God's love--unconditional?

God will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

Does God love you deeply and wholeheartedly? Yes, absolutely. Does God love you unconditionally? That answer is not so simple.

The love that God has for you in His heart is unconditional. Romans chapter five says, God demonstrates his love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Jesus died for everyone, no matter how evil or misguided they are; through Him, God’s love reaches out to everyone. But not everyone accepts God’s love as it is expressed through Christ. This causes a problem, because God only forgives those sinners who believe that His Son died for them. Jesus said, 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…Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son (John 3:16, 18). Peter adds, Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name given from heaven to mankind which guarantees our salvation (Acts 4:12). And John writes, No one who denies the Son has the Father; whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also (1 John 2:23). Although God feels love for everyone, only those who believe in Jesus get the benefit of God’s love.

And while it is not a condition for salvation, God does expect us to change how we live as a result of following His Son. In Mark 1:15 Jesus told His followers to do two things: Repent and believe the good news! To repent is to admit that you have been wrong and need to change. Paul writes in Ephesians chapter 4, throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Although God loves us as we are, He wants something better for us, a life that is not hurt or degraded by the corrupting ways of sin.

God loves us deeply and wholeheartedly. He loves us despite our faults. But we cannot experience His loving embrace unless we trust in Jesus, reject our love for sin, and let the Savior guide us in the ways of righteous living. Only Jesus leads to heaven; if we refuse His help and direction, we won’t be welcomed into God’s eternal home.