Reading is something I do voraciously, especially the Word of God. However, I read a short statement concerning the unconditional love of God being in question. Of course, with great interest and intent my heart and mind indulged. Beginning my reading included the 1828 edition of Webster’s Dictionary I often use, I discovered:

“CONDITION, noun [Latin , to build or make, to ordain; properly, to set or fix, or to set together or in order; con and do, to give; properly, to send.]

CONDITIONAL, adjective “Containing or depending on a condition or conditions; made with limitations; not absolute; made or granted on certain terms.

UNCONDI’TIONAL, adjective Absolute; unreserved; not limited by any conditions. We are required to make an unconditional surrender of ourselves to our Maker. The king demanded unconditional submission.” Webster’s Dictionary, 1828 edition.

Further, the Word of God cannot be ignored…

God loves lost sinners unconditionally. “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” Romans 5:6-9.

Why does a lost sinner have to worry about Hell when God loves him unconditionally? “Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death—the lake of fire. If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, that person was thrown into the lake of fire. Revelation 20:14-15.

God hates sinners. “For You are not a God who takes pleasure in wickedness; No evil dwells with You. The boastful shall not stand before Your eyes; You hate all who do iniquity. You destroy those who speak falsehood; The Lord abhors the man of bloodshed and deceit.” Psalm 5:4-7. And, “ The Lord is in His holy temple; the Lord’s throne is in heaven; His eyes behold, His eyelids test the sons of men. The Lord tests the righteous and the wicked, And the one who loves violence His soul hates. Upon the wicked He will rain snares; Fire and brimstone and burning wind will be the portion of their cup. For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; The upright will behold His face.” Psalm 11:4-7.

There is a condition placed upon entrance into Heaven and we find this in John 3:14-18: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 

God is a consuming fire:The truth is the sinner must be saved from an Angry God in order to go to Heaven. The Bible describes God as ‘a consuming fire.’ “See to it that you do not refuse Him who is speaking. For if those did not escape when they refused him who warned them on earth, much less will we escape who turn away from Him who warns from heaven. And His voice shook the earth then, but now He has promised, saying, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth, but also the heaven.”  This expression, “Yet once more,” denotes the removing of those things which can be shaken, as of created things, so that those things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; for our God is a consuming fire.” Hebrews 12:25. Therefore, it should not be surprising that fire often symbolizes God’s presence in His Word. We call Him Savior because He has redeemed us from His wrath and judgment resulting from Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

Yes, His love for all sinners is unconditional. “But by His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:7-9.

However, entrance into Heaven is conditional by the admission of sin, repentance, and receiving God’s grace by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. 

“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”-that is, the word of faith which we are preaching,  that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.

“Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?” Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; from now on you know Him, and have seen Him.” John 14:5-7 NASB.

Jesus is Lord