Conditional/ Unconditional

We often speak of God's work in our world according to the conditions, or lack of conditions, surrounding that work. For example, we often say God's love or grace is unconditional. We can do nothing to earn either of them. Because of God's grace in Christ, we can do nothing to cause Him to love us more, nor can we do anything to cause Him to love us less.

While it might be helpful in some limited ways to consider the conditional/unconditional aspect of God's work in the world, it can also cause us to overlook or underemphasize the truths of God's Word. In the example above, there are conditions that make these factual statements and not just sentimental thoughts. Maybe the most significant condition to remember is God's nature. God is love (1 John 4:7-12), and God is gracious (Psalm 116:5). If He were not, we would never know His love or experience His grace. If He were not, we'd never really know any love or any grace, for that matter. The reason we can receive God's love unconditionally is conditioned upon God's nature.

We run into the same problem when we classify God's covenants according to these conditional/unconditional categories. For the last two Sundays, we studied God's covenant with Abraham. In part 1, it was easy to see how this covenant is considered by many theologians as unconditional. Then in part 2, there were clear conditions expressed for Abraham and his offspring to live in accordance with.

On the other hand, when we study God's covenant with Israel over the next couple of weeks. It will seem clear that it is a "conditional" covenant because God lays out blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. But, if we aren't careful, we will miss the unconditional aspects of God's love and grace at work to deliver the people from Egypt to the foot of Mt Sinai. There would be no opportunity for the covenant relationship without God's so-called unconditional acts of grace and love. The people of Israel were recipients of that love and grace before they ever crossed the Red Sea, not because they deserved it but because that is who God is. But to continue to live in step with God, would require Israel to submit to God’s conditions.

Further, if we don't recognize the conditional/unconditional nature of the New Covenant (the Gospel), we'll likely not appreciate or rest in Christ fully. Every unconditional aspect (God's love and grace) comes to us, conditioned upon the nature of God. Jesus was sent as an expression of God's love and a conduit by which He would provide His grace to His people. He did this, not because of who we are, but because of who He is and so it is unconditional on us.

But every conditional expectation (faith and obedience) is fulfilled perfectly by Jesus Christ. It is by faith in His faithfulness and obedience that we are rewarded. In Him, we are holy and blameless, we are adopted as sons, we are redeemed from slavery to sin, we are forgiven of sin, and we are the beneficiaries of God's grace and peace. (Eph 1:3-14). We don't receive these things because we deserve them, but because Jesus Christ does. We don't receive these because God relaxed His standards but because Jesus Christ fulfilled them perfectly.

By faith in Jesus as the fulfillment of both the unconditional and conditional aspects of the Gospel, we are freed to do more than passively glorify God but to actively worship Him. We are freed from acting out of fear of consequences and instead can pursue His glory out of love for Him and others. We are freed from the curse of the law of death and able to finally and fully live by the law of life!