Unconditional Love

[Gendou Ikari]

Is God's Love Unconditional?

 

[cuiq]

My answer to this question is definitely yes, but only for those He has called.



peace V

 

[ThinkerMan]

My answer to this question is definitely yes, but only for those He has called.



peace V

"but only", by definition, is a condition.

 

[cuiq]

"but only", by definition, is a condition.

You are correct, thereby His love does have conditions. What is the requirement? Salvation? How is that accomplished? By Him only. Not me, not what I say or pray, not my mother, father, sister or brother.

But I digress, I have gotten way off topic. Sorry.


peace V

 

[Merry Menagerie]

Completely unconditional - he sent his son to die on the cross while we were yet sinners. He so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son. If that's not unconditional - I don't know what is.

 

[BradtheImpaler]

Completely unconditional - he sent his son to die on the cross while we were yet sinners. He so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son. If that's not unconditional - I don't know what is.

Would true unconditional love hold human beings to an impossible standard of behaviour/obedience in the first place?

 

[Merry Menagerie]

Yep because it's important for us as humans to know that we even need a saviour!

 

[BradtheImpaler]

Yep because it's important for us as humans to know that we even need a saviour!

But we would only need a saviour if we are held to an impossible standard of behaviour/obedience. So again - why would "unconditional love" allow us to be placed in the terribly conditional situation of having to measure up to a standard of absolute perfection when we were obviously not created capable of perfect behaviour/obedience? Why can't God just accept us for what we are (since he made us) or at least forgive us (if necessary) apart from a blood sacrifice?

 

[cuiq]

Well for one God does not expect us to be perfect, if he did there would be no Christians because as all of us no we still sin after salvation, which is why Jesus blood pays for all of our sins past present and future.

Also it is not why God would give us an impossible task but why would He continue to put up with us after the fall when He could have destroyed us immediately and start over with a whole new creation.

Romans 9:19 to 21
19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?



peace V

 

[BradtheImpaler]

Well for one God does not expect us to be perfect, if he did there would be no Christians because as all of us no we still sin after salvation, which is why Jesus blood pays for all of our sins past present and future

If He does not expect us to be perfect, why are we held accountable for "sin", which is basically the failure to be "perfect"?

Also it is not why God would give us an impossible task but why would He continue to put up with us after the fall when He could have destroyed us immediately and start over with a whole new creation

But, according to Genesis, He did destroy us (except for Noah's family) later on. Then He "started over", yet suffering and death were still in effect for Noah's descendants.

Besides, didn't God already know things were going to go wrong before the creation? Would "unconditional love" create a race of beings, knowing ahead of time the suffering and death that they would experience? For what purpose were we created if, according to fundamental Christian exegesis, the majority of people who have ever existed will end up in eternal torment to boot? The only purpose possible (if the Christian perspective is true) is that there is something in it for God. Is God so lonely, bored, or self-centered that He felt it necessary to create a race of beings that would suffer and die, (the majority of them to die eternally) just so that a relative handful would believe in Him and worship Him forever?

The problem is, this is not "unconditional love". The definition of love is given in 1Cor.13, where we are told that love "does not seek it's own way". The following verses are evidence that God (or the writers of the bible) do not want us to think this whole thing through.

Romans 9:19 to 21
19Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?

20Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?

21Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?

 

[cuiq]

BradtheImpaler wrote:

f He does not expect us to be perfect, why are we held accountable for "sin", which is basically the failure to be "perfect"?

It was us who walked into sin "willingly" God did not make us, we were perfect before the fall. Thereby causing spiritual death. Death itself required a payment and God was "willing" to make that payment for us because He knew we would not be able to live in such a way again w/o His reconciliation. He reconciled with us we did not and can not reconcile with him.

But, according to Genesis, He did destroy us (except for Noah's family) later on. Then He "started over", yet suffering and death were still in effect for Noah's descendants.

He did not destroy us completely or Noah would not have been left. Noah still had sinful flesh and nature. My point was that He could have destroyed this "entire" creation and started anew. By His leaving Noah shows that He was unwilling to do this, that He was willing to save some is still amazing to me.



Peace In Christ