The logical conclusion of the popular “God loves all men” doctrine is that God sincerely loves those who will spend eternity in Hell. In other words, all those in hell are truly loved by God with a love which is displayed by eternal conscious torment that will never end. For all time, these objects of God’s love will experience the full wrath of His hatred for sin, being eternally separated from Him, while enduring the same punishment as devils and demons. But take comfort you damned, because god is sad that you are in the place He sent you, experiencing the everlasting torments He is lavishing upon you.
The love of God is therefore logically reduced to a sort of pathetic wishing that somehow things could be different. The Sovereign God is reduced to a helpless victim of circumstance, who desires one thing but is forced to live with another. The God of the Bible, however, is in complete control over all things whatsoever comes to pass. When the modern church says God would save all if He could, the God of the Bible says, “’My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure,” (Isaiah 46:10).
The Bible does not teach the man made “God loves all men” doctrine. The Bible says we love Him because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). Those who do not love God lack the evidence that God loves them. Further, the Bible says that God loves the Righteous, but hates the wicked (Psalm 5:4-6; 11:5), and that God created the wicked for destruction (Proverbs 16:4; Romans 9:22).
Who are the righteous whom God loves and the wicked whom God hates? The bible defines the righteous as either ones who are perfect who have never transgressed the holy law of God in thought, word or deed (Deuteronomy 27:26; James 2:10; Galatians 3:10) or ones covered in the righteousness of Jesus credited to them by faith (2 Corinthians 5:21; Galatians 3:13; Isaiah 53:11; Philippians 3:9; Matthew 22:11-14). The Bible is clear that none, but Jesus, qualify under the first definition (Romans 3:10-18; 3:23; Jeremiah 17:9; Mark 10:18; Ephesians 2:1-3). The wicked are defined as any who have sinned, who are not covered by the righteousness of Jesus credited to them (John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Matthew 1:21; John 10:17; John 10:24-30).
I would suggest that the man made “God loves all men” doctrine is creating a culture of hard-hearted people who have no fear of God or Hell (Romans 3:18; Ezekiel 33:1-6). Like the Jews in the first century who rejected their own Messiah (John 8:30-47), the men of our generation are convinced that they are the apple of God’s eye (Matthew 7:21-23; 1John 1:5-7). They cannot hear God’s command to repent because it makes no sense. Why repent, why change, when God already loves me just as I am.
God is love (1 John 4:8). This means that if you want to know what true love is, you will have to look upon the glory of God, you will have to learn who God is. True love does not rejoice in evil, but rejoices in the truth (1 Corinthians 13:6). Real love makes a way of mercy and peace for men who deserve wrath and hatred. Real love is not in conflict with justice. Because God loves righteousness, He must hate wickedness (Proverbs 17:15; Hebrews 1:9; Psalm 45:7).
God does not love those who will spend eternity in Hell (Psalm 1:6; 5:4-6; 11:5; 37:20; 112:10; Proverbs 15:9; 2 Peter 2:12). Yes, while they are granted the gift of this passing life, God provides for them as He does all living things. The rain falls on the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45; Psalm 145:9; Acts 14:16-17). But it is not right to call this common providential care, love. This kindness of God will only add to the suffering of those in hell (Luke 16:31), for in these acts of providence, God clearly reveals to all men both His eternal power and Godhead, leaving them without excuse (Romans 1:18-32).
I am not saying that we go out and tell men, God hates you! We have been commanded to love all men (Luke 10:27-37), and we have been sent to make disciples of all men (Matthew 28:19-20), proclaiming the gospel (Mark 16:15), and teaching men to observe all that the Lord has commanded.
The same gospel that softens the regenerate heart and reveals the love of God, hardens the reprobate heart and reveals God’s great displeasure (2 Corinthians 2:14-16; 1 Corinthians 1:18; Romans 9:18).
By making cheap the love of God, and falsely promising it to all men, we have hindered the gospel (Matthew 15:12-14; 23:15), we have removed the fear of God from our generation, and thus we have removed the beginning of wisdom (Job 28:28; Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; Ecclesiastes 12:13).
It is my hope that we will be granted to repent of promising the love of God to all men, that we will be more careful, and honest about the love of God, and that we will preach faithfully the gospel, the only message able to truly bring people into the love of God (Romans 1:16; 1 Corinthians 1:18).
[Guest Post by Justin Hoke]
