Yes Jesus Loves Me...Or Doesn't He?
Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.
Or does it?
Many Christians today follow a teaching which denies this fundamental truth of scripture, one so simple a child can understand it. According to this brand of theology, commonly called Calvinism, most of the “world” that God gave His only begotten Son for in John 3:16 is not even eligible to receive salvation from their sins. They are “objects of God’s wrath,” condemned to eternal damnation without a chance or even a hope of ever being saved by the Blessed Blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
In other words, Calvinism’s gospel is indeed “good news”, but only for some...it’s the worst possible news for the rest. Calvinism wrongly teaches that the loving God of the Bible, who is “plenteous in mercy” (Ps. 103:8), whose “tender mercies are over all His works” (Ps. 145:9), and who “is love” (1 Jn. 4:16) somehow does not desire reconciliation with the majority of humanity. How interesting that the God who commands us repeatedly to “love our neighbor” has an apparent lack of love for so many Himself! Proponents of Calvinism readily admit that God could save everyone if He wanted to, but they accept that He doesn’t simply because of the unsearchable “mystery of His good pleasure.”
Sound incredible? Even to those who believe Calvinism, it is frequently acknowledged as undesirable to hear and difficult to fathom...but is nonetheless dismissed as one of those things about God that we mere humans cannot fully understand – and “who are we to question God—does the clay argue with the potter?!!”
There are indeed numerous places in God’s Word where we are told that God has “chosen”, “elected”, or “predestined” us. In fact, these statements are frequently accompanied by the phrase “before the foundation of the world.” Some theologians, preachers and even everyday Christians mistakenly take this to mean that though we consciously made a decision for Christ at one point in our lives, we really had nothing to do with it because God ordained it eons ago. The real problem with this interpretation lies in the fact that if you believe God “ordained” some of mankind to Heaven, it logically follows that He “ordained” the rest to hell, because He did not “enable” them to believe (when He of course had the ability to do so). Friends, this is clearly a different gospel than the one taught in the plain text of scripture. God inspired men to write the Bible in the common languages of the day so that common men could understand it. It’s no surprise that many theologians who embrace this teaching claim that only the “learned” can fully comprehend it.
The scriptures teach that God chose, elected and predestined Christians in eternity past...why? Because God possesses foreknowledge, the divine ability to foresee future events (i.e. someone exercising faith in Christ). 1 Peter 1:2 makes this clear as it provides us valuable insight into the Greek word translated “chosen” or “elect” (eklektos). In addressing his audience, the Apostle Peter calls them “elect according to the foreknowledge of God.” You see, when someone chooses to believe in Christ, it simply brings to fruition what God already knew would happen long before they even lived.
Just as Jesus was “slain before the foundation of the world”, God’s sheep were also “chosen before the foundation of the world.” God is not bound by time as we are...He didn’t have to wait for you to give your life to Christ to decide that you were among His sheep. Praise God for His Omniscience and Omnipresence!
Though Calvinism is not supported in the doctrinal statements of most Bible-believing churches today, it is nevertheless a teaching that is finding its way into many pulpit messages, radio programs, Bible studies, Sunday School classes and books. What has prompted me to write this article is my deep concern for some in the Body of Christ who might be wondering, “Am I one of the elect?”, “How can I know for sure?”, “Are my children elect?”, “Will my future children be elect?” Or, maybe you’ve witnessed to your mother for 11 years already and she seems no closer to accepting Jesus today than the day you started (perhaps further)...should you “shake the dust off your feet and move on” because she simply must not be among God’s elect? If you’ve come under Calvinistic teaching, these are all excellent questions...but I believe you needn’t ask a single one of them.
The Bible speaks clearly to these issues pertaining to salvation. God created man with a moral responsibility to choose right from wrong – to either follow the ways of his sinful nature or to respond to the Holy Spirit’s conviction and turn to Jesus Christ for salvation. Now, wait a minute. In doing so, are we in some way...earning our salvation? Absolutely not!! Salvation is God’s free gift of grace to “whosoever will believe,” a concept repeated so often in the Bible that to ignore it is to defeat scripture’s primary purpose – to call sinners to repentance! For “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God” (Romans 10:17), and “these are written that ye might believe” (John 20:31). Yes, brothers and sisters, our Heavenly Father has given us His Word as both an invitation and assurance: “that ye may know ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God”(1 John 5:13).
The overwhelming testimony of scripture renders Calvinism unbiblical ...but for those looking for some quick answers to the issues raised by Calvinism, I’ve compiled some of the many passages and verses which speak directly to these issues. May we study God’s Word prayerfully and continually seek the wisdom and guidance He offers us through the Holy Spirit as He reveals His glorious truth to us!
I. A few of the many scripture passages which clearly affirm man’s God-given responsibility to choose right from wrong, and personally place his faith in God (and the judgment which awaits him if he refuses):
Duet. 30:9-19
9 The LORD your God will make you abound in all the work of your hand, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your land for good. For the LORD will again rejoice over you for good as He rejoiced over your fathers,
10 if you obey the voice of the LORD your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in the Book of the Law, and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
11 For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off.
12 It is not in heaven, that you should say, “Who will ascend to heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?”
13 Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, “Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?”
14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
15 See, I have set before you today life and good, death and evil,
16 in that I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments, His statutes, and His judgments, that you may live and multiply; and the LORD your God will bless you in the land which you go to possess.
17 But if your heart turns away so that you do not hear, and are drawn away, and worship other gods and serve them,
18 I announce to you today that you shall surely perish; you shall not prolong your days in the land which you cross over the Jordan to go in and possess.
19 I call heaven and earth as witnesses today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.
Joshua 24:14–25
14 Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve Him in sincerity and faithfulness; put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River, and in Egypt, and serve the LORD.
15 And if you be unwilling to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the river, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”
16 Then the people answered, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the LORD, to serve other gods;
17 for it is the LORD our God who brought us and our fathers up from the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage, and who did those great signs in our sight, and preserved us in all the way that we went, and among all the peoples through whom we passed;
18 and the LORD drove out before us all the peoples, the Amorites who lived in the land; therefore we also will serve the LORD, for he is our God.”
19 But Joshua said to the people, “You cannot serve the LORD; for he is a holy God; he is a jealous God; he will not forgive your transgressions or your sins.
20 If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, then he will turn and do you harm, and consume you, after having done you good.”
21 And the people said to Joshua, “Nay; but we will serve the LORD.”
22 Then Joshua said to the people, “You are my witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen the LORD, to serve him.” And they said, “We are witnesses.”
23 He said, “Then put away the foreign gods which are among you, and incline your heart to the LORD, the God of Israel.”
24 And the people said to Joshua, “The LORD our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey.”
25 So Joshua made a covenant with the people that day, and made statutes and ordinances for them at Shechem.
1 Chronicles 28:6-10
6 He[God] said unto me[David], ‘It is your son Solomon who shall build my house and my courts, for I have chosen him to be a son to me, and I will be a father to him.
7 I will establish his kingdom forever if he continues resolute in keeping my commandments and my ordinances, as he is today.’
8 Now therefore in the sight of all Israel, the assembly of the LORD, and in the hearing of our God, observe and search out all the commandments of the LORD your God; that you may possess this good land, and leave it for an inheritance to your children after you forever.
9 And you, my son Solomon, know the God of your father, and serve him with single mind and willing heart; for the LORD searches every mind, and understands every plan and thought. If you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will abandon you forever.
10 Take heed now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a house as a sanctuary; be strong, and act.
Psalm 78: 10-35
10 They did not keep God’s covenant, but refused to walk according to his law.
11 They forgot what he had done, and the miracles he had shown them.
12 In the sight of their fathers he wrought marvels in the land of Egypt, in the fields of Zoan.
13 He divided the sea and let them pass through it, and made the waters stand like a heap.
14 In the daytime he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a fiery light.
15 He cleft rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink abundantly as from the deep.
16 He made streams come out of the rock, and caused waters to flow down like rivers.
17 Yet they sinned still more against him, rebelling against the Most High in the desert.
18 They tested God in their heart by demanding the food that they craved.
19 They spoke against God, saying, “Can God spread a table in the wilderness?
20 He smote the rock so that water gushed out and streams overflowed. Can he also give bread, or provide meat for his people?”
21 Therefore, when the LORD heard, he was full of wrath; a fire was kindled against Jacob, his anger mounted against Israel;22 because they had no faith in God, and did not trust his saving power.
23 Yet he commanded the skies above, and opened the doors of heaven;
24 and he rained down upon them manna to eat, and gave them the grain of heaven.
25 Man ate of the bread of the angels; he sent them food in abundance.
26 He caused the east wind to blow in the heavens, and by his power he led out the south wind;
27 he rained flesh upon them like dust, winged birds like the sand of the seas;
28 he let them fall in the midst of their camp, all around their habitations.
29 And they ate and were well filled, for he gave them what they craved.
30 But before they had sated their craving, while the food was still in their mouths,
31 the anger of God rose against them and he slew the strongest of them, and laid low the picked men of Israel.
32 In spite of all this they still sinned; despite his wonders they did not believe.
33 So he made their days vanish like a breath, and their years in terror.
34 When he slew them, they sought for him; they repented and sought God earnestly.
35 They remembered that God was their rock, the Most High God their redeemer.
Jeremiah 4:3-4, 14
3 For thus says the LORD to the men of Judah and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem: “Break up your fallow ground, and sow not among thorns.
4 Circumcise yourselves to the LORD, remove the foreskin of your hearts, O men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem; lest my wrath go forth like fire, and burn with none to quench it, because of the evil of your doings.”
14 O Jerusalem, wash your heart from wickedness, that you may be saved. How long shall your evil thoughts lodge within you?
Ezekiel 18:21-32
21 But if a wicked man turns away from all his sins which he has committed and keeps all my statutes and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely live; he shall not die.
22 None of the transgressions which he has committed shall be remembered against him; for the righteousness which he has done he shall live.
23 Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, says the LORD God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?
24 But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity and does the same abominable things that the wicked man does, shall he live? None of the righteous deeds which he has done shall be remembered; for the treachery of which he is guilty and the sin he has committed, he shall die.
25 Yet you say, ‘The way of the LORD is not just.’ Hear now, O house of Israel: Is my way not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
26 When a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, he shall die for it; for the iniquity which he has committed he shall die.
27 Again, when a wicked man turns away from the wickedness he has committed and does what is lawful and right, he shall save his life.
28 Because he considered and turned away from all the transgressions which he had committed, he shall surely live, he shall not die.
29 Yet the house of Israel says, ‘The way of the LORD is not just.’ O house of Israel, are my ways not just? Is it not your ways that are not just?
30 Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, says the LORD God. Repent and turn from all your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.
31 Cast away from you all the transgressions which you have committed against me, and get yourselves a new heart and a new spirit! Why will you die, O house of Israel?
32 For I have no pleasure in the death of any one, says the LORD God; so turn, and live.
Acts 17:22-31
22 So Paul, standing in the middle of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious.
23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you.
24 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of Heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by man,
25 Nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all men life and breath and everything.
26 And he made from one every nation of men to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their habitation,
27 That they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel after him and find him. Yet he is not far from each one of us,
28 For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your poets have said, ‘For we are indeed his offspring.’
29 Being then God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, a representation by the art and imagination of man.
30 The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all men everywhere to repent,
31 Because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all men by raising him from the dead.
II. Some very clear verses which further illustrate how our Sovereign God provided salvation not only for the elect but for all men, and that he “desires all men to be saved and come to the knowledge of truth”:
Genesis 12:1-3
1 Now the LORD has said to Abram: “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you.
2 I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing.
3 I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse those who curse you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
Psalm 145:9
The LORD is good to all; and his tender mercies are over all his works.
Isaiah 45:22
Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
Isaiah 53:6
All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Matthew 11:28
Come to Me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
John 1:6-12
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe.
8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light.
9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.
10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, and the world did not know him.
11 He came to his own, and his own did not receive him.
12 But as many as received him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.
John 1:29
The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”
John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
17 For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
Many teachers of Calvinism are quick to quote John 6:44, which states that “No one comes to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him”, insisting that the word “draw” really means “drag”, not “entice”...but they neglect the teaching of the following verse, which uses the same Greek word:
John 12:32
And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.
John 12:47
If any one hears my sayings and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world.
Romans 3:21-24
21 But now a righteousness of God has been revealed apart from Law, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God through the faith of Jesus Christ, toward all and upon all those who believe. For there is no difference,
23 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
24 Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Romans 5:18-20
18 Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life.
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more.
Romans 11:32
For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
1 Corinthians 15:21
For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive.
Colossians 1:15-20
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the first-born of all creation;
16 For in him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or authorities–all things were created through him and for him.
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
18 He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the first-born from the dead, that in all things he might be pre-eminent.
19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
20 And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
1 Timothy 2:1-6
1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men,
2 For kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectful in every way.
3 This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior,
4 Who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
6 Who gave himself as a ransom for all, the testimony to which was borne at the proper time.
1 Timothy 4:10
For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe.
Hebrews 2:9
But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
2 Peter 2:1
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.
2 Peter 3:9
The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
1 John 2:2
And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.
1 John 4:14
And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.
III. More verses affirming man’s God-given ability to turn either toward God or away from God:
Psalm 81:11-13
11 But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel would have none of me.
12 So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts, to follow their own counsels.
13 O that my people would listen to me, that Israel would walk in my ways!
Isaiah 55:1-3
1 Ho, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Hearken diligently to me, and eat what is good, and delight yourselves in fatness.
3 Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live, and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast sure love for David.
Jeremiah 6:16-19
16 Thus says the LORD: “Stand by the roads and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is; and walk in it, and find rest for your souls. But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
17 I set watchmen over you, saying, ‘Give heed to the sound of the trumpet!’ But they said, “We will not give heed.’
18 Therefore hear, O nations, and know O congregation, what will happen to them.
19 Hear, O earth; behold, I am bringing evil upon this people, the fruit of their devices, because they have not given heed to my words; and as for my law, they have rejected it.
Matthew 23:37
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, killing the prophets and stoning those who are sent to you! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you would not!
John 5:39-40
39 You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life. And they are the ones witnessing of Me,
40 And you will not come to Me that you might have life.
Acts 7:51
You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you.
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If any man hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will sup with him, and he with me.
Revelation 22:17
And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is thirsty come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
A Note In Closing
Friends, if man cannot choose to place his faith in God of his own free will, but needs to be coerced by God in order to do so, then the “act of faith” on the part of every sinner who ever repented was meaningless! Why would God make such stellar examples of those Old Testament heroes whose faith, as Abraham’s, was “credited to them as righteousness” (Hebrews 11), unless man is not only capable of exercising faith, but responsible for having it? God has graciously given every human being who ever walked the planet Earth sufficient revelation of Himself to not only acknowledge Him but to freely place their faith in Him...in fact it's because of this that “man is without excuse” (Romans 1). God is indeed drawing all of humanity back to Him, and when a sinner humbles himself before God, it is only in response to the gracious, sacrificial love that God first extended (1 John 4:19) – we boast not in ourselves but in God! And let me once again assure you that “having faith” is not a meritorious work of any kind. Read what God’s blessed Word tells us in Romans 4:4-5:
4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due.
5 And to one who does not work, but trusts Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned to him as righteousness.
The receiver gets no credit for the gift...otherwise, it’s not a gift. God’s grace is a gift! Received through faith, not of works, lest any man should boast (Eph. 2:8). The gospel is good news, and it is not something to be ashamed of. Frankly, I would be ashamed of a God who mockingly invites people into fellowship with Him but denies the means whereby they could respond! The Bible tells us that the vilest sinner is freely invited to repent of his evil ways and turn to the Lord. Then, having heard the Word of Truth and believing in Him, he will be sealed with the Holy Spirit – and his new nature will be proof of his adoption and inheritance (Eph. 1:12-14).
Calvinists would like you to believe that way back before the foundations of the Earth when God was planning His creation, He marked out certain individuals to spend eternity with Him in Glory and certain individuals to spend eternity separated from Him, suffering agonizing torment in the lake of fire. This horrid concept flies in the face of straightforward verses such as Luke 6:36 which states, “Be merciful, as your Father is merciful.” Surely this verse is exhorting us to mimic the boundless nature of God’s mercy. But a Calvinist could only interpret this verse in a limited sense – God is telling him that he may pick and choose just who he’d like to be merciful to...and by the way, he need only be merciful to a select few, for this is the example God has set for him! It doesn’t take a biblical scholar to see how this clearly contradicts God’s oft-repeated instruction in scripture to love our neighbors (Lev. 19:8, Matt. 19:19, 22:39, Rom. 13:8-10, 15:2, 1 Cor. 10:24, Gal. 5:14, Jas. 2:8), even our enemies (Lk. 6:27-28), and to do good and live peaceably with all men (Titus 3:2).
Don’t ever stop witnessing to your unsaved loved ones...because God loves them, too! They can be saved, every last one of them. The only things stopping them are a heart hardened by sin and an unwillingness to submit to God and believe the gospel (John 5:40, Rom. 10:3). Yes, Jesus loves them...the Bible tells us so!
God’s Word can be challenging, there’s no doubt about it. There are more than a few passages which at first glance appear to support Calvinism. When understood correctly however, these verses actually support the greater, more oft-repeated theme of Scripture: Believe in the Lord and you shall be saved. God’s repeated exhortation to turn from evil and believe in Him is the common thread that weaves its way throughout each and every book of the Bible, unifying it and even testifying to its Divine inspiration. Any diligent Bible reader can see that scriptures affirming man’s free will and responsibility are not in short supply. Ultimately, however, we all must decide for ourselves what we believe. Praise God that He has mercifully gifted many to teach His Word, but let us not forget that He also implores each one of us individually to seek the scriptures daily to see if what we are being taught is true!