Does the Bible say God loves everybody?

[faithandgrace]

When people claim that God loves everybody, are they basing that belief on John 3:16, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life", or are they referring to another scripture that I'm not aware of?

I know the Bible says that God is love, but how can one come to the conclusion that He loves everybody when Psalm 5:5 says God hates all who do iniquity?

Also, if God doesn't love everybody, how should I understand John 3:16? Taking into consideration the scriptures where God proclaims His holy hatred for certain people, I always thought John 3:16 meant that God so loved his overall creation...not sinners as individuals. :scratch

[HeIsEnough]

What do you intend to mean when you say "love"?

If it is this, then most assuredly yes.


1 Corinthians 13

Love

1If I speak in the tongues[a (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2013&version=31#fen-NIV-28651a)] of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames,[b (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20cor%2013&version=31#fen-NIV-28653b)] but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8Love never fails.Did God demonstrate this kind of love to all men?

Yes, I believe He did.

He sent His Son, to prove to men that God was willing to even go to death for men to be able to come to Him.

Can men face God's wrath for refusing Him? For loving their wickedness? Yes, but He says that it is not His desire to punish men in hell, but for all to come to the knowledge of the truth.

[Sing4Him]

For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth; It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy....And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory Romans 9

[antitox]

Even when satan stands before God, God isn't mean to him.
And God's approach to man has always been underscored with love. But those who paid no regard to His holy presence when in His midst ended up judged on the spot, of course.

God's focus of hate is at the evildoing, yet those who deliberately engage in evil are abhorred by God. When Jesus was on the cross at the point where the sin of the world was laid upon him, he realized God's presence had stepped back away from him; hence, his question why God had forsaken him.

God cannot compromise Himself, so, though He loves man, He still hates the evil man engages in and holds man responsible.

(Prov 8:13) "The fear of the Lord is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate."

[HeIsEnough]

:thumb

There is no provision given to men to hate one another, so I would challenge anyone who is wrestling with hating any man in this life, or using the scriptures as cover for their hate (sin)

[iSong6:3]

Jesus came to die for the sins of us who were His enemies, us workers of iniquity. In His life He also showed us the heart of the Father. He said that He and His Father are One, whoever has seen Him has seen the Father.

These verses, among many others throughout Scripture, give us insight into the love and character of God for all. Jesus says as children of the Father, we must manifest the same character as our Father.

Is love an emotion? No, it's what we do. We bless even our enemies, as does our Father in Heaven.

Luke 6:22, 6:27-36 -

Blessed are you, when man shall hate you, and when they shall separate you [from their company], and shall reproach [you], and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of Man's sake.

But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.

And unto him that smiteth thee on the [one] cheek offer also the other, and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not [to take thy] coat also.

Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask [them] not again.

And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them like wise.

For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.

And if ye lend [to them] of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and [to] the evil.

Be ye therefore merciful, as your father is also merciful.

Matthew 5:43-46

Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.

But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and the unjust.