• Welcome to Religious Forums, a friendly forum to discuss all religions in a friendly surrounding.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Our modern chat room. No add-ons or extensions required, just login and start chatting!
    • Access to private conversations with other members.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Jesus loves you

InChrist

Free4ever
"Jesus loves you"

Is this just a trite cliche Christians say to others, something kids are taught in Sunday school or sing in a children's song? Or is it a profound reality with eternal impact that the Creator of heaven and earth loves you?

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
 

74x12

Well-Known Member
"Jesus loves you"

Is this just a trite cliche Christians say to others, something kids are taught in Sunday school or sing in a children's song? Or is it a profound reality with eternal impact that the Creator of heaven and earth loves you?

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
No it's not a cliche to me. I've felt the love of Jesus for people.
 

susanblange

Active Member
"Jesus loves you"

Is this just a trite cliche Christians say to others, something kids are taught in Sunday school or sing in a children's song? Or is it a profound reality with eternal impact that the Creator of heaven and earth loves you?

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
God does not love everybody. He only loves the righteous who love him. Proverbs 8:17. "I love them that love me..." Psalm 146:8. "...the Lord loveth the righteous". SOS 1:4. "...the upright love thee". It is a commandment to love God. Deuteronomy 6:5. Hating God is deadly. Proverbs 8:36. "But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death". Exodus 20:6. "And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments".
 
Last edited:

exchemist

Veteran Member
God does not love everybody. He only loves the righteous who love him. Proverbs 8:17. "I love them that love me..." Psalm 146:8. "...the Lord loveth the righteous". SOS 1:4. "...the upright love thee". It is a commandment to love God. Deuteronomy 6:5. Hating God is deadly. Proverbs 8:36. "But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death".
All from the OT, I notice, and none of them actually support your contention that God does not love anyone but the "righteous" (whoever they are).

Whereas the NT has many instances of Christ showing love and forgiveness towards sinful people, e.g. tax collectors, the woman taken in adultery etc. And St Paul makes this explicit, in Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:4-5.
 

InChrist

Free4ever
God does not love everybody. He only loves the righteous who love him. Proverbs 8:17. "I love them that love me..." Psalm 146:8. "...the Lord loveth the righteous". SOS 1:4. "...the upright love thee". It is a commandment to love God. Deuteronomy 6:5. Hating God is deadly. Proverbs 8:36. "But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death".
Jesus died for the sins of the world. The world includes everyone and that means He loves everyone. The scriptures you posted only show that sin is evil and destructive, therefore Jesus hates sin because it destroys life and He hates those who cling to and/or promote sin. Yet, He offers through His love freedom and eternal life to everyone.
 

susanblange

Active Member
All from the OT, I notice, and none of them actually support your contention that God does not love anyone but the "righteous" (whoever they are).

Whereas the NT has many instances of Christ showing love and forgiveness towards sinful people, e.g. tax collectors, the woman taken in adultery etc. And St Paul makes this explicit, in Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:4-5.
 

susanblange

Active Member
All from the OT, I notice, and none of them actually support your contention that God does not love anyone but the "righteous" (whoever they are).

Whereas the NT has many instances of Christ showing love and forgiveness towards sinful people, e.g. tax collectors, the woman taken in adultery etc. And St Paul makes this explicit, in Romans 5:8 and Ephesians 2:4-5.
The righteous are those who keep God's covenant. Even if you're a Christian, you know that Jesus is not God. Only God has the power to forgive sin. There are seven deadly sins and all others can be forgiven if you truly repent. This is a four step process. Remorse, confession, restitution, and most importantly, change. They are all called "the guilty" and they will be cut off by God on Judgment Day, the second Day of the Lord.
 

exchemist

Veteran Member
The righteous are those who keep God's covenant. Even if you're a Christian, you know that Jesus is not God. Only God has the power to forgive sin. There are seven deadly sins and all others can be forgiven if you truly repent. This is a four step process. Remorse, confession, restitution, and most importantly, change. They are all called "the guilty" and they will be cut off by God on Judgment Day, the second Day of the Lord.
That's what you say.

Personally, I find the message of the New Testament far more persuasive. But that would be because I know I am a sinful man and not very "righteous".
 

Twilight Hue

Twilight, not bright nor dark, good nor bad.
"Jesus loves you"

Is this just a trite cliche Christians say to others, something kids are taught in Sunday school or sing in a children's song? Or is it a profound reality with eternal impact that the Creator of heaven and earth loves you?

As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. John 15:9

Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends. John 15:13
Well the notion is Honorable and Noble. I would prefer however to be loved by somebody real and breathing though.
 

InChrist

Free4ever
Well the notion is Honorable and Noble. I would prefer however to be loved by somebody real and breathing though.
Since we are so present in the physical world, your preference is understandable. Yet, I can remember sensing God's Presence on many times even when I was wasn't interested or looking. I do look back now and realize His love was pursuing me. If that has happened or happens to you maybe at some point you will notice and sense His love.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
"Jesus loves you"

Is this just a trite cliche Christians say to others, something kids are taught in Sunday school or sing in a children's song?
I wouldn't say it's trite, just a cliché. I couldn't find any Bible verse indicating Jesus loves everyone or even me, an agnostic. Moreover, I don't find anything indicating god loves everyone.


Now if someone out there knows of such a verse, please share.

.
 

Regiomontanus

Ματαιοδοξία ματαιοδοξιών! Όλα είναι ματαιοδοξία.
I wouldn't say it's trite, just a cliché. I couldn't find any Bible verse indicating Jesus loves everyone or even me, an agnostic. Moreover, I don't find anything indicating god loves everyone.


Now if someone out there knows of such a verse, please share.

.


Romans 5:8 ESV

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.


John 3:16 ESV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.


1 John 4:19 ESV

We love because he first loved us.


Yes, even you, Skwim. ;)
 

InChrist

Free4ever
I wouldn't say it's trite, just a cliché. I couldn't find any Bible verse indicating Jesus loves everyone or even me, an agnostic. Moreover, I don't find anything indicating god loves everyone.


Now if someone out there knows of such a verse, please share.

.
Read post #12 by Regiomontanus.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
Romans 5:8 ESV

But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Which is essentially saying that Christ died for us while we were still sinners, and this shows us that god loves us.

This may have been god's motive in coming to earth as Jesus and killing himself, but when it comes to any universal love there are strings attached. To wit . . . . .

John 3:16 ESV

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
Sorry, but his love comes with conditions, and if one doesn't abide by these conditions there is no love.

John 3;15
15 That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.​

In other words, if you don't believe in him you will parish, which hardly speaks of any universal love. Sending people to Hell to suffer for all eternity is not an expression of love, but vindictiveness. .



1 John 4:19 ESV

We love because he first loved us.
As the KJV puts it

1 John 4:19
9 We love him, because he first loved us.​

Which is something quite different.

In any case, his love also comes with conditions, and if one doesn't abide by these conditions god will abandon you.

1 John 4:15
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
In other words, if you don't confess that Jesus is the Son of God, god isn't going to be dwelling in you, which hardly speaks of any universal love.

.
 
Last edited:

Skwim

Veteran Member
Yes, the love of Jesus is conditional. It would not be love, if not.
And why is that? Why must his love be conditional?


Especially when you agree with Regiomontanus's that god's love, which I assume is the same as Jesus's love, is for everyone, i.e., god (Jesus) loves everyone.


.
 

InChrist

Free4ever
And why is that? Why must his love be conditional?


Especially when you agree with Regiomontanus's that god's love, which I assume is the same as Jesus's love, is for everyone, i.e., god (Jesus) loves everyone.


.
Because God's love is pure and cannot endure or let sin go on forever. I believe God's love is in the process of putting to death and completely eliminating sin, evil, and anything which is harmful to His creation. This purification or cleansing is available to everyone...so that is real love.
 

Skwim

Veteran Member
Because God's love is pure and cannot endure or let sin go on forever.
So god's love is unable to continue and therefore has limits, yet it lets sin run rampant throughout humanity, affecting everyone, so we're we're told.

I believe God's love is in the process of putting to death and completely eliminating sin, evil, and anything which is harmful to His creation.
If we believe this has been going on since A&E just what is he waiting for before putting to death and completely eliminating sin, and so forth? After all, being omnipotent he should be able to do this with the snap of his fingers.

This purification or cleansing is available to everyone...so that is real love.
Yet millions upon millions are born, live their lives, and die without ever being purified or cleansed (whatever these are). It would seem that either god doesn't care or is a sadist.

.
 

InChrist

Free4ever
So god's love is unable to continue and therefore has limits, yet it lets sin run rampant throughout humanity, affecting everyone, so we're we're told.

If we believe this has been going on since A&E just what is he waiting for before putting to death and completely eliminating sin, and so forth? After all, being omnipotent he should be able to do this with the snap of his fingers.


Yet millions upon millions are born, live their lives, and die without ever being purified or cleansed (whatever these are). It would seem that either god doesn't care or is a sadist.

.
If God put a stop to sin immediately with a snap of His fingers, as you seem to be implying He should have...then the millions and millions who have been purified for eternity would never have had the opportunity for eternal life. He is waiting for all who want cleansing and freedom forever from the devastation of sin....

who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth (1 Timothy 2:4)

the Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is patient toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.(2 Peter 3:9)
 
Top