The popular belief is that God's love is unconditional, and that He accepts man just as he is. But is this idea really taught in the Bible and is it in conformity with common sense?

St. John clearly states a conditional aspect to God's love: "He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him...If a man love Me, he will keep My words: and My Father will love him, and We will come unto him, and make Our abode with him." -- John 14:21-23

John is addressing the abiding love of God, which is the love that brings us into a relationship with our Creator. This love is conditional on our love for our heavenly Father. True love for God requires man's obedience. Many are convinced they love God even though they practice sin, but this is nothing but emotional attachment to the Lord, which will never result in salvation.

This conditional principle of love should be obvious without scriptural support. A boy wills to marry a girl, but she is not the least bit interested. He attempts to pursue her, but she rebuffs him at every turn. The gentleman would finally be required to reconcile himself to the impossibility of establishing a relationship with the lady of his love. As much as he longed for her, there could not be an abiding love, because this kind of love is dependent upon a mutual response.

God's relationship to His church is likened in the Bible to that of a bridegroom to his bride. To have a successful Christian marriage the husband must love, honor, and cherish his wife and the wife must love, honor and obey her husband. God will not receive man into His Kingdom unless he unselfishly and lovingly submits to His authority. How could a loving being have a meaningful relationship with a selfish person? This is impossible for anyone, divine or human, for love is by nature unselfish. How could a man have a worthwhile marriage with a woman who refused to submit to his leadership as head of the house? Man must turn from his selfishness and rebellion for God to embrace him with His love.

How do we reconcile this principle of conditional love with John 3:16: "For God so loved the world...?" This verse represents God's benevolence, which is unconditional. God wills the good of all and does not want any to perish, but until man repents God may extend his love, but it is of no redeeming value until received by the sinner.

Instead of informing the lost that, "God loves you," it would be more accurate to say that, "God wants to love you." The real issue is not the fact that God loves humanity, for this is commonly accepted except among infidels. The more basic question that must be raised is, "does humanity love God?"