Understanding God's Love – Part 9

Review Questions

Here are three review questions just to see if we are on the same page. . .

Question #1 – Does God love everyone in exactly the same way? Yes/No?

If we consider the five objects of God's love already mentioned, we would answer this way . . .

Yes, God loves everyone in exactly the same way when it comes to His providential love for His creation (see part 4), and yes, God loves everyone in exactly the same way when it comes to His passionate love for the world (see part 5). In other words, God shows His love for everyone by providing His common grace to both believers and unbelievers, and God shows His love through Christ's death at Calvary which was sufficient to pay for the sins of everyone who has ever lived.

But, no it is not true that God loves everyone in exactly the same way when it comes to His particular love for His chosen saints (see part 6). God chose some to be saved and therefore they experience His particular love in a way others do not. In the same way that we select a spouse for marriage, Christ also has selected a bride for Himself.

Question #2 – Is God's love always unconditional? Yes/No?

Yes, God loves unconditionally when it comes to His particular love for His elect saints (see part 6). There was nothing in and of ourselves that was worthy of God's love. He loved us unconditionally, chose us while we were yet sinners to be His forever, and placed no demands on us in order to secure His forgiveness.

But, no it is not true that God loves unconditionally when it comes to His provisional love for those who disobey Him (see part 7). If we want to experience the full blessing and expression of God's love on a daily basis then we ought to obey His commandments. By living according to His Word, we confirm in our own consciences that we belong to God, and thereby we abide in His love.

Question #3 – Can God's love be earned? Yes/No?

Yes, God's love can be earned when it comes to His provisional love for those who obey Him (see part 7). In fact, Christians are commanded to keep themselves in God's love (Jude 21).

But, it is impossible to earn God's love when it comes to His passionate love for the world (see part 5) and His particular love for His chosen saints (see part 6). In these categories, if God's love could be earned, our salvation would be based on our own effort. Any kind of works-based gospel flies in the face of Ephesians 2:8-9 which declares, "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, that no one should boast."

As you can see, the answers to these questions are not easy. We cannot afford to reduce our responses down to dogmatic "yes/no" answers.

What then should be our response to these tensions in God's love? I will answer that question in a final post tomorrow.