Is God Free to Not Chose to Love and Save All...?

[rrford]

Originally Posted by crakjak

Granted. GOD IS LOVE.

He is the FIRST cause, has He caused something that requires unmerciful punishment?

Man comes into this sin infected world with "brain damage" toward righteousness, so he is "handicapped". In this context if he does not find the right combination of belief......? Does seventy sinful years, truly and mercifully, equal endless damnation?:winkgrin

Does 70 years of self-willed living and rejection of the love of God equate to temporary damnation?

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by rrford

Does 70 years of self-willed living and rejection of the love of God equate to temporary damnation?

I have four children, one 35 year old special needs son (difficult), a 23 year old very compliant son (easy), a 21 year old wonderful daughter(easy), then a 21 year old, creative, artist, question everything son (hard). Every one of these guys are loved unconditionally, but they all have required different approaches on mom and dad's part to understand and parent them. The middle two have been a breeze and always a joy (almost always), our 35 year old has taken everything we have had, likewise our 21 year old.

But as I have continued to love and to listen and to understand and reach them out to them they too are becoming more and more a joy, in other words we are becoming friends. Will God, who planted the love of our children in us, do any less for HIS CHILDREN? Just because someone is difficult and mean, does not necessarily mean they have "rejected the love of GOD", they simply don't KNOW Him yet.

To answer your question, I believe it equates the refiners fire.

[Rhoni]

Originally Posted by crakjak

I have four children, one 35 year old special needs son (difficult), a 23 year old very compliant son (easy), a 21 year old wonderful daughter(easy), then a 21 year old, creative, artist, question everything son (hard). Every one of these guys are loved unconditionally, but they all have required different approaches on mom and dad's part to understand and parent them. The middle two have been a breeze and always a joy (almost always), our 35 year old has taken everything we have had, likewise our 21 year old.

But as I have continued to love and to listen and to understand and reach them out to them they too are becoming more and more a joy, in other words we are becoming friends. Will God, who planted the love of our children in us, do any less for HIS CHILDREN? Just because someone is difficult and mean, does not necessarily mean they have "rejected the love of GOD", they simply don't KNOW Him yet.

I hope I have conveyed what I am trying to communicate??

Great post! And so much more does our heavenly father love us!

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by Rhoni

Great post! And so much more does our heavenly father love us!

You are right, Rhoni. If we are "evil" in comparison to God, then God's love and mercy is greater than ours.

[rrford]

Originally Posted by crakjak

I have four children, one 35 year old special needs son (difficult), a 23 year old very compliant son (easy), a 21 year old wonderful daughter(easy), then a 21 year old, creative, artist, question everything son (hard). Every one of these guys are loved unconditionally, but they all have required different approaches on mom and dad's part to understand and parent them. The middle two have been a breeze and always a joy (almost always), our 35 year old has taken everything we have had, likewise our 21 year old.

But as I have continued to love and to listen and to understand and reach them out to them they too are becoming more and more a joy, in other words we are becoming friends. Will God, who planted the love of our children in us, do any less for HIS CHILDREN? Just because someone is difficult and mean, does not necessarily mean they have "rejected the love of GOD", they simply don't KNOW Him yet.

I hope I have conveyed what I am trying to communicate??

I do see what you are attempting to communicate.

But can you explain why a lving God "drove" Adam out of the Garden? Why God allowed Achan to be stoned? Why He destroyed the earth by flood? Why He destroyed Sodm and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone?

One should bever confuse the love of God for humanity for unrestricted mercy. He is not willing that any should perish, but some will.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by rrford

I do see what you are attempting to communicate.

But can you explain why a lving God "drove" Adam out of the Garden? Why God allowed Achan to be stoned? Why He destroyed the earth by flood? Why He destroyed Sodm and Gomorrah by fire and brimstone?

One should bever confuse the love of God for humanity for unrestricted mercy. He is not willing that any should perish, but some will.

I agree, but I disagree that to perish is what tradition has taught that it is. Many are perishing (to waste) all around us, as the examples you present. I believe each of these examples exemplify God at work to eventually bring about the reconciliation of all things. Our physical lives are a thumbnail of God's plan for mankind. One definition of "judgment" is the setting of things right, using this connotation, "...it is appointed unto man once to die, and after that the (setting of things right) judgment". This in no way excuses sin or the rejection of Jesus' scarifice.

I am currently reading a book by Edited by Robin A. Parry & Christopher H. Partridge "Universal Salvation? the Current Debate" it is fairly in depth for and against by several authors. I particularly am drawn to Thomas Talbott's arguments in favor of. He has written a book "The Inescapable Love of God."
I believe this a debate that the church is going to have to engage straight away. JMHOs

Be Blessed I'm going to bed. Thanks for you responses, please continue.

[crakjak]

Originally Posted by rrford

Does 70 years of self-willed living and rejection of the love of God equate to temporary damnation?

I will say that it is certainly more a "just recompense of reward", is God just?