Recently, it has been brought to my attention that some Christians in the Reformed movement find it difficult—if not impossible—to tell unbelievers that God loves them when evangelizing. If I understand the concern correctly it is this: Since we do not know who the elect are we cannot tell everyone without exception that God loves them for it is stated in Romans 9:13, “Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.” The argument seems to go that since this text says nothing of the love of God for the one who is the object of His wrath then it would be wrong for Christians to tell unbelievers of the love of God. Furthermore, how can God love someone He sends to hell for ever? How can God love His enemies?

I appreciate the legitimate concerns of those who find it difficult to tell everyone without exception, “God loves you,” but I think the concerns are without biblical foundation for the following reasons. Consider:

First, Jesus commands His followers to do what some say is impossible for God himself to do and that is to love one’s enemies. The words of Jesus are clear. Matthew 5:44 reads, “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.” The Greek word for love here is agape. Question: Would Jesus command His followers to do something He Himself will not do? To ask the question is to answer it.

Second, Jesus spoke of the love of God for the world in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” While some try to argue that the concept in John 3:16 is that God loves the world of the elect or that He loves some without distinction such as Jew and Gentile, the force of the passage indicates a universal statement of the love of God. That there is a particular, distinguishing love of God for the elect is also a great truth but that truth is taught in such passages as Romans 8:28 and following. What is being contended for in John 3:16, as Jesus spoke to Nicodemus, is that in some way God loves the world. What a gracious thought that is.

Third, Moses did not hesitate to tell the general population of a nation of God’s great love. Speaking to the people indiscriminately Moses said, “The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: but because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt” (Deut 7:7-8).

Therefore, do not hesitate to sit your child on your knee and tell him or her that God loves them and that He sent His Son into the world to die for sinners. And soul winner, never hesitate to tell someone that God loves them and that Christ died to save souls from hell. Tell them to call upon the name of the Lord and be saved. Tell them that while we were yet sinners Christ died for the ungodly.