Is God's love conditional or unconditional?
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Asked July 01 2013
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Anonymous (via GotQuestions)
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S. Michael Houdmann
Supporter
God's love, as described in the Bible, is clearly unconditional in that His love is expressed toward the objects of His love (that is, His people) despite their disposition toward Him. In other wor...
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Robert Pendlebury
Supporter
All God's promises are conditional, even the free gift of salvation, if we never respond to salvation we will not receive it. God says Repent, Acts 17: 30. Paul says if we confess with our mouth the Lord Jesus Christ,and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. Romans 10: 9 - 10 John says If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins,1 John 1: 9. the condition for salvation is "Believe" "Repent" and "Confess" if we don't do these three things we will not be saved.
Sidgar .
Supporter
Jesus gives eternal life freely to everyone who's willing to accept it. But you have to reach for it. His hand extends down to us. We have to take it, pull ourselves up, and then follow Him, because only He knows the way home. Too many people are too proud to accept His helping hand and would rather wallow in the mud with the pigs. Others gladly accept his help onto their feet, but then quickly forget about Jesus and go back about their previous ways, only to stumble and fall again. God's love is unconditional, because if he wanted to give us what we deserve, none of us would be saved, as we are all sinners who fall far short of the glory of God. But God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. The invitations to the wedding feast are sent, but many will not come. They can't be bothered with the trip, or the preparations, or spending anything on wedding clothes. God has offered them grace, but they reject it. When you get the invitation, don't harden your heart as so many others have done, or dismiss it as unimportant. Let Jesus lift you up and lead you on the path to salvation, that you too might eat at the feast of the wedding. It's going to be one heck of a party, I promise you that!
Hairy Animals
Supporter
1 John 4:8 - He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. Romans 8:35 ESV Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? Jeremiah 31:3 ESV The Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you. 1 John 3:1 ESV See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Ephesians 2:4-5 “But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.” (NIV) Zephaniah 3:17 “The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.” (NIV) Psalm 48:9 “Within your temple, O God, we meditate on your unfailing love.” (NIV) Jeremiah 31:3 “The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness.”(NIV) Lamentations 3:22 – 25 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him. ” (NIV) Romans 8: 35-39 “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written: “For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (NIV) The Bible never actually says "God's love is unconditional." But it contains many similar phrases (Psalm 48:9). I believe God's love is unconditional. God loves with agape, the love described in 1 Corinthians 13. He loves you so much that He sent His Son to die on the cross for you, that you might have everlasting life. His love is not based on performance. Christ loves you so much that while you were yet a sinner, He died for you. God's love for you is unconditional and undeserved. He loves you in spite of your disobedience, your weakness, your sin and your selfishness. He loves you enough to provide a way to abundant, eternal life. From the cross Christ cried out, "Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing." If God loved those who are sinners that much, can you imagine how much He loves you -- His child through faith in Christ and who seeks to please Him?
Vin Smith
Supporter
...It isn't God's love that is conditional; it is the acceptance of that love by the humans he has created that can make the gift of salvation sometimes seem to a casual observer like a pass thrown by a quarterback that was not complete. Simply stated, it is possible for the human receiver to drop the ball. But the salvation promised by Jesus is always a perfectly thrown pass. How could a sinner be saved persisting in hating God? Not possible... Because, above all else that encompasses human nature, all people possess freewill. If not, then Satan would have been correct when he proclaimed God a tyrant. Of course, it was arrogance and hate on the part of Satan that struck out at God causing war in heaven. That is reflected by mankind on a daily basis! Even as Jesus loved the rich young ruler--that privileged, law-abiding young man rejected the gift of salvation--a gift that was totally unconditional... Sell all that he had? The rich young ruler (Matthew 19:16-26) would have had his fortune increased by a hundredfold. But he had no faith. The "condition" of salvation--if you wish to use such terminology--is the acceptance by the person being offered salvation (which is everyone) by faith--and faith alone! What is the nature of that faith? Think of a starving man... Then he is offered "an apple." The starving man has to have faith that he has not been given a photographer's prop made of ceramic. He has to have faith that it is actually an apple! That's the faith of a mustard seed. There is nothing conditional about God's love! Lack of faith, lack of love, hardness of heart in human nature is what places conditions on salvation.
Lauren Brundage
Supporter
God's love is unconditional, He says that very clearly in the Scriptures. He love us no matter how big we may think our sins our. Even if we flat out reject Him, He will still love us. We just need to love Him in return, for He loved us first.
Nils Jansma
Supporter
Is God’s love conditional or unconditional? This is a very mysterious question and is subject to what may be considered contradictory interpretations. In other words, God’s love can be shown to be “unconditionally conditional.” Those who say God’s love is “unconditional” usually conclude by attaching pseudo conditions in its actual application. Those who say God’s love is “conditional” then have to explain why the Scriptures seem to say it is an “unconditional” gift. (Ephesians 2:4-5; 2:8-10) So, what is the answer? First we should examine the words “unconditional” and “conditional.” I believe the best definition applied to our discussion for “unconditional” would be “Not contingent; not determined or influenced by someone or something else such as ‘unconditional surrender’. “ Based upon this definition, it can be concluded that if God loves everyone unconditionally, this would necessarily include the Devil, demons, and all those who end up in Hell. This idea would be unappealing to most, I am sure. On the other hand, “conditional” love is defined as needing to be “qualified by reservations, or depending on, or containing a condition.” Examples are, "conditional acceptance of the terms"; "the conditional sale will not be complete until the full purchase price is paid". Based upon this definition, it appears that God’s love is founded upon the conditional acceptance of Jesus as His son who died for our sins. (Romans 10:9-10) If we do not accept this premise, then we apparently do not qualify for God’s love. In other words, He will not “save” us from the fate of eternal darkness reserved for the unsaved. (Jude 1:13; 2 Peter 2:12-17) From this analysis it appears that God’s love is conditioned upon “acceptance” of His “gift of eternal life” made possible by the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Conversely, this conclusion is challenged by the difference between “a gift” and “an offer.” A gift is “unconditional” while and “offer” is not. An offer in this context implies the condition of acceptance or refusal. However, when someone is given a “gift”, it is not dependent upon the condition of acceptance or rejection, it is unconditional. (Romans 5:15-17) So, we appear to be right back where we started. Is God’s love “conditional” or “unconditional?” There is only one conclusion that satisfies all these contingencies, but it also has it problems. Christian Universalism, holds that God’s love is “unconditional” along with “conditional” discipline. (Hebrews 12:5-11) However, there are many Scriptures that conflict with the idea that God will eventually save everyone. So, the mystery remains.
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