, then God has changed.And that cannot be (Mal.3:6). To imply that God is changeable is to imply that there is no God at all!

     I know that God is good to all men.But God's goodness to men in providence is the result of his special love for his own elect. He sends the sunshine and rain upon both the righteous and the wicked. But he sends those things for the good of his elect. Others receive the benefits of them only because they live in the same world with God's elect. To argue that God's providential goodness to the wicked is an evidence of his love to all men would be to argue that righteous men who suffer drought,famine,pestilence, and war give evidence of God's wrath upon his own elect! As I said before, the assertion of God's universal love is nonsense! To say "God loves everyone" is to reduce the love of God to nothing! Universal love would be meaningless! God's love for his elect is a special, distinguishing, sovereign love. God's love is in Christ. Outside of Christ, there is no love. Thoughtfully consider these five questions and you will see that the notion of God loving all men is as contrary to reason as it is to Holy Scripture. If God loves all men...

1. Why are some not elected to salvation (Matt. 22:14)?

2. Why do many never hear the gospel of Christ?

3. Why did Christ refuse to pray for some (John 17:9)?

4. Why do some perish under the wrath of God, without      mercy?

5. What does the love of God have to do with the           salvation of anyone?

 

 

Don Fortner