The Unconditional Love of God (pt. 2)

“God loves you unconditionally” is one of the most common phrases and ideas to circulate in modern American Christianity. What is the biblical foundation and understanding of this popular phrase?

What we will look at for the next several minutes falls in line with last week’s post which I would encourage you to checkout. This topic of God’s love will continue to be given biblical explanation but first lets quickly see how we got here.

I began this blog as a way of personally taking a journey of revisiting theology I wrestled with in my 20’s (and continue to wrangle). In my late teens and early 20’s the doctrine of salvation (soteriology) was first to be considered. That is why every post thus far in some form or fashion has been addressing God’s work to rescue sinners (doctrine of salvation). I have used the modern acronym T.U.L.I.P. as an outline for the posts. Today we continue to discuss the “U” (unconditional election) and see how it is so closely intertwined with God’s “unconditional love” in the Bible.

Quick History Lesson

Let’s do a quick word association game: What comes to mind when you see T.U.L.I.P? Bad doctrine? Controversy? Calvinism? False? Grateful? Reformation? By any chance did God’s grace come to mind? I ask because the teachings represented in T.U.L.I.P. have historically been called “The Doctrines of Grace”. The concepts of Total Depravity, Unconditional Election, Limited Atonement, Irresistible Grace, and Perseverance of the Saints have been held up by brethren, pastors, and scholars to exemplify and magnify God’s grace. It is only because of God’s grace that a person is the object of God’s unconditional love. This is why we are learning of God’s unconditional love while we observe T.U.L.I.P., specifically Unconditional Election.

Back to Romans 8:29-30

For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

Romans 8:29-30

Based on what we saw last week we can rightly understand the word “foreknew” to be speaking of God’s action toward individuals. Romans 8:29 could be perceived in the following way: Because those whom he previously set his delight and affection on he also predestined. The first few words of this passage speak of the eternal and fixed love of God upon his people. It is truly unconditional. Out of that love comes a series of actions by God acted out upon persons (“those”). Because I want to bring this discussion to an end in this post and not carry on to a “part three” we will only discuss this phrase:

he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers

Romans 8:29

In later posts to come we will revisit this passage (i.e. T.U.L.I.P.’s Irresistible Grace OR the ordo salutis [order of salvation]). For now though let us look at the hot topic word predestination.

Have you ever heard someone say: I don’t believe in predestination. A good answer to give, with gentleness, is: Yes you do because it is in the Bible. Then follow up with: The question is: What do you believe regarding what the Bible says about predestination?

Let’s take a look:

1. Predestine defined: to predetermine, foreordain, decide beforehand. The context around this word tells us what God is deciding beforehand. It is which regards to salvation, giving grace, redeeming, adopting; therefore, it is also labelled election at times because in this passage we are reading of God’s work to predetermine things for the eternal benefit of his people.
2. Predestination: A Quick Word on Bible Study. When studying any doctrine in scripture the best texts are the long texts in which the particular doctrine is explained in much detail (i.e. Love go to 1 Corinthians 13; Resurrection go to 1 Corinthians 15; Faith Hebrews 11). Although the approach is a little different in Romans 8:29-30 (and Eph. 1 see below) this is one of the most detailed texts of God’s work to rescue humanity (see also Titus 2:11-14; 3:3-7). For a coherent and straightforward text on the place of predestination in the work of God to redeem give time and effort to Romans 8:29-30.

The place of predestination in God’s work is seen as the first act spoken of as an outflow of his unconditional love. The purpose of that act was to “conform [“those”]…to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers…” Here we have the purpose of predestination in working out God’s love for his chosen ones: adoption. No, the word adoption is not written here, but the concept is clear in the above phrase. Adoption in scripture is one of the great displays of God’s work to show his love:

• Romans 8:15, “For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 
• Galatians 4:4-6, “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, “Abba! Father!”

The redeeming death of Christ shows us the love of God toward us by making a way to adopt us into his family. The other passage I mentioned that fleshes out election is Ephesians 1. Let’s take a look!

Election Spelled Out in Ephesians 1

To be clear, giving attention to Ephesians 1 could more than double the length of the blog as it is. I do not wish to do that, so we over view 1:1-14 is this way:

1. Note the works and purposes of God that anyone who is born again would agree with.
2. Note how those works are done and purposes accomplished.
3. Note the great result of the work done by God.

When I discuss the work of salvation as a work done by the Trinity we will visit this passage in full.

The Works and Purposes of God: Let me just fire off a quick list:

• “blessed us in Christ”
• “chose us in him…that we should be holy and blameless before him in love”
• “He predestined us for adoption as sons…”
• “…redemption…the forgiveness of sins…”
• grace lavished on us
• “…obtained an inheritance…”
• all of these things are so “having been predestined according to the purpose of him…”

These show us the WHAT of God’s work: what he did and what he accomplished by what he did. Although their is variance of opinion regarding the words “chosen” and “predestined” everything else in the list above would get a hearty amen from any man or woman who has been born again: holy and blameless…adopted…forgiven…lavished with grace…inheritance. As regards the results of God’s work there is large agreement. Those results were accomplished by God blessing, choosing, and predestining those in Christ. No one will argue that blessed does not mean blessed or lavished does not means lavished. Let us not be too quick to say that chosen and predestined means something other than predetermination or to decide before hand. This is so crucial to seeing and rejoicing in the unconditional love of God. Your redemption and adoption is based on God’s perfect and unchanging work.

How These Works are Done and Purposes Accomplished. All is done “according to…” What do I mean? As you read through Ephesians 1 you will see many words and phrases repeated (read through it with a variety of hi-lighters sometime and mark each trail of repetition with a different color). The phrase “according to” is one such repetition which grants great perspective on the content and progression of the passage. Again let me give a list:

• “he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will…”
• “In him we have…the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace…”
• “In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will…”

All that is worked and accomplished in Ephesians 1:3-14 is done according to the purpose, will, and grace of God. In this passage we see a thoughtful laying out of salvation: initiation, work, results, and purposes. We cannot on the one hand thank God in prayer for forgiveness, blessing, adoption, and inheritance, then on the the other hand disregard all that is said of God’s work to bring about those blessings. That is inconsistency and robbery toward God. Let us look at the passage honestly and see how the accomplishment of salvation is all of God. If we do not believe the salvation of our souls is all of God, then we believe that God either owes us salvation because we believed or that he does part of the work and we do part. If that be the case we remove the need to thank God at all.

Let us humble ourselves under the text and praise God for his great and gracious work.

The Great Result of the Work Done by God. All has been done to the praise of his glory (1:6, 12, 14). It needs to be said that if your understanding of salvation in anyway, no matter how small, leads to the smallest praise to the recipient of salvation, you have misunderstood this passage. This passage progresses twice, maybe three times, to emphasize the the purpose of God: the praise of his own glory. That means that God desires the fullness of his being, every vast and wonderful facet of himself, to be worshipped and praised. It was for his glory.

We see in both Ephesians 1 and Romans 8 how God acted from unconditional love for the glory of his name. Now let us see how we have hope in this.

Conclusion

The meat of “Unconditional Love” is the work by God to elect a people without condition. This love never changes, falters, shifts, or ends. When we look at such passages as above we may have a more solid grasp on what God’s love looks like and does. But also to know that salvation has been accomplished for the glory God grounds our hope all the more because God will never put his reputation in jeopardy. He has predestined those whom he foreknew for the praise of his glory. His work to redeem, forgive, and adopt will be accomplished that He may be praised as is right.

Two Applications

Confidence, Not Condemnation: Paul wrote earlier in Romans 8, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Paul goes on to build on that and explain why there is no condemnation. We get to 8:29 and we see a reason for confidence, “…he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers…” 1) God has made it his purpose to make you into the image of Christ. There is not a day bad enough or a sin so terrible so as to strip you of hope in the moment and for the future. God has not only determined, but predetermined before creation, to “conform you to the image of his Son…” He is constantly working (8:28) in all thoroughness to bring you to the maturity of faith, preparing you for paradise. You are never beyond hope for you are always with in the working hand of God. 2) God is your father and Christ your brother. The perfect love, delight, and affection of the father and brother are ever directed at you and in your favor.

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Romans 8:31-34

When we give time to thinking of what God has done through Christ for the redemption and adoption of all who are in Christ, and all to the praise of God’s glory, our joy from 8:31-39 is so much more robust. In the next 24 hours take 10 minutes and read 8:29-39 with pen and paper and prayer.

To the Praise of His Glorious Grace: If what you have here has led you to gratitude toward God then act out on it and praise him. Maybe this has not moved you in that way, then take initiative to move your heart toward praise for his work to redeem you: Read Romans 8:29-39 with the intention of praising. Write a note of thanks to God for his mercy. Look up your favorite him that tells of God’s grace and read through it. Read your favorite passage of scripture that tells of the love of God. Pull out a prized devotional. Do whatever you must to move your heart toward praise and thanksgiving.