We ought to regard the church not as a luxurious hostelry where Christian gentlemen may each one dwell at ease in his own inn, but as a barracks in which soldiers are gathered together to be drilled and trained for war. We should regard the church not as an association for mutual admiration and comfort, but as an army with banners, marching to the fray, to achieve victories for Christ, to storm the strongholds of the foe, and to add province after province to the redeemer’s kingdom.
C.H. Spurgeon

Unconditional Love, Mercy, Patience, Justice: Does this describe God?

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Can the word “unconditional” be used to describe the love of God?  In my studies, only one translation of the Bible uses that phrase, in The Voice, Galatians 5:22:  “The Holy Spirit produces a different kind of fruit: unconditional love, joy, peace, patience, kindheartedness, goodness, faithfulness,”…

Since the Holy Spirit is part of God, the answer would seem to be “yes” – God’s love is unconditional.  Think of it this way:  if my child rebels against me, it doesn’t change the fact that I love them.  Yes it is sad to have the strained relationship, and yes I hope for the day when we can be together again – I look forward to trying new ways to help that happen sooner!  I KNOW this is the heart of God towards us, when we’re not walking with Him.

Romans 5:8:

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

And let me be clear – I still sin.  I don’t WANT to sin, and yet I still am not sinless – though I wish I was.

Romans 7:22-24

For I delight in the law of God, in my inmost self,  but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin which dwells in my members.  Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death?

Jesus, of course!  One day, God will give me a new body.  But in the meantime,

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.

  • Lamentations 3:22-24

This is the Mercy and Patience of God at work, as he bears with us for our entire life, teaching and even blessing us along the way.

But how long will God wait for each man and woman to humble themselves and change their ways, if we insist on doing wrong?

Genesis 6:3

Then the LORD said, “My Spirit will not put up with humans for such a long time, for they are only mortal flesh. In the future, their normal lifespan will be no more than 120 years.”

Revelation 20:11-15

Then I saw a great white throne and him who sat upon it; from his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them.  And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Also another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, by what they had done.  And the sea gave up the dead in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead in them, and all were judged by what they had done.  Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire;  and if any one’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.

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