Is God's Love Unconditional?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tammy on October 7, 2013 at 2:12pm

ROFL

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Permalink Reply by Colby on October 6, 2013 at 8:06pm

Bev,

Thanks for posting a response.  As 1 John 4:10 states: "This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins."  You stated that God doesn't place conditions on our love, though "there are many ifs in the Bible."  I see that too.  John 14:15 is a good example.  Jesus says, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."  Notice he doesn't say, "If you keep my commandments, I will love you."  Thanks again.

Colby

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Permalink Reply by Grazer #E2H on October 8, 2013 at 1:00am

If Jesus died for us even though we were his enemy, and there is nothing I can do to earn his love, that makes it an absolute and unequivocal YES for me :)

 

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Permalink Reply by Colby on October 8, 2013 at 12:29pm

Graham,

        Is God's love unconditional?  Your answer: "An absolute and unequivocal YES for me," but wait.  Your one sentence answer begins with the word "if" -- a conditional clause.  "If Jesus died for us ... ."  This qualifies or conditions everything that follows.  For example, I could say: "If I had wings, then absolutely and unequivocally yes--I could fly."  

        I'm curious why you used "if."  Removing it would leave no doubt your answer is an absolute and unequivocal yes.  Leaving it in leaves a lot of wiggle room or uncertainty, which is fine but only if that was your intention.  Would you, therefore, be comfortable removing the "if?"  Why or why not?

Colby

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Permalink Reply by Grazer #E2H on October 9, 2013 at 4:06am

Hi Colby :)

I laid it out like a logical/philosophical argument by laying out my 2 premises. If premise A and premise B are true, C must be true. But I know there are those who disagree with either premise or indeed both premises. From my view A & B are both correct, I have no doubts on that :)

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Permalink Reply by Colby on October 9, 2013 at 11:29pm

Graham,

Yes, that's what I had supposed, recalling a class I completed as a university student, "The Philosophy of Religion."  From what I learned, I recognized your statement (as constructed) a conditional hypothetical proposition.  

• "It is hypothetical  when it states something not absolutely, but with the proviso that something else be verified; as, 'If you love me, you are my disciple'" (Louis de Poissy).  You wrote:
  
  
• "If Jesus died for us even though we were his enemy, and there is nothing I can do to earn his love, that makes it an absolute and unequivocal YES for me :)"

But, by making one change (shown below), you can state this as an argument.

• "Because [If] Jesus died for us even though we were his enemy, and there is nothing I can do to earn his love, that makes it an absolute and unequivocal YES for me :)

 

Both statements convey the same ideas; however, the second is an argument and the first isn't.  In the first we are given an "if"-then conditional.  It's not asking us to make any inferences from any premises because it's not being claimed that first premise, "Jesus died for our sins," is true.  It's presented, but not asserted as a factual claim.  Everything that follows hangs on the "if" condition. 

 

The second statement, beginning with "because" instead of "if" is stronger.  Premises A & B are asserted as facts.  It clearly infers--and those evaluating it are asked to accept this inference--that Jesus died for our sins .  Since you believe that premises A & B are undoubtedly true, removing the conditional "if" more closely aligns with your thinking.

 

Thanks again, for contributing your thoughts and for stating your position as a logical/ philosophical argument that invites further consideration.

 

Colby

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Permalink Reply by Kristie Jamison on February 17, 2014 at 7:47pm

I hope that it is  i know God is Love and i never want to be apart from God ever  Christian people are my family

 

 

 

 

 

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