Another week, another question to answer: "Is God's love unconditional?"
The Christian Message?
Well, it's a common thing that Christians say nowadays. In fact, it's so common that a lot of people actually start to think this is something quoted right out of the Bible. And I admit, naging bukang-bibig ko din ito in the past. And yes, I was one of them that thought this is a statement that is derived from Scriptures–'yon ay bago ko natutunan yung specifics ng Christian faith.
PAUSE! Note that this article is not about common grace na available to all, but saving grace. Let's not confuse categories here. Hehehe.
Ang sarap naman kasing pakinggan at isipin na love ako ni Lord unconditionally: na no matter how bad and inconsistent I am, eh love pa rin ako ni Lord; na no matter how much we have failed Him, his love is never failing and He is always there to accept me and forgive me. Ah! The comfort of God's love. Isn't this a nice thought?
I say it is indeed a very nice thought. And it's really a good thing for us who trusts in Christ knowing nga na we have all fallen short of God's glory because of sin. Na talagang grace na lang ni Lord yung ma-reconcile tayo pabalik sa Kanya through Jesus. In His perfect love, He has shown us mercy and have washed us clean of our sins by His blood and declared us justified and righteous before Him.
That's a nice thought, but only if we understand it correctly. It's a dangerous thought kung ina-assume lang natin sya na it is for us even without legitimate faith in Jesus Christ, our Savior. One thing we must remember in discussing this is: God's love saves.
Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
A False Christ
Before we get to the main discussion, I just want to point out na madaming Kristiyano ang may maling idea about Jesus Christ. Some believe na si Christ is parang maamong tupa na hindi marunong magalit, at palagi lang Siyang nakaabang sa iyo, kumakatok sa pintuan ng puso mo at nagsasabing, "anak, papasukin mo ako... nandito lang ako para sa'yo."
I don't know how people got this image of Christ. But it's definitely wrong! And it's just sad na they commonly attribute yung 'unconditional love' ni God sa ganitong imagery ni Hesus. Maybe dahil sa unbiblical at maling interpretation ng Revelation 3:20? IDK. Saan ba galing yung idea na 'yan kasi na parang hahabul-habulin tayo ni Christ kasi love Nya tayo, like as if okay lang sa Kanya ang kasalanan? Like as if utang na loob Nya pang habul-habulin tayo after the rebellion we have done!
I hate to break it to you, pero this is utterly unbiblical. Yes, Christ is the Lamb of God (John 1:29), pero we must never forget that this Lamb also has wrath (Revelation 6:16). Christ is King of kings and Lord of lords (Revelation 19:16)! The Christ of the Bible is a holy and righteous Judge (Acts 17:30-31) that commands people all over the world to repent and return to God lest we perish (Psalm 2:12) and be eternally punished (2 Thessalonians 1:9).
Kung yung Christ na alam natin is yung Christ na walang wrath for sin and sinners, we have a Christ who is not holy, a Christ that is compromising to sin. That Christ is an idol and that Christ cannot save.
Universal Atonement
This popular belief of God having unconditional love is common within those churches that believe that God would save all of mankind through Jesus Christ's atoning work sa cross. This is called universal atonement.
In universal atonement, all sinful souls will ultimately get reconciled with God because His love is just so unconditional that it saves all of mankind. They view yung salvation ni God to be for everyone, but say that is not certain for all. Basically, it means that man's salvation is dependent sa 'free will' ng man: if we accept the reconcilition and atonement offered by Christ or not. Those who reject the salvation offered through Christ will be damned to hell.
Therefore, if this is true, then the saving work of God becomes incompetent to save those who reject their salvation. Hindi Sya mighty enough to save like the Bible says (Zephaniah 3:17). And yung power and will ni God to save is inferior sa power and will ng man, na hindi makakapag-save si God kung hindi ia-allow ng man.
If this is true, then bakit kailangan pang pagbayaran ng taong nag-reject sa salvation ni Christ yung sins nya sa impyerno kung paid na ni Christ lahat ng iyon beforehand sa cross including unbelief?
To me, this view is just inconsistent.
There's also another variant of this which is Christian universalism. It's almost identical sa universal atonement, pero dito, they believe that all, as in lahat, will be saved–even yung mga walang faith kay Jesus.
If this view is true, then it means that God is not holy for He pardons the sins of those who do not submit themselves to the God-given na atonement for sin, that is His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ.
Limited Atonement
Me, I personally believe in limited atonement or yung tinatawag ng ilan na particular redemption. This means that the Father loves those whom He has elected (Romans 9:25) and has predestined for salvation (Romans 8:28-30) from before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), and that He loves them only through Jesus Christ (John 14:21) who atoned for their sins and nothing else (John 3:36). Christ specifically died for the sheep, not the goats (John 10:11).
This view limits the atonement only to the elect people of God, pero dito, God's salvation is sure sa mga elect (John 10:28). God's elect are given a new heart that loves and obeys Him (Ezekiel 36:26-27), granted repentance (Acts 11:18), given faith in Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9), given the Holy Spirit for their sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13, Titus 3:5), and are made to persevere in faith (Jude 1:24).
If this is true, then we (the elect) have salvation that depends only in God's work, power, and will. If this is true, then this means na may mga taong hindi elect and are, therefore, not predestined for salvation–hence, may mga taong hindi talaga magrerepent and magtitiwala kay Christ despite hearing the gospel. Instead, they would live out their rebellion and hatred towards God and they shall eventually reap what they have sown (Galatians 6:7) and suffer sa wrath ni God (John 3:18).
Sounds unfair? Kung fairness ang pag-uusapan, walang mase-save. This is grace. It's a wonderful thought that the Lord even saves one soul after the cosmic treason that all of mankind did against his Creator. What we all deserve is yung wrath ni God for we are all guilty of sin and are therefore unworthy of God (Romans 3:23). But God being rich in mercy and love elected some for salvation, even though we are undeserving (Romans 5:8, Romans 9:22-24). Thus, the gospel is called 'good news'.
This view simply magnifies God and shows man as dependent sa grace ni God, na wala syang maipagmamalaki before God na ginawa Nya to be saved. I simply refuse to believe any other gospel that magnifies man above God. That is distortion to the true gospel.
Conditional Love
This is one tough pill to swallow. Yes, God's love is sacrificial, perfect, great, true, faithful, it transcends to the unbelievers through the good works of the saints–but unconditional? Nope. Christ loves His own, the Father's elect, His saints, His church; and God's sweet saving love is theirs. To the non-elect, reprobate, impenitent, rebellious, and wicked at heart, He is merciful and gracious to them kaya buhay pa rin sila ngayon (Matthew 5:45). But time will come na they will suffer the wrath of the Holy One (Acts 17:30-31).
The Word of God is clear na may condition si God for a person to be saved: we must have faith in Christ alone (John 14:6, Romans 10:9, Hebrews 11:6), where the Father must elect us for salvation to have saving faith for us to be Christ's (John 6:37, Matthew 7:21-23). Hindi natin pwedeng i-reject yung election ng Father dahil yung mga elect ang siyang inheritance ni Christ (John 10:29). Sadyang masyadong malaki yung kailangang i-manipulate para lang mai-pilit yung idea na walang condition si God for His love.
One may argue na, "unconditional yung love ni God kasi He chose to love us and die for us while we are still sinners". That's true for the most part. But this statement fails to make clear kung sino yung "us" doon sa statement na subject ng death ni Christ sa cross: lahat ba ng tao or yung elect lang ng Father? Babalik na naman tayo sa discussion ng limited atonement vs. universal atonement dito.
God indeed has loved us greatly that He was willing to look past our sins (Romans 4:7) and declare us justified and adopt us as His children (1 John 3:1). He loved us that He sacrificed His Son to atone for our sins (John 3:16) once and for all. Pero hindi ibig sabihin no'n na tinanggap lang tayo ng Panginoon for the fallen people that we are. The hope of every believer is yung matransform sila sa image ng Son (Romans 8:29). There's this radical change na would be evident in us. Yung dating sinner na nage-enjoy sa kasalanan would hate sin. Yung dating hostile sa Panginoon will love Him. Yung dating nao-offend sa correction and Law-Word ng Panginoon, would humble himself sa authority ni Christ. God loved us, pero He did not abandon His holiness and compromise for the sake of love.
Yes, the cross happened because of God's love for us; and definitely, love yung nasa likod ng salvation plan ni God from even before the foundation of the world. However, Christ did not die sa cross para i-reconcile tayo sa Diyos by justifying yung imperfect and failing na righteousness ng man before God. We are justified because He is our righteousness. He died there to pay for our sins. He paid the price na dapat tayo ang magpe-pay.
Christ's sacrifice was made to satisfy yung wrath ng Father towards us. The Father is the object of Christ's act of propitiation. At the same time, namatay Sya para i-reconcile ang Diyos sa atin. Hindi lang yun one-sided like as if hindi hostile ang Diyos sa atin, na tayo lang ang hostile sa Diyos tapos ever since eh naka-abang lang si Lord for us to return with open arms.
Therefore, walang ibang way for us to be reconciled to God but Christ. Those who reject Christ remain at enmity with God and remain as objects of God's wrath and abhorrence (John 3:36). Walang special pass. Walang special treatment dahil may charity tayo, or dahil supportive tayo sa friends natin, or dahil "mabuti tayong tao" according sa standards natin or ng mga tao around us. Sa standard ng Panginoon, we all have failed to hit the mark (Psalm 14:1). Walang hope ang soul natin but si Christ (Galatians 3:22).
We must be aware din that God does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked (Ezekiel 33:11). He desires that all men would repent (2 Peter 3:9). Thus the Bible tells us:
As it is said, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.”
Hebrews 3:15
Repent and believe the gospel! God bless you, beloved friends.
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