Dr. Couch, does God love the non-elect? I noticed that A. W. Pink argues that He does not love the elect. What do you say?
ANSWER:
I always say what the Bible says. Later Calvinists went to extremes and
pushed some of their election thinking too far, and certainly beyond
what the Bible says.
- Total Depravity shows that no man can come to God on his own, by himself. He is dead in trespasses and sins.
- God provides redemption for all but the “all” (or none) will by themselves come to Him. “The sacrifice of Christ is
sufficient for all but applied only to the elect.” Many Calvinists agree with this statement.
- Since none will come of themselves God divinely calls only the elect. He clearly is not “wishing” that any should
perish, but He has not willed that ALL come to Him—and that is obvious to anyone who thinks about it!
- Election is specific. Only those whom God draws will come to Him!
Many men like Pink went philosophical and left being biblical. You
can’t do that! You have to take a passage at face value. You cannot say
“well, it doesn’t mean that!” I’m specifically thinking of the passages
that speak of God loving the world. The hard-core Calvinists have to
say, “That means the world of the elect. It doesn’t mean what it says!”
The passages do not say what they want them to say!
Here are the verses that I think destroy their
view of Limited Atonement, i.e., the view that says the atonement of
Christ was ONLY for the elect. Don’t simply follow what the hard-core
Calvinists say about Limited Atonement! Look up the passages for
yourself:
- John 3:16
- 1 Tim. 2:4, 6
- 2 Pet. 3:9
- Titus 2:11; 3:4
- I Tim. 4:10
- 1 John 2:2
I have a theological friend everyone reading this answer would know.
He began to lean toward Limited Atonement and we were arguing. I said
“what do you do with 1 John 2:2?” He went brain dead and finally
answered: “Well, yes, I do have a problem with that passage!” I answered
back “Dick Tracy, no kidding!” He never brought up the subject again.
Thanks for asking,
Dr. Mal Couch
