One of these is not like the other . . .

HT: Centurion :: :: HT: SFPulpit

Does God love everyone, or just those whom he has chosen? It is an intriguing question, and one that John MacArthur addresses very well, I think:

So an important distinction must be made. God loves believers with a particular
love. It is a family love, the ultimate love of an eternal Father for His
children. It is the consummate love of a Bridegroom for His bride. It is an
eternal love that guarantees their salvation from sin and its ghastly penalty.
That special love is reserved for believers alone.
However, limiting this
saving, everlasting love to His chosen ones does not render God’s compassion,
mercy, goodness, and love for the rest of mankind insincere or meaningless. When
God invites sinners to repent and receive forgiveness (Isa. 1:18; Matt.
11:28-30), His pleading is from a sincere heart of genuine love. “‘As I live!’
declares the Lord God, ‘I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but
rather that the wicked turn from his way and live. Turn back, turn back from
your evil ways! Why then will you die, O house of Israel?’” (Ezek. 33:11).
Clearly God does love even those who spurn His tender mercy, but it is a
different quality of love, and different in degree from His love for His own.

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