Unconditional Love?
That God’s love is “unconditional” means one thing to one
person and a different thing to someone else. The Bible does not use the
expression “unconditional love” but does imply it. God “so loved” the world (John 3:16). That would mean that love is what moved Him
to give His Son for the sinful world.
Paul said that he loved us “while we were yet sinners” (Rom.5:8). Thus, it was not a situation of God would
love us IF….. God loved us when we were
at our worst. Thus, in that regard, it was an unconditional love. But, what does that mean? Some seem to think that because God loves us
all unconditionally, that therefore He ACCEPTS us unconditionally. Is this what the Bible really teaches?
False Concepts of God’s Love
One clearly false concept is that God only loves us IF we
perfectly obey Him. But, that is not the
case because the Bible says He loved us at our worst, “while we were yet
sinners”(Rom.5:8). The Prodigal Son’s
father loved him unconditionally, but certainly was not pleased with his son’s
choices. To love is not to accept any and all behavior. A parent can “so love” a child but not be
pleased with the lifestyle of that child.
Still, love is what causes the
parent to keep hoping for a turn around and return of the lost child. Love longs for a turning point in the
thinking of the child, and love is unconditional. But, love does not accept the child in
rebellious behavior. The prodigal son’s
father never stopped loving his son, but there was broken fellowship and
relationship. The father was not glad
about the son’s choices and behavior, and did not pretend that relationship
remained the same as ever. Perfect
obedience was not the reason he loved his son.
He loved his son while he was yet a sinner in hope of his son’s coming
to himself and returning in humility. Love is that way. God is not a God who takes pleasure in
wickedness (Psalm 5:4-6). A person determined to keep practicing sin is
certainly not acceptable to the Lord (Prov.15:8-9). Love means God longs for a sinner who is
ruining his life and his potential, longing for the sinner to wake up and turn
back to God. God’s love causes Him to also hate what the sinner represents and
how that sinner influences others to ruin their lives as well (Rom.1:20ff).
A similar false concept is that “God Only Loves Us BECAUSE
We Deserve His Love”. God’s love is totally
unconditional. The Character of God Is LOVE.
Relationship with God is in fact conditional. Love does not equate to
relationship and acceptance. As an
illustration we might say that George loves everyone. Does everyone love
George? And Does George automatically let everyone in his house? Can we not love our enemies without trusting
them with our house and our children?
Love does not equate with relationship and acceptance.
Things God’s Love Will NOT Do
Love will not automatically accept you “as you are” if that
means “as you have been”. Love does not mean I accept my child as a murderer or
adulterer or thief. Love means I have “good
will” for someone and will help them get right with God. If one is “continuing in sin”, love means
that I am sad for them and long for their salvation from sin and ruin.
Love does not automatically forgive you. Forgiveness is conditioned on being “in
Christ”(Eph.1:3,7; Gal.3:26-27). Love longs for our forgiveness and will
provide a just way that it can happen if we want it. There are conditions for
coming into Christ where forgiveness is enjoyed. God’s love longs to forgive, but will not automatically
accept you “as you are”, if that means you are going to decide to continue as
you are.
Love will not force your love and service to Him. It will
not force you to act against your will, but yearns to get you to change your
will in His favor. Therefore, love will
not, by itself, prevent you from going to torment or hell. God loved even the
rich man, but the rich man still went to torment (Luke 16:19f). It was not that
God did not love him. It was that the rich man did not love God and therefore did
not love his fellow man.
Things God’s Love WILL Do
God’s love will provide a conditional way for you to be saved.
(John 3:16; Mark 16:15-16). These conditions do not merit salvation on your end. They are things that you MUST do (Acts 2:37-41),
and yet they are not works of merit whereby God OWES us anything (Eph.2:8-9). Belief and baptism in Jesus’ name are not
meritorious works, nor are they works of perfect law-keeping. They are both actions of mind, will, and
appeal to God for His mercy. God loves
us and will forgive us if we believe, repent, and are baptized in Jesus’ name
for remission of sins. God’s love
provides the remission of sins and the conditions.
These conditions are within your power to do. There is no
excuse for not meeting these conditions.
God’s love will try to attract your better possibilities and
potential and will provide the greatest incentives for you to repent
(Rom.2:4-8). Heaven and Hell are incentives, but God’s amazing love and
fellowship is a primary incentive.
God’s love is so great that He will do what is painful to Himself
in order to be merciful and just in an effort to win your love and fellowship. God IS Love. (1 John 3).
How do we define His Love?
We cannot define it as automatic acceptance. It does not mean that none will be lost. What
does it mean? It means that there is “good will”, mercy, and compassion already
resident within His character. It is there driving Jesus to the cross for your
possible salvation. It is your greatest opportunity in life to have
reconciliation with God now so that He can bring you home to glory.
Don’t blow your opportunity to experience and enjoy His
greatness of Being. There are conditions for being made acceptable
(Rom.5:1f). We see how 3,000 Jews came
from lost and condemned to being acceptable, having remission of sins (Acts
2:36-41) all because of the love of God.
You have the same opportunity because of His love. What will your response be? -Terry W. Benton
