Does God Love Everyone, "Unconditionally"?

RisenInJesus · Jun 28, 2017

Hammster said:
Most orthodox Christianity believes that hell is punishment for sin. The way you are using these verses suggest that you don't hold this view. Can you tell me what you think hell is for?

I believe the standard biblical view concerning hell...

Jesus said that hell was “prepared” for Satan and the demons (Matthew 25:41). It is a just punishment for the wicked one. Hell, or the lake of fire, will also be the destination for those who reject Christ (2 Peter 2:4–9). The good news is that people can avoid hell. God, in His infinite mercy and love, has made a way of salvation for everyone who trusts in God’s Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 36; 5:24). Did God create hell?

Hammster · Jun 28, 2017

RisenInJesus said:
Do you mean the people of the nation of Israel; they were chosen? Do you mean Judas; he was chosen? Define chosen.

“So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience;”
‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3:12‬ ‭NASB‬‬

Hammster · Jun 28, 2017

RisenInJesus said:
I believe the standard biblical view concerning hell...

Jesus said that hell was “prepared” for Satan and the demons (Matthew 25:41). It is a just punishment for the wicked one. Hell, or the lake of fire, will also be the destination for those who reject Christ (2 Peter 2:4–9). The good news is that people can avoid hell. God, in His infinite mercy and love, has made a way of salvation for everyone who trusts in God’s Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16, 36; 5:24). Did God create hell?

If Christ took away the sins of the whole world (and I assume you believe that this means every person who has ever lived), then how can hell be a just punishment?

Dr Bruce Atkinson · Jun 28, 2017

jimmyjimmy said:
We hear it often. Many of us say it often, but is it true?

Can we rightly tell any person: God loves *you* unconditionally?

We must balance John 3:16 and 1 John 4:8 (God is love) with Romans 9. You see, God already knows who will believe and be saved (the Elect) and who will not. Salvation is offered to all freely, but the conditions required to receive this salvation are repentance and faith in Christ. So God loves everyone enough to die on the cross as Jesus for our salvation (it is sufficient for all), but we still have the choice to refuse that salvation.

marineimaging · Jun 28, 2017

Aren't many of us mixing up God's love with forgiveness and salvation? God will mourn as you face the judgement and your name is not found in the Lambs Book of Life. His "love" is unconditional, but hell isn't. Your choice.

Bruce Carr · Jun 28, 2017

Prov 6:16
Psalm 11:5; 81:15
Zech 8:17
Deut 30:7
Jerem 44:4
Hosea 9:15
Mtw 7:21-23

Bruce Carr · Jun 28, 2017

Hammster said:
Then how is it loving to send people to hell?

How is it righteous to let any one of us wretches into heaven

jimmyjimmy · Jun 28, 2017

Apparently, some people think that God is Mr Rogers.

Jimbo Hall · Jun 28, 2017

The wicked and the one that loves violence His (God) soul hates.
He also hates all workers of iniquity.

Hammster · Jun 28, 2017

Bruce Carr said:
How is it righteous to let any one of us wretches into heaven

That, sir, is the better question.

Apex · Jun 28, 2017

Hammster said:
I know that. But what did that accomplish?

Don't have much time, but this article covers it fairly well. Why did Jesus have to die?

RisenInJesus · Jun 29, 2017

Hammster said:
If Christ took away the sins of the whole world (and I assume you believe that this means every person who has ever lived), then how can hell be a just punishment?

The Holy Spirit is at work in the world convicting the unsaved concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). If a person resists that conviction and remains unrepentant then there is no pardon for one who dies rejecting Christ's payment for their sins.

Wordkeeper · Jun 29, 2017

God's love isn't unconditional like the love of a parent for a child, where the child will not be forced out of the family if he is rebellious or even hates the parent. Every means will be used to correct the child, the parent never gives up hope. He may even be a criminal, but he is still their child.

God's love is unconditional in that He provides the remedy for men, did not destroy the species:

Romans 5:8But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

However, if after making aware through nature or preaching the need to turn to God for deliverance, men do not respond, God has no option but to allow them to perish.

Quote
“There are only two kinds of people in the end: those who say to God, "Thy will be done," and those to whom God says, in the end, "Thy will be done."

C.S. Lewis.

RisenInJesus · Jun 29, 2017

Hammster said:
They were born of the will of God because it was His will. They weren't born of Him, as it appears you are insinuating, because they did something good.

I'm not saying people are born of God because "they did something good". They are born again because they RECEIVED HIM (JESUS) and it is God's will to give them the right to become children of God. That is what the scripture says.
He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:11-13

Haipule · Jun 29, 2017

jimmyjimmy said:
We hear it often. Many of us say it often, but is it true?

Can we rightly tell any person: God loves *you* unconditionally?

The other side of the theological coin is--is love "impersonal"?

Yet, how can sharing God's love with others be "impersonal?"

Understanding God's strength in love is, "love is patient, love is strong, doesn't consider a wrong suffered, endures, hopes", etc. Are these not the greatest leadership skills ever written? Don't we all wish our bosses realized this? Will that make us all good bosses given the opportunity to shine?

Yet, the single most greatest reason, and highest motivation to accept God's challenge to share His love, which love is given us in the God-Breathed Scriptures, the challenge to share that love He shares with us with others is...RICIPRICATION!

To have all that love given right back at you by people whom desire to share that same love with you!

HEAVEN ON EARTH! Far beyond words!

Ph413 · Jun 29, 2017

Here is how stuff goes. God's love is UNCONDITIONAL and there is no other way around it.

Now, I will quote gotquestions.org here, since its one of the best Christian websites for this type of questions:

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 words, God loves because it His nature to love (1 John 4:8), and that love moves Him toward benevolent action. The unconditional nature of God’s love is most clearly seen in the gospel. The gospel message is basically a story of divine rescue. As God considers the plight of His rebellious people, He determines to save them from their sin, and this determination is based on His love (Ephesians 1:4-5). Listen to the Apostle Paul’s words from his letter to the Romans:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Now, I don't want to copy entire post here, so I will just link so you can read that on their website: Is God's love conditional or unconditional?

Haipule · Jun 29, 2017

Another thing not generally understood is the Hebrew word ahab(pronounced ahav) which means: to breath after, to desire passionately.

When the Newer Covenant Scripture says, "Love God with all your..." it is a Hebrew to Greek quote of the OT where ahab was used, translated by the writer of the NT Scripture as agapE. Then men tell us what agapE means completely ignoring the writers intent.

Back to the OT which is translated, "Love Wisdom": shall I unconditionally and impersonally love Wisdom? Or, shall I breath after and desire it passionately?

Haipule · Jun 29, 2017

Ph413 said:
Here is how stuff goes. God's love is UNCONDITIONAL and there is no other way around it.

Now, I will quote gotquestions.org here, since its one of the best Christian websites for this type of questions:

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 words, God loves because it His nature to love (1 John 4:8), and that love moves Him toward benevolent action. The unconditional nature of God’s love is most clearly seen in the gospel. The gospel message is basically a story of divine rescue. As God considers the plight of His rebellious people, He determines to save them from their sin, and this determination is based on His love (Ephesians 1:4-5). Listen to the Apostle Paul’s words from his letter to the Romans:
“You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

Now, I don't want to copy entire post here, so I will just link so you can read that on their website: Is God's love conditional or unconditional?

Did John the Apostle say, "Do not love the world, nor the things of the world". Is that not an imperative mood of command condition straight from the breath of God? Is it conditional? Is the "Apostle of Love" somehow mistaken? The one who wrote, "God, [the character and nature]of-agapE-love, He-is". Is John more apt to tell me the truth about God's love then a theological hand-out written by clueless men whom never met Jesus?

Hammster · Jun 29, 2017

Apex said:
Don't have much time, but this article covers it fairly well. Why did Jesus have to die?

I want to know what you think. It's a discussion, not a reading room. ^_^

Hammster · Jun 29, 2017

RisenInJesus said:
The Holy Spirit is at work in the world convicting the unsaved concerning sin, righteousness, and judgment (John 16:8). If a person resists that conviction and remains unrepentant then there is no pardon for one who dies rejecting Christ's payment for their sins.

But what sin are they punished for? Hasn't Christ paid for their sins, even the sin of rejecting Christ?

Does God Love Everyone, "Unconditionally"?

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