Diamond

Thank you Kathy! That was very sweet of you. I'm sure you were not the only one :) who didn't know that! God Bless You! Thank you Dmiller! It is very much appreciated! :) God Bless You!

Spot Thank you so much for your response. You definitly made me think and see this topic in a much clearer, greater light than I had before. I will definitly take your advice on "whether or not I am looking up a scriptural term or man's terms and definitions " when doing any further research. You gave me much to think on and I thank you again.

Abi thank you so much for responding and being so clear and logical in your explanations. I agree with this statement. That God's love is unconditional with boundries that we are expected to stay within makes sense to me. Hahaha...that would make at least two of us I think...

Thanks Abi, you opinion is worth as much as anyone elses opinion and I personally value it very much. In answer to your questions, will the outcome change the way that I make decisions in my life, no, it will not. I am not asking this to justify nor validate any of my past or future actions. But only to understand the truth and possibly to understand human love a bit better. You are right it is important that we are honest and loving towards God. And I can respect and see the possible lack of relevance to the question and regardless of the outcome to the question it will not affect my love for God or how I make my decisions. Knowing how God's love works towards man helps me to understand our love for God and for each other in day to day life. And your final question, is my love for myself conditional or unconditional? Well, I'm still working on that one. There is much that I need to work on in my own life. This is one reason why I have come here to seek some help in sorting out the confusions. Thank you for your responses they do help me to define the parameters and to see that my love for God and how I conduct my life is really an important point.

Conditional love to me means that you have to earn it. Do we earn God's love when we are born again? That doesn't make sense to me because He had to have loved His people in the Old Testament. And it seems pretty shallow to think that He doesn't love everyone. But if His love is unconditional then does that mean that He loves everyone the same, saint and sinner alike? What would be the benefit in terms of God's love to be born again if He already loves you unconditionally. Is it earned or given? I know the difference between God's grace and mercy and I know that they are given freely but is His love given freely as well or does he have conditions on His love. Can we do something wrong and lose His love? That would seem shallow as well because most parents love their children no matter what they do. They may not be happy with what they do, but they love them all the same. I read the posts by women like Rascal when she talks about the baby that she had to give up. I can feel her pain and great sense of loss through the computer. She obviously loved that child very deeply and yet she never even saw it. If a human's love can be so great and can go so far beyond physical boundries then why can't God's love be even bigger. Someplace in the Bible it talks about God's ways being bigger than ours. Doesn't it make sense that His love would be without conditions and could not be "lost"? I'm not sure if that is very clear, as I said I am confused. Thank you for asking Abi!

I've been taught several "sides" on this topic and I have seen different things. So basically I am confused. Did TWI teach that God's love was unconditional? If so, were they right? I've seen both sides of the argument "proven" by using the same scriptures, so which way is it? Can someone help me, please? Is God's love conditional upon salvation or does He really love everyone like John 3:16 says?

Great Thread.

Bon Jovi - I Want To Be Loved

Happy Birthday CoupCake!!! Hope you have a wonderful day!!!

RG, You'll always be the best Diamond in the Ruff to me!!!! I have a life now that I would never have had with out you. You needn't polish too much...I love you just the way you are. Love You moma, RC

For Every Beautiful heart on GSC Stevie Wonder