God’s Love – Unconditional?

As a young man, I was told by most of the Christian people I knew, "God's love is unconditional." Now that I'm no longer a young man, I still hear this from most well-meaning Christian folks.

It would really be nice if that were the truth, from God's Holy Word, but unfortunately, according to scriptural authority this is completely untrue. I know this subject is not going to set well with most Christians, and even with some non-Christian people, but isn't it better to know the truth about God our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ?

By the grace of Jesus my Lord, I will tell you the truth and nothing but the whole truth, from the only true Word of God, the King James Version of the Holy Bible.

The Bible tells us in many places that not only is His love conditional, but so is everything else we receive from God. The argument made about this subject is based on some Scriptures, but we know that no one verse of Scripture stands alone. Not even two or three, in this case.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. II Peter 1:20-21

Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts. For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little: For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people. To whom he said, This is the rest wherewith ye may cause the weary to rest; and this is the refreshing: yet they would not hear. But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. Isaiah 28:9-13

Some people use Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.

But what you rarely hear is verse 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Do you see that? We must bring forth good works! I know that when we are saved initially, there is nothing we can boast about, no works of righteousness that led us to salvation. However, as we progress in our Christian walk we certainly have a lot of work to do, with the help of Jesus Christ. This is a little off the subject, so let's get back to seeing whether or not God's love is unconditional.

Let's look at the words of Jesus Christ, Himself.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever; Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you. I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. Yet a little while, and the world seeth me no more; but ye see me: because I live, ye shall live also. At that day ye shall know that I am in my Father, and ye in me, and I in you. He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him…Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. John 14:15-21, 23

Note the underlined portion. Does that look like Jesus put a condition on His love? Yes, He said that to love Him, we must keep His commandments and His words, and then we would be loved. Let's look further into the scriptures.

As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:9-10

Jesus said for us to continue, or abide, in His love. To do it, we have to keep His commandments and His words. Sounds like a condition, yes?

Using John 3:16, many people say that God just loves everybody in the world. God does love the world as a whole, enough to make a way of salvation for us. But God does not love everyone in the world individually. If He did, why did He create a lake of fire where people are tormented day and night? Why is there so much suffering and loss in this world if God loves everybody? Jesus spoke about the world in John 17:6-9:

I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world: thine they were, and thou gavest them me; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known that all things whatsoever thou hast given me are of thee. For I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me; and they have received them, and have known surely that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine.

Jesus said He prayed for those who keep His word, who are separated to Him, apart from the world and the sin and lust of it. Also, read John 17:14-17 for more about those who God loves in the world. Another good place to read is I John 2:15-17. Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the truth!

The Old Testament gives us a more detailed and forceful look at God's love in Isaiah 63:8-10.

For he said, Surely they are my people, children that will not lie: so he was their Saviour. In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them: in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; and he bare them, and carried them all the days of old. But they rebelled, and vexed his holy Spirit: therefore he was turned to be their enemy, and he fought against them.

God speaks of loving and saving His people; however, when they rebelled (conditional) He turned to be their enemy and fought against them. Here is another sobering example of God's love and favor being conditional.

All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. Ephraim is smitten, their root is dried up, they shall bear no fruit: yea, though they bring forth, yet will I slay even the beloved fruit of their womb. Hosea 9:15-16

God says in Verse 15, "I will love them no more." It doesn't get much plainer than that. The word "unconditional" means: Not limited in any way. In other words, people make the argument that no matter what we do, God will always love us. Not true, according to the Bible.

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed. Malachi 3:6

God does not change! He is still the same today (New Testament) as He was yesterday (Old Testament), and will be the same tomorrow (Eternity).

His love was, is, and always will be conditional, based on whether or not we keep His commandments and His words.

There are many more scriptures which prove that God's love is conditional. I hope that you will take heed to His Word as the truth and that God will love you and keep you in His love always.

Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Romans 11:22

Conditional! Not Unconditional!