(Part of the Election, Sovereign Grace, Will, Salvation bible study group.)
"He
who does not love does not know God,
for God is love."
Citing this verse as an objection to Election the claim is made
that,
"God, who is love, would not pick, elect, some to salvation while, in effect, sentencing the rest to eternal damnation."
Several things are wrong and not Biblically accurate with this line of reasoning. That God is love is one facet of the complex being, God. We also find in Holy Scripture that:
- "For
the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."
(Deuteronomy 4:24)
- "A just God and a Savior;-";
(Isaiah 45:21)
- "I am Almighty God-."
(Genesis 17:1)
- "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning."
(James 1:17)
These are some of the many aspects of God. It is not possible to focus solely on one characteristic of God while ignoring the rest of His Nature.
Following the rationale cited in the objection,
If God were solely "love" then how could He, being Almighty and a Savior, allow anyone to be lost? The Bible teaches that there is
no
universal salvation; so, it is readily apparent that this rationale does not hold true.
- - "But the fearful, and the unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, will have their part in the Lake burning with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. "
(Rev 21:8 )
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord!' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the person who does what my Father in heaven wants. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, didn't we prophesy in your name? Didn't we force out demons and do many miracles by the power and authority of your name?' Then I will tell them publicly, 'I've never known you. Get away from me, you evil people."
(Mat 7:21-23)
The objection, that this verse proves that Election (Sovereign Grace, Will, Salvation) is not a valid Doctrine, is without any merit or biblical basis.
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1 John 4:8
page updated 03/15/2011.