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One Calvinist wrote the following:
Let's take a quick look at the first of those attempted (and failed) proof-texts to which he sought appeal for his claim that God loves Calvinism's eternally reprobate (which is, manifestly, one of the most stupid claims imaginable, when you realize that, according to Calvinism, God eternally hates those same eternally reprobate!) In Matthew 5:43-48, we read:
The question that arises against the Calvinist upon a careful reading of this passage is, Where, in this passage, is there the least hint of a reference to Calvinism's eternally reprobate? The fact is, it's nowhere!
But, at least one Calvinist has apparently decided to try to make out certain phrases in the passage--viz., "thine enemy", "your enemies", "them that hate you", "them that curse you", "them that despitefully use you, and persecute you", "the evil", and "the unjust"--as indicating Calvinism's eternally reprobate or non-elect. It's astonishing how ridiculous such an idea is, however, since, if it were true, then all of Calvinism's eternally elect must necessarily be debarred from having ever been enemies of Christ's saints. That is, no Christian will have ever been a hateful enemy of Christ and His saints, even prior to his/her becoming a Christian, and his/her regeneration by the Holy Spirit! And, every person who, at any time, was the hateful enemy of Christ and Christians, will necessarily be one of Calvinism's eternally reprobate. So, if Matthew 5:43-48 is really talking about Calvinism's reprobate, then you may as well rip out and reject all the Pauline Epistles from your Bible as the product of a reprobate mind, since, according to Calvinism's wresting (to its own destruction) of the Matthew passage, Saul of Tarsus, a zealously, murderously hateful enemy of Christ and His saints, must be counted among Calvinism's eternally reprobate.
Now there's a glaring sample of Calvinistic eisegesis upon the New Testament for your consideration!
The simple answer is "Yes, God does have a love that extends even to the reprobate," since He has a love of benevolence over all His creation, which, obviously, includes the reprobate (Matthew 5:43-48, Acts 14: 14-18).
Let's take a quick look at the first of those attempted (and failed) proof-texts to which he sought appeal for his claim that God loves Calvinism's eternally reprobate (which is, manifestly, one of the most stupid claims imaginable, when you realize that, according to Calvinism, God eternally hates those same eternally reprobate!) In Matthew 5:43-48, we read:
43 Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy.
44 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;
45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?
47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The question that arises against the Calvinist upon a careful reading of this passage is, Where, in this passage, is there the least hint of a reference to Calvinism's eternally reprobate? The fact is, it's nowhere!
But, at least one Calvinist has apparently decided to try to make out certain phrases in the passage--viz., "thine enemy", "your enemies", "them that hate you", "them that curse you", "them that despitefully use you, and persecute you", "the evil", and "the unjust"--as indicating Calvinism's eternally reprobate or non-elect. It's astonishing how ridiculous such an idea is, however, since, if it were true, then all of Calvinism's eternally elect must necessarily be debarred from having ever been enemies of Christ's saints. That is, no Christian will have ever been a hateful enemy of Christ and His saints, even prior to his/her becoming a Christian, and his/her regeneration by the Holy Spirit! And, every person who, at any time, was the hateful enemy of Christ and Christians, will necessarily be one of Calvinism's eternally reprobate. So, if Matthew 5:43-48 is really talking about Calvinism's reprobate, then you may as well rip out and reject all the Pauline Epistles from your Bible as the product of a reprobate mind, since, according to Calvinism's wresting (to its own destruction) of the Matthew passage, Saul of Tarsus, a zealously, murderously hateful enemy of Christ and His saints, must be counted among Calvinism's eternally reprobate.
Now there's a glaring sample of Calvinistic eisegesis upon the New Testament for your consideration!