Jesus clearly died because God loved the world..
Do you guys not get it. Always quoting that Jesus died because God loved the world. Can you not see this clearly. Apparently, I am missing something.
Yes He died for everybody. But it is a free GIFT. Some do not want to partake of the free gift. If there are those that do not want the free gift, than they do not want it. Yes, He offered it to the whole world. However there are those, in the world, that just do not want it.
Do any of you get this. I am sure you will tell me that I don't get it. However, I did accept the free gift that was offered. I have friends (the world) who have not accepted the free gift (salvation).
Here is the analogy:
I have 50 superbowl tickets (salvation). There are 50 people at this party I am going to attend (the world). I (Jesus) walk in and say "Hey guys, I have 50 tickets (salvation) to the superbowl, one ticket for everyone in the room (the world). 20 (few) of the 50 (the world) come to me (Jesus) and take my free gift of the tickets (salvation). Wouldn't you know it though. There were 30 (many) of the 50 that did not want my free gift. For whatever reason they just did not want a ticket to the superbowl.
I think any 5 year would probably get this. Free will folks. We have free will to choose whether or not we want to go to the superbowl. Period
God Bless
Here is the a counter-analogy:
50 people open their eyes and find themselves in a clearing by a forest. Snow, trees, earth, and sky spread out as far as they can see, and the sun is high in the sky. However, in the clearing is a log cabin. Inside the cabin is a roaring fire surrounded by 50 chairs.
God says to these 50 people, "Everything here is my creation: from the sun to the snow to the cabin to the fire. I have made you because I wish for you to be with me. However, you must come inside the cabin before dark. I shall bring a storm down upon this clearing when the sun sets, and any who are left outside shall be trapped in it."
Time passes, and slowly the sun begins to set. As the sun hits the horizon, 20 of the people have entered the house. But 30 have not. Who knows why these 30 did not enter? Perhaps they did not believe that a storm was coming. Perhaps they did not hear God's warning. Perhaps they thought the sun would never set. Perhaps they decided they were having more fun in the snow than they would have in the building. But in the end, it doesn't matter why. The sun creeps below the horizon, and God shuts the door.
Without warning, icy winds and flying snow cut through the clearing. The remaining 30 people begin to shiver and shake. Cold begins to creep into their bodies, hurting them. Frightened, some of the people rush over to the door and knock. The door does not open. As the winds speed up and the temperature drops, more people rush over to the door. Soon, countless voices are at the door, and they are all crying, pleading, begging. It hurts, and they are afraid. They are sorry, now, that they did not go inside. Worst of all, the storm will go on forever, and these people will be trapped outside for eternity. Their pain, their suffering, their desperate pleas will never end.
But God does nothing. He will not open the door. Does he hear their cries? Is he hurt by their suffering? Does he care? You tell me.
Could you bear to hear these people's cries and do nothing? Would you be able to find unparalleled joy even while these people begged for your help? Would you be able to find perfect contentment, knowing that all those people were in pain?
I could not. It would tear me asunder. There are not words for how horrible the above situation seems to me. I would go mad if I was forced to endure it. I find it incomprehensible that anyone would say that an all good, all loving God would be less moved by these people's plight than I am.
