John 4: 7-21 talks about God's love for us - "This is love; not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins." But are there strings attached?
Atheists are welcome to comment - just try to PRETEND there is a Creator God. Get into the "spirit" of the thing (lol) and share your views with us. Everyone is welcome.
2007-08-18 00:27:34 · 29 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
The promise of God's love is stated in John 3:16 - 'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.' This promise extends to everyone. 'But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.' (Romans 5:8) We are all sinners, therefore this promise is all-inclusive. Also, in 1 John 4:19 we are told 'We love because he first loved us.' More tomorrow.
2007-08-19 08:36:45 · update #1
1 Corinthians 15: 22 says "For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive." Some religions take this to mean that EVERYONE will be saved. However, that is not the case. Galatians 3: 22 makes it clear that "all" refers to those who have put their faith in Christ in this life. "But the scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise of faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." So, the bottom line is that while Christ died for everyone, thereby demonstrating God's love for us, there is a condition - faith in Jesus Christ.
2007-08-21 05:58:02 · update #2
Unsurprisingly, we answer such Qs from our own point of view and perspective. And we are recalcitrant little children! Look how many of us kick our heels and rage at the very idea that a loving heavenly Father might punish us!
Well, love still exists even though punishment is meted out for rebellion or disobedient acts. Just ask any parent. Love sometimes has to be tough. God disciplines his children BECAUSE he loves them! If God didn't care, he would abandon us, as a father who walks out on his dependents does.
So, atheists who protest at the idea of hell might need to reflect on the biblical view that hell is not an option - ALL of us would end up there except for God's amazing love. None of us can avoid it, no matter what we try to do to avoid it. Not even 'choosing' God and trying to be obedient to him can save us from hell, because that would mean we had contributed towards our salvation, which is what God is at pains to tell us is the very thing legging us down! (And as our 'choice' for God would be selfish, and as we would still disobey God in some respects, no matter how hard we tried, we'd still end up in hell.)
The wonder of the scripture quoted is that - despite our churlishness - God still loves us, and has done absolutely everything necessary to bring us 'home', instead of just allowing us to go to hell. Believe, and live.
2007-08-20 00:07:08 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
No major faith truly claims God's love is unconditional; in each case certain conditions have to be fulfilled before God's love is given, and these may be based on race, society, heredity, chronology, family, or personal conduct. If you do not comply "bad things" must happen to you, usually in a nebulous afterlife outwith any demonstrable action by the offended One.
If God's love were unconditional, religions would lose potency and purpose because they would be ineffective as an instrument of social control, or to buttress authority.
This does not necessarily mean people are wrong to search for spiritual meaning, just that organised religions are historical, political power bases and distort beyond recognition any spiritual value they may contain.
Forget the Bible, the Qu'ran, the Torah... if the Supreme Being depicted in any of those really is running the show, then personally I'd rather avoid eternity with the spiteful, vain, incohate, arrogant, prejudiced, racist, small-minded One.
2007-08-18 07:48:03 · answer #2 · answered by Tyler's Mate 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Okay, assuming there is a God *and* the Bible is right about everything-- apparently it's not unconditional love. (Who knows, maybe there's a God, but the Bible is completely wrong)
Consider that if we deny God, He would send us to Hell. So that's not unconditional, there are strings attatched. You have to do certain things for Him or the love is lost.
But no matter how many times we kick the family dog, he'll still come back to us. That is unconditional love-- no matter how much pain there is, no matter how many times he's shunned, he still loves us. (However if anyone kicks a dog I'll hunt them down...it's just a phrase to prove a point)
So no, if the Bible is right, it's not unconditional. Strange.
Agnostic.
2007-08-18 07:34:42 · answer #3 · answered by mathaowny 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Well, clearly not. Lot's wife is turned to a pillar of salt. Does't sound VERY unconditional. Plus, we're led to believe that sin in our lives will be rewarded with a long stay in a hot place.
But then should we be surprised. The Bible is a collection of documents written by different people who seemingly never spoke to each other. Hence 'Thall shalt not take revenge..' and 'and eye for an eye'.
2007-08-18 07:36:27 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Yes, His Love is unconditional.
I thank God for sending Jesus to die for my sin, to pay the debt that I and anybody (human) can't ever pay!
I would love to make clear two things!
1. God does not SEND people to hell. He created you and gave you the greatest gift of all - free choice! The gift of salvation through Jesus is free! Make a good choice and go to heaven then! :)
2. PEOPLE don't go to hell. Sinners do! Ready to be forgiven, friends? :)
Bless you!
2007-08-18 08:10:43 · answer #5 · answered by bella 1 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, - 2 Timothy 1:9.
2007-08-18 11:28:32 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I'm no good at pretending nor is my imagination too good when it comes to visualising InvisibleSkyChappies.
I don't know why you're posing this question.
Even as an Atheist I know that the InvisibleSkyPixie watches everything y'all do, think and say, 24/7 like a SuperPeepingTom, as he reputedly whispers in your ears: You'd better Love me, Suck up to me and be MyBïtch, 24/7 or I'll send you to hell.
That sure sounds like conditions to me.
2007-08-18 07:54:16 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
I myself have questioned this because if there is unconditional love then why is there a hell option? he would send the ones he loves into eternal damnation in a lake of fire?! geez I'm sorry but I am somewhat of a Christian and I STILL don't like that! why would u make your loved ones suffer?! to get kicks from it?!
2007-08-18 07:34:12 · answer #8 · answered by Lazarus B 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
In principal, it should be, because he is the creator of all beings.
But if you listen to the churches, God's love is conditional. You have to believe 1.him, 2.the system of belief of the church you have chosen.
2007-08-18 07:54:40 · answer #9 · answered by Totally Blunt 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Religions made from the text of events lead to "the Bible" with it's literal interpretations and this was not intended.
Jesus was not sent by anyone as a Sacrafice of atonement; Consider that Jesus was a symbolic icon of Truth. In short, Consider that Jesus represented "Gods" intent for all of us. Jesus aften said " he whom believe in me have everlasting life and that no man may come to the father but by through me"; the Literal interpretation was to creat a Religion and place "Jesus" on a pedistal "above the rest" and in short: "you follow this religion or else"......Not. Jesus , as symbolic of truth, was saying, do as I do, drop the hate, turn the cheek, forgive....as "I" represent TRUTH and in this you shall find "God" as I have. He was giving Everyone a formula for his success in finding "God" as man; again, in short, Jesus talked the talk and walked the walk as he came to earth time and AGIAIN as man; he was never "son of "God" in His beggining, he was just like You, yet, he took the long road to find " God" as you and I must.
Jesus took it upon himself to encarnate and reincarnate time and again to reach his level of spirituality; Jesus took the same Path we each take and Jesus is proof of "Gods" intent; despite anything Jesus may have done in the hundreds of lives he lived (Budha ect) he was never lost.
Musch of the literal interpretations of the "Christian Bible" are Very Distorted; reading Revelations one might think, in Literal terms, there is a "Devil"...a hell...and so on; this language is Spiritually symbolic in Nature.
Is it a mere coincidence that the 12 Apostles, Israels 12 and 12 again is mentioned Many-Many times in the Bible? Nope, the message is pressed Hard ...there are 12 primary personalities of MAN, this is shown in the ZODIAC; this is a clue.
If many think there is a BIBLE CODE the code is common sense and written in a language INTENT on "spelling it out" for those who would certainly argue it's menaing or intent.
Rather than argue issues, it appears most simply "take it literally" as pulpet pounders preach it; it makes more money that way and steers clear of the TRUTH intended.
And yes, God loves ALL unconditionally; even Hitler, Saddan Hussien and so forth as each made mistakes time and again in life times uncounted; again, ALL take the same path.
This is what pulpet pounders hate to hear as they feel "above the rest"...
2007-08-18 11:38:18 · answer #10 · answered by Adonai 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋