God's Unconditional Love - Fact or Fiction?
By Kori Ashton
Have you heard of God’s unconditional love?
That phrase “unconditional love” is never mentioned
in the Bible, so does it actually exist or is God’s love earned
by following conditions and rules? This is answered in two keys
verses of the Bible John 3:16 and Romans 8:38-39.
"For God so loved the world that he gave his
one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish
but have eternal life" John 3:16. This shows us that God loved
us first – without conditions – just as we are.
“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” Romans 8:38-39. This passage
tells us that NOTHING CAN SEPARATE US FROM THAT LOVE! What an amazing
gift! His love is in fact unconditional.
Does this unconditional love encompass salvation/
eternal life?
Let’s look again at the above mentioned verse John 3:16? "For
God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever
believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." Looks
like this says that God loves the world – all of us! But this
verse ends with a condition – IF you believe in Jesus Then
you will have eternal life. So looks like that gift of salvation
has a condition.
 Webster’s
Dictionary says a condition is “a premise upon which the fulfillment
of an agreement depends: or a stipulation, requirement.” Most
conditions are presented in a contract as an IF/THEN clause. IF
you do this THEN you gain that. Many scriptures have this same IF/THEN
clause. One of the most commonly quoted scriptures in Romans contains
this: “If you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord,"
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, (THEN)
you will be saved” Romans 10:9. There’s not one passage
in the Bible that mentions God’s love getting you into heaven
without a condition attached.
So what about all those times you’ve heard about
the “Free Gift of Salvation?” John 3:16 does not say
that Salvation is a free gift because it contains an "if"
statement – you will not perish and have eternal life if you
believe in Jesus! So there is a condition to that gift, and that
condition is that you must accept that Jesus is Lord. While God’s
love is unconditional - God's promises are conditional – they
are only "free" if you obey certain conditions.
So, what does unconditional love offer us?
God’s unconditional love allows us access to Him through His
forgiveness and mercy. He will always let us come to Him. He loves
us just as we are, but wants us to use our God-given free will to
live our lives for Him. Just acknowledging that Jesus Christ is
Lord is not sufficient – even Satan acknowledges that Jesus
is Lord but no one could claim that Satan was saved! We must submit
to God's authority and walk in His truth. Does that mean that we
earn salvation? Nope – it means that when Christ died on the
cross He provided a way to eternal life – the only way to
receive that gift is to embrace it!
Prayer:
Lord, thank you for your love and your grace in my life.
Teach me more of how to walk in your ways. Help me to seek to please
and glorify you with all I do. Amen!
More Info: There are over 1,500 versus
in the Bible containing the word “If.” Many in the Old
and New Testament, but for this article let’s just list a
few from the New Testament.
Jesus said: For if you forgive men when they
sin against you, (THEN) your heavenly Father will also forgive
you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, (THEN) your
Father will not forgive your sins. Matthew 6:14-15
...If you want to enter into life, (THEN) keep the
commandments. Matthew 19:17
Jesus said: If you believe, (THEN) you will
receive whatever you ask for in prayer. Matthew 21:22
If the Son sets you free, (THEN) you will
be free indeed. John 8:36
If anyone keeps My word, (THEN) he will
never see death forever. John 8:51
If you love me, (THEN) you will obey what
I command. John 14:15
Jesus said: If anyone does not remain in
me, (THEN) he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers;
such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.
if you remain in me and my words remain in you, (THEN)
ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. John
15:6-7
If you abide in me, and my words abide in
you, (THEN) you will ask what you will, and it shall be done unto
you. John 15:7
If anyone does not love the Lord –
(THEN) a curse be on him. 1 Corinthians 16:22
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, (THEN)
he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2
Corinthians 5:17
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REPRODUCE © 2008, Kori Ashton Postell
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