Not sure I agree with you on this point.
Maybe I am misunderstanding what you are trying to convey.
The people I was referring to are belivers that I have spoken to walked with.
For various reasons they do not believe God loves them as much as he loves Jesus.
I was one of them. So are you saying because I didn't genuinely believe that God loves me as much as he loves Jesus, that during that time I was not redeemed?
I actually stumbled across the verse, I say stumble yet I had read that verse many many times but did not believe it true of me.
When I was laid up God asked me to spend time with him. I had been out of church for a long time (never lost my faith in Jesus) but starting to come back.
I was led through the process of what is it I genuinely believe?
I went from Romans concerning faith and access to God, to Ephesians, to the adulteress women and eventually to the verse in John.
I cried out to God "Is this true"
Then bang it was like he took a silver bullet with that verse on it and shot it into my heart.
The head knowledge was replaced with the reality.
The lie in in my head that told me it wasn't true was replaced with the truth.
Not everyone who has been redeemed automatically believes God loves them, so do some don't
Even those that do for some reason start to doubt it.
So my question concerning disconnect was based on those who God has redeemed or claim to be a genuine beliver.
How do we reconcile
John 3:16
16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.
With what you are saying?
I believe that salvation is available to all, I also know that not everyone will accept it.
I also believe that God knows who will accept that gift and works his will in them.
Those he predestined.
I can't make the call and act accordingly based on outward appearance.
I can only make that call when it's very very evident that they fall foul of Romans 5-6.
So I would like to ask you.
If I came to see you and were to quote to me that God loves me as much as he loves Jesus and I said that is not true I struggle to believe that how would you counsel me?
Maybe they sense something amiss in your take on the text. Could it be possible your take is incorrect and reading something into it not there nor intended? Perhaps this is the disconnect as well. I’d think it through a little more. Note John Gill:
"and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. The Oriental versions, the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic, all read the words thus, "and I have loved them, as thou hast loved me"; contrary to all the Greek copies, and other versions, which read as we do. The Father loved Christ as his own Son, and as Mediator; so he loved him when he assumed human nature, and became obedient to his will both in doing and suffering; when his Father left him, and poured out his wrath upon him, and when he laid down his life for the sheep. The instances of his love to him as Mediator are, his putting all things into his hands, showing him all that he does, and concealing nothing from him, and appointing him the only Saviour, the head of the church, and Judge of the world. The nature of this love is, that it is from eternity; is a love of complacency and delight; it is special and peculiar, unchangeable and inseparable, and will last for ever: now God has loved his people, as he has loved his Son; he loves them not merely as creatures, as the descendants of Adam, or as considered in themselves, but as in Christ. The instances of his love to them are, his choosing them in Christ; making a covenant with them in him; the mission of him into this world, to obtain salvation for them; the quickening and calling of them by his grace; the care he takes of them afterwards in supplying their wants, supporting them under temptations, delivering them out of afflictions, and causing all things to work together for their good; to all which add the provisions he makes for them, both for time and eternity. The nature of this love is such as that he bears to Christ; it is from everlasting; a love of the utmost delight and pleasure; it is special and peculiar, unchangeable, and will continue for ever: there is not the same reason for his loving them as his Son;
and this as must not be thought to denote equality, but similitude and order."