The Narrow Path Ministries

Hello all,

What biblical support is there for the idea that God loves all men?

God bless,

For God so loved the world that He gave his only-begotten Son...John 3:16

The steadfast love of Yahweh never ceases, his mercies never come to an end... Lamentations 3:22

For the Lord will not cast off for ever, but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not willingly afflict or grieve the sons of men. Lamentations 3:31-33

For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
1 Timothy 4:10

But then, there is scriptural evidence that Yahweh hates some people:

Psalms 11:5 Yahweh tests the righteous and the wicked, and his soul hates him that loves violence.

Matthew 5:44-45
44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.


Psalm 145:9
9 The LORD is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.
Verses 15-16
15 The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food in due season.
16 You open your hand;
you satisfy the desire of every living thing.


Genesis 39:5
5 From the time that he made him overseer in his house and over all that he had the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had, in house and field.


This next verse isn't specifically about God's intentions toward people (verse 4), but I find it interesting.

2 Peter 2:4
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;


Maybe these fallen angels study theology and ascribe to a "god" that might change his mind.

2 Peter 2:4
4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

Maybe these fallen angels study theology and ascribe to a "god" that might change his mind.

Welcome to the world of speculation!

Welcome to the world of speculation!

Nope. Welcome to the world of sarcasm.

Here is some more: I wonder if people/angels sit around and discuss how a God that "is love" could ever create angels and send them to hell without giving them a chance to repent?

My answer. God is God and He alone defines love.

I wonder if people/angels sit around and discuss how a God that "is love" could ever create angels and send them to hell without giving them a chance to repent?

Why woud any of these people/angels think He does not give them a chance to repent?

Why woud any of these people/angels think He does not give them a chance to repent?

Maybe it would be better to just say angels. I see nowhere in Scripture that Satan or his demons are given any opportunity to repent and turn from sin like people.

The good news for people is not the good news for fallen angels.

I Timothy 1:15
The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am foremost.

Blessings in Christ,

Haas

Revelation 5:13 And I heard every created being in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all therein, saying, "To him who sits upon the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might for ever and ever!"

Who are those created beings under the earth whom John saw in his vision praising God and the Lamb? Could they be fallen angels, or even Satan?

bighaasdog wrote:I see nowhere in Scripture that Satan or his demons are given any opportunity to repent and turn from sin like people.

1Co 6:3 Do you not know that we shall judge angels, not to mention the things of this life?

I've always taken this scripture to mean that the verdict is still out on at least some of the angels. (i.e. It's not that the saints will simply sentence the angels, but rather make a judgement).

That seems to imply that judgement will be called for, that their cases are not all cut-and-dry.

I could be wrong.

Perry

First of all, sorry to Derek. I went off topic on this. I will post one more and then if people want to talk more on this we could start another thread.

These are the two main passages I am aware of:

2 Peter 2:4

4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;

and

Jude 1:6
6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—

I see both of these passages teaching that these demons will be judged (not forgiven). As far as I know Scripture doesn't speak of Christ's atonement/sacrifice having anything to do with demons.

Do I believe that satan and his demons know God? Yes.

Mark 5 1:13
5:1 They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out, and entered the pigs, and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and were drowned in the sea.

Paidon wrote
"Who are those created beings under the earth whom John saw in his vision praising God and the Lamb? Could they be fallen angels, or even Satan?"


I think every knee will bow and all will acknowlege God, but don't feel that everyone doing so are forgiven.

"Scripture does not clearly indicate whether righteous angles will undergo some kind of evalutation of their service as well, but it is possible that they are included in Paul's statement "Do you not know that we are going to judge angels?" (I Cor. 6:3). It is probable that this includes righteous angels because there is no indication in the context that Paul is speaking of demons or fallen angels, and the word "angel" without further qualification in the New Testament would normally be understood to refer to righteous angels. But the text is not explicit enough to give us certainty."

Wayne Gurdem Systematic Theology pg. 1145

peace,

Haas