(Me to Todd) Conversations I've had, sermons I've listened to, and scripture I've read over the past few weeks have pointed to the vast differences between believers and not. Though I know and believe it to be true, at times it is such a large pill to swallow.
As I read through Romans 8 just now, I made two columns: those with Christ & those without Christ. It is abundantly clear that there are immense privileges to knowing the Lord. As I read Romans 8, I was reminded of Romans 9. My favorite passage to grasp double predestination, summed up in v 13, "As it is written, " Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated." So, God hates. And you cannot hate and love something -- so much of what I think the Lord's been teaching me -- you are either all in or all out. For me, it is in the context of loving the Lord. Yet, I think it must work for how He loves as well. Otherwise, His love would be lukewarm and we know He's not a fan of that.
I almost don't like my conclusion...not the first time I've disliked what I believe to be true. But I think I was mistaken before in thinking that God's love is always unconditional. Yes, it is absolutely unconditional for those He loves... But there are those that He doesn't love. I tried to find a way around that -- in thinking God could love someone unconditionally, yet still send them to hell (in agreement in my belief of predestination and God's just character). But I don't think it works like that. I still think God is just, which is why He's still GOOD and GRACIOUS, even in sending some to hell. Because we ALL deserve hell and so saving even one would be gracious.
So, my beef with all of this is people telling others, "God loves you." Mainly done in the course of evangelism. I know I've done it. And I've heard it said countless times...
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