I came across this piece by John Hendryx at Monergism Books and instantly decided to copy it here and add some comments.
"The Bible teaches that God's love is unconditional for his children. In the view of some God will only love someone if they first do something for him - meet a condition. But the love of God in the Bible is that he first loved us, in spite of our disobedience. While we were still sinners Christ died for us. While we were dead in sin, Christ made us alive (Eph 2:5)
As an everyday example,some think the kind of love God has is like a parent whose toddler runs into the street. The parent stands at the curbside waiting and calling to the toddler to get out of the way of oncoming traffic but will do nothing more for the child if he does not first use his free will to obey the parent. What kind of love is that? Love is when a parent sees his child in trouble, and yes he calls out, but he also drops everything, runs out in the street at the risk of his/her life, scoops up the child and makes certain he is safe. That kind of love gets the job done. The child was disobedient but the parent did not care what the will of the child was at the time. He loved him too much to leave him to himself and the parent knows better then the child what is good for him. He "violated" the childs will BECAUSE he loved him. He would be dead otherwise.
Jesus taught that some don't believe because they are not his sheep, children of the devil. (John 8 & 10) But to those Christ came to save, he does not merely leave them to their own devices. He does not "help those who help themselves." No, he helps those who are unable to help themselves. God has conditions yes, but Christ meets the conditions for us. We love God because He first loved us. That is love.."
As an everyday example,some think the kind of love God has is like a parent whose toddler runs into the street. The parent stands at the curbside waiting and calling to the toddler to get out of the way of oncoming traffic but will do nothing more for the child if he does not first use his free will to obey the parent. What kind of love is that? Love is when a parent sees his child in trouble, and yes he calls out, but he also drops everything, runs out in the street at the risk of his/her life, scoops up the child and makes certain he is safe. That kind of love gets the job done. The child was disobedient but the parent did not care what the will of the child was at the time. He loved him too much to leave him to himself and the parent knows better then the child what is good for him. He "violated" the childs will BECAUSE he loved him. He would be dead otherwise.
Jesus taught that some don't believe because they are not his sheep, children of the devil. (John 8 & 10) But to those Christ came to save, he does not merely leave them to their own devices. He does not "help those who help themselves." No, he helps those who are unable to help themselves. God has conditions yes, but Christ meets the conditions for us. We love God because He first loved us. That is love.."
Tue, 08/19/2014 - 09:53 -- john_hendryx
Now some may have no problem with these thoughts as they stand, but if we were to apply this reality more specifically or overtly to salvation there will be objections.
What would the nature of these objections look like? Probably the most obvious would be: If God loves us absolutely independently of our choices, and even despite our bad ones, then what need have we to choose Christ? If God loves us unconditionally then what necessity is there for faith? If God loves us even as evil beings why should we be required to do good?
Indeed these objections have already been anticipated by St. Paul. Why else would he have written:
"And some people even slander us by claiming that we say, "The more we sin, the better it is!" Those who say such things deserve to be condemned." Romans 3:8If God's unmerited grace is more manifested by sinners that are saved even while they yet remain in their sins and even so- still remain in God's love- then the more we sin- the more we manifest God's goodness according to this way of thinking. Clearly that cannot be says Paul, it is slanderous to conclude that we have ever taught this he says.
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