Defining Unconditional love

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In a love relationship with anyone, do the lovers expect something in return? Does Jesus?

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Well, I don't know about Jesus, but if we're talking about the Abrahamic God, He most definitely expects a lot in return.The OT God's love is very conditional.

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Do you have children? Are they faithful to you and the sacrifices you have made for them? If they were not (and there are many who are not), how would you feel, expecially when they make all kinds of promises only to flaunt them at you at every turn and you plead with them to think, because you have also spoken about consequences, but they still do not listen?

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So, God's feelings can be hurt like a human parent's can?

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I call myself your child, I identify with you, I am identified with you. If I do not behave as should your child, I behave as if I should be someone else's child, you'd look for ways to change that, yes? What should happen to the bullheaded who will never change? You will stop calling them your children.

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Wow, I feel sorry for you if you had parents like that, and I feel sorry for your children, if they exist, if you feel that you could ever disown them or stop loving them.The point is, God's love is very conditional, as you've explained. this kind of contradicts the "God is Love" description we hear from Christians, doesn't it?

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Jesus is the Abrahamic God, and He most certainly expects something in return in reciprocation for those things He did to get it. The remarkable thing about that is, it is our decision to do or not to do.

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Right. God doesn't offer unconditional love. We have to do something for Him or get punished.

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Would you please explain to me what I have to do to get God's unconditional love.

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If God's love was unconditional, you wouldn't have to do anything to get it.That's kinda what unconditional means.

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Now I already know God hates sin, He hates it so bad he tossed Adam and Eve out right on their buttocks.

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Right.God's love is very conditional.(This is aside from the problem of Adam and Eve not knowing the difference between right and wrong before eating of the tree, so how could they know it was a sin to do so?)

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I cannot even imagine what Jesus was thinking at that moment, but I do love him.

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Um, Jesus didn't exist yet, if I have my timeline correct.

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Even though Jesus was The Son of God, God treated Jesus the same way he would treat anyone who sinned.

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Right. Torture, pain, suffering, torment.God's love is conditional.

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He didn't favor Jesus, nor let Jesus take the easy way out. We are equal nonetheless. If I was to deny Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I am "Guaranteed" to be casted down into the lake of fire. If I were to take Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, I am "Guaranteed" to have Eternal life.

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Right. God's love is conditional. You have to do something to get it.

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For those who think Religious folks don't think for themselves and just follow their church and members, let me ask you something. We are people too, We can think for ourselves, just because many religious people think if you don't believe in God your some fruitcake, it doesn't mean their following what the other members do, and even if they were, I'm gonna tell ya right now, I'll even tell this right to your face dawg, go out and look around, then come back and think about what you saw. Everybody is a follower nowadays, its just a matter of who ya following that counts.

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I thought you were going to ask me something, but the above rant has no question in it.I do believe you are people, and I do believe youcan think for yourselves.If you actually do think for yourselves is something else entirely. I see quite a bit of herd mentality in religions, because that's what religions are mostly for; behavior control and social cohesion.And, by the way, I don't follow any particular philosophy or religion.Edited by nator, : No reason given.

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Yes, they can. You only have to read the bible to know that His feelings were wounded again and again.

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Yeah, but that God also makes mistakes, gets pissed off, throws tantrums, is jealous, vengeful and spiteful, creates people in full awareness that they would reject him, seemingly for no other reason than to send them to hell, regrets his actions, is foiled in his efforts by humans with chariots, walks around on Earth and eats with people, etc.In other words, He's written more like a human with superpowers than the All-Loving, Omnicient and Omnipotent God that Controls Everything in the Universe With Perfect Precision most Christians say they believe in.

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Familiarize yourself with the biblical term reprobate, what it is and when it happens.

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Right. God's love is conditional.

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Your observation is entirely your own, much more, you are entitled to have it.

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I know that, thanks.How about addressing the issue of God's love being very conditional, and that this seems to contradict the "God is Love" description we hear from Christians.

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Are you now, in your life, punished for wrongdoing? If you don't believe in His existence, why do you ask such questions?

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Because this thread is about unconditional love, and somebody asked if God's love could be considered uncondional.If the OT of the Bible is to be believed, God's love is most definitely not unconditional.Do you agree of disagree? Why or why not? Edited by nator, : No reason given.

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What is wrong with God having conditional love?

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Nothing at all.I'm just pointing out the contradiction that many Christians display of characterizing God as "pure love", or similar.

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God is capable of unconditional love after you meet his requirement.

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If you had to do something to get it, then it isn't unconditional.It would be like an offer for a "free" magazine subscription after you pay an initial $50. It doesn't matter how many years of free magazines you get after that, you will have always initially paid $50.The only truly free magazine subscription would be one that you didn't have to pay anything for, ever.Edited by nator, : No reason given.

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But what if I told you that if you wanted this free magazine all you would have to do is believe that I would give it to you, and accept it as a free gift.

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That analogy doesn't fit, since other people can see that I'm getting the free magazines.It would be like Kissing Hank's Ass.

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What if I said anybody that meets this simple requirement could have the magazine free also?

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If there is a "requirement" to be "met" before getting the free magazine, then it isn't a free magazine.It really is simple, ICANT.If the magazine was truly free, I wouldn't have to meet any requirements to get it.

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Yes nator, I'll be there counting my money and laughing.

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What money?

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I guess you didn't pick up any free calendars at the bank this year.

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Does the bank give away calenders to people who aren't their customers, or is it a "thank you" for doing business with them?

OK.So, what's your point?