God loves everyone. (But he doesn’t love everyone the same.)
God has a providential love for his creation. Matthew 5:45 God has a redemptive love for his fallen world. John 3:16 “God loves the great totality of fallen human beings. All of them.” ~John Piper Romans 5:8 God has a preferential love toward his chosen people. Malachi 1:2-3 Romans 9:10-13 God has a conditional love toward his faithful ones. John 15:9-10
Countering Objections to the statement God Loves Everyone…
If God loves EVERYONE, we ought to love EVERYONE, too.
Because God loves us, there are some things we can be sure of:
His love will keep us from condemnation. John 3:16 His love will uphold us in upheaval. Isaiah 54:10 NIV His love will calm us in chaos. Zephaniah 3:17 NLT His love will deliver us from despair. Psalm 109:21 His love will bring us hope in our hurting. Romans 5:5 His love will reveal our reward. Ephesians 2:4-7
If God loves us, then we’ve got to love us, too. John 13:34-35
Prayer Areas:
How have I wounded a brother or sister in Christ? Who do I need to forgive for wounding me?
Reasons we might struggle to know/believe God loves us:
We love with expectations. We play the comparison game. We trust our feelings more than than we should. We don’t see the wisdom in God’s will. We become our own worst enemy.
John 17:20-23 God loves me just as He loves Jesus Romans 8:38-39 nothing can keep me from God’s love.
God loves me just as He loves Jesus, and nothing can keep me from God’s love. Not even ME.
2 Peter 3:8-10 “The end of all things is at hand; therefore…” 1 Peter 4:7-10 Be Self-Controlled Stay Sober-Minded Love Earnestly Show Hospitality Don’t Grumble Use your Gifts Serve Others Steward God’s Grace 2 Timothy 1:6 1 Peter 4:11
Be willing to suffer well in a world that won’t believe.
1 Peter 4:1-6 (ref)
1 Peter 4:1a (up to “ceased from sin”)
1 Peter 3:18
Isaiah 53:10-11
1 Peter 4:1b-2 (start with “for whoever”)
1 Peter 4:3-4
1 Peter 4:5
1 Peter 4:6
even to the dead I the gospel was preached
Question: How could the gospel have been preached to them if Jesus had only recently come?
Answer: Ever since the fall God has given witness to the good news of Jesus and the promise of his coming.
judged I the way people are I in the flesh (line 1)
live I the way God does I in the spirit (line 2 progressive)
Be willing to suffer well in a world that won’t believe.