Unconditional Love, Conditional Salvation


It is true that God loves man unconditionally. Many passages of Scripture support this. One of these is Romans 5:6-8. It talks about God sending his Son, Jesus Christ, to die for the ungodly. It also confirms that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. But many people are confused about God's love and God's requirements for mankind's salvation, because they ask: "If God love for mankind is unconditional, then why will he judge us? If he loves us so much, why then will people go to Hell? Surely a God who loves mankind will not do this!" This shows a basic misunderstanding of the two key aspects of Christianity: God's love and Salvation. Although it is true that God love for mankind is unconditional, it is also true that salvation is conditional. Salvation is heavily conditional on the requirements laid down in the New Testament for us to be saved.

1.      Hearing the Gospel of Salvation and believing that Jesus is the Messiah

2.      Understanding the consequences and wages of sin

3.      Genuine repentance for the wrong and sin we committed and wishing to turn to God for forgiveness

4.      Being baptized for the forgiveness of our sin and to receive God's Holy Spirit as a comforter and guide

5.      Continuing to grow, live and mature as a Christian and committing our lives to God's service

Let us look at the conditions for salvation as recorded in Acts 2:14-41. It records how the Jews heard the Gospel message through Peter, how they believed and understood it (faith), how they were cut to the heart (showed sorrow for their sins), how Peter instructed them to repent (to turn away from sin) and be baptized (immersed) in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. And then they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. And he further warned them to save themselves (salvation) from that corrupt generation. Then they accepted his message and were baptized.

So it is a Scriptural fact that God loves mankind unconditionally. But to receive the promised salvation he offers through his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, mankind must follow all of the conditions God set down in his Word for salvation. If we don't follow all of God's conditions for salvation, including baptism, our salvation is at risk. Our Lord himself commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." So if our Lord commands that his disciples must be baptized, then we must be sure to obey him on this essential condition of salvation.

 

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