Only preaching God’s unconditional love

Journey for truth

Only preaching God's unconditional love

A common approach in modern sermons and altar calls is to attract people by emphasizing only the “love of God,” often downplaying the need for repentance. Statements like “God loves you just as you are; you don’t have to change, just come” are frequently used, creating a partial message that overlooks the call to transformation and commitment central to the gospel.

If a preacher only preaches that God loves everyone unconditionally, excluding the core aspects of the gospel (such as repentance, faith in Christ’s atoning sacrifice, and the call to discipleship), he is playing an extremely dangerous game. The message being conveyed is ultimately that there are no conditions, which leads to false converts with little understanding of what it means to walk and grow in Christ.

This often leads to false converts would say statements like this;

“It doesn't matter what I do, I can live in full rebellion against God. There are no conditions to meet, so I have nothing to worry about."

“I do not need to repent or come to Jesus in order to be saved. God simply loves me as I am and there are no conditions or strings attached to his love.”

"God loves me exactly the way I am. He's actually really glad that I have turned out to be so lovely.”

In saying this in no means are we also indicating that God isn't loving.

In fact, there are three ways that God expresses His loving nature towards us:

  • God’s love of benevolence, which is the good will or kindness of God shown towards everybody (believers and non-believers).
  • God’s beneficent love, which He gives to everybody (believers and non-believers). This is also referred to as common grace, which represents the joys, blessings, and beauty of life that we all share. The rain falls on the just as well as the unjust (Matthew 5:45).
  • God’s love of complacency or filial love that He has for the redeemed (believers only). This kind of love is first directed at Christ and then at all who are in Christ.

The filial love, is the salvific love of God, that He has for those who put their trust and faith in Christ, and it is this love alone that is unconditional.

The real problem with only preaching God’s unconditional love is that it completely ignores the message of wrath that awaits those who have sinned against Him.

A gospel message that only tells people that God loves them is not the whole message.

By closing our eyes to what the Bible clearly and frequently says about God's attitude toward unrepentant sinners, we inevitably fail in our evangelism efforts.

The scriptures say that God “abhors the wicked” (Psalm 11:5). This is strong language which clearly means He is disgusted, has hatred, and detests the wicked who are unrepentant.

There is a cliché statement that that says “God loves the sinner; He just hates the sin.” But if we think of it, He doesn't send the sin to Hell; He sends the sinner there.

We need to take into consideration the whole counsel of God when understanding theological statements like “God loves you unconditionally.” We must draw our conclusions from a biblical perspective rather than change the biblical character of God.

It is clear in the Bible that God is angry every day against the wicked, and every unrepentant sinner is exposed to the rage and fury of His wrath.

Romans 1:18 (NKJV)

For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness,

Every moment that people refuse to repent they are heaping up wrath against the day of the Lord.

Today people aren’t even afraid of the wrath of God, because there are teachers telling them “you don’t have to be afraid of God because God is so nice and loves you regardless.”

We have taken the terror out of it. The Apostle Paul said, “knowing the terror of the Lord, we persuade men,” (2 Corinthians 5:11) and “it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).

Our job should be to bring people to an understanding of their sin and the holiness of God and contrasting this bad news with the good news of what Jesus has done for us.

Jesus Christ came into a world in which human beings were already under indictment for rejecting God.

So only preaching that God loves you unconditionally is the wrong message. The sinner should be terrified of his or her condition and not be comfortable with the idea that they turned out so well.

We are used to hearing sermons that say God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life. But actually, that is not true because God has a terrible plan for your life and destiny if you are not a believer in Christ.

We must preach both sides equally. Sin condemns us to eternal damnation and eternal destruction, and only God's love through Jesus Christ can save us.

While the message of God’s unconditional love is often emphasized, we must remember that His love also calls us to repentance and transformation.

God’s kindness and grace are not intended to make sinners comfortable in their rebellion but to lead them to recognize their need for a Savior.

As Romans 2:4 reminds us, “Do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?”

True gospel preaching presents both the reality of God’s wrath against sin and the incredible grace He extends through Christ, offering forgiveness and new life to all who turn to Him.

Other related articles:

Wrong means of evangelism

Your testimony is not the gospel

Wrong means of evangelism

Journey for truth

Wrong means of evangelism

Evangelism isn’t about tallying numbers; it’s a sacred responsibility and an opportunity to faithfully share God’s truth. Too often, we narrow our witness to merely preaching God’s love or sharing our personal testimony, overlooking the need for repentance and the full message of the gospel.

By doing so, we risk diluting the power of Christ’s atoning work and leaving people without a clear understanding of what it truly means to follow Him. Below are some relevant articles that explore these pitfalls and how we can reclaim a biblical approach to evangelism.

Only preaching God's unconditional love
Your testimony is not the gospel

Getting the gospel right

Journey for truth

Getting the Gospel Right

In today's sermons, the gospel message is simplified to be less offensive and less demanding, while church leaders often employ entertainment as a means of attracting crowds.

There are also certain aspects of preaching today that are incomplete and contain errors contradicting fundamentals of the Christian faith. Here are a few examples:

  • Neglecting the person or the salvific work of Jesus.
  • Promising health and wealth instead of Christ and eternal life.
  • Teaching its followers to make declarative statements that everything they touch will prosper.
  • Promoting the mindset of the New Age movement that  teaches God will release blessings into the lives of people if they maintain certain positive thoughts, and generate enough faith.  

There are also a lot of Christians who call themselves believers because a pastor once invited them to raise their hands at the end of a sermon. While there may be some genuine people who do get saved in the process, a person is not identified as a Christian based on the fact that they raised their hands; rather, it is evident in how they live their lives.

Needless to say, such faith that is not based on any biblical truth is powerless to save. It is empowered by human desires and not by the Holy Spirit. Moreover, it offers temporal belief at the expense of eternal life.

That being said, what are some of the actual truths of the Gospel?

Some of the truths about the gospel are:

  • Christ's substitutionary atonement.
  • The true nature of Christ.
  • God's trinitarian nature.
  • Biblical repentance.
  • Unique authority of the Bible
  • The desire to be saved from sin
  • Getting to know God's Holiness.

The major focus of the gospel is the saving work of Christ and NOT that a believer should be living a blessed, miraculous, or superstitious life.

Scriptures help us understand these Biblical truths, which become the source of authority in our lives rather than our own feelings.

The Gospel is central to the Bible

Preaching the Gospel simply means recognizing that the Bible is one unfolding story of God's love and saving grace, from Genesis to Revelation.

Matthew 5:17 (NKJV)

“Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill.

Luke 24:27 (NKJV)

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself.

In the verses above, Jesus declares that He came to fulfill the law and the prophets, revealing that all of Scripture ultimately points to Him. Every part of the Bible—from the Law to the Prophets—finds its purpose and meaning in Christ. Therefore, when we study any passage apart from its connection to Him, we risk missing the core message God intends to convey.

If for example, you are preaching from the book of Daniel and your message is titled “Dare to be a Daniel” it is not about Jesus. If you are preaching from the book of Revelation but your message is about USA or Russia or China then it is not about Christ.

What then is the message of the Bible?

The message of the Bible is clear and is based on the theme that God will save His people.

It is a misreading of scripture when we read the Bible in such a way that we make ourselves the hero of the story and never the pharisee, or the terrified Israelites, or the ones who even after being led through the dead sea worshiped a golden calf.

When we approach Scripture as if we are the heroes of the story, we misunderstand its purpose and distort its message. This self-centered reading is both spiritually damaging and misleading, turning God into a means to our own ends rather than the sovereign Lord of our lives. True understanding of the Bible places Christ at the center, leading us to worship and trust Him rather than seeking to control Him.

The Word of Faith Movement

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Word of Faith movement

Dangers of the word of faith movement

The word of faith movement is primarily concerned with making people healthy, wealthy and happy. They claim that all believers can achieve total victory over their finances, relationships and health.

Moreover, the movement claims that all believers can experience their best life by simply making positive confessions, claiming material prosperity, and unlocking the keys to earthly fame.

But why are the people in the movement losing their jobs, unable to make ends meet, and not prosperous? Why isn't the pastor healthy? Did God let them down? If it really was something that God promised, why didn't He fulfill it?

These questions reveal a deeper issue within this movement's teachings, highlighting how it can foster dangerous and misleading expectations about faith and God’s promises.

Additionally and more importantly, this movement fails to teach and proclaim the true tenants of the Gospel message;

  • Repentance
  • Laying down of your life
  • Serving the kingdom
  • Proclaiming the Bible as the sole authority for our lives
  • Embrace the truth of the scriptures rather than being enslaved by our own feelings.

The basis for a lot of the topics within this book can be traced back to the Word of Faith movement. This movement shows a fundamental misunderstanding of our human condition as well as God's Word. In the following sections, we will look more closely at some of the core ideas and teachings promoted by this movement, examining how they deviate from biblical truth and impact the faith and lives of believers.

“Name it & Claim it” or “Prosperity Gospel”

The “name it & claim” it or “prosperity gospel” has its roots in the Word of Faith movement.

The name it and claim it message has more in common with new age mystics than with biblical christianity. In fact it is not only unbiblical but also in many ways directly opposed to the true gospel message and clear teaching of scripture.

The new age belief assumes that a person can create realities by their own thoughts, and now mixed with some Christianity the so call prosperity preachers advice that we can use the “power of faith” to create our own reality or get whatever we want.

In essence, faith is being redefined from “trusting in a holy and sovereign God” to “a way of controlling God to give us what we want.”

Faith in effect becomes a force whereby we can get what we want rather than trusting in God even during times of trial and suffering.

What the prosperity gospel or the “power of positive thinking” have in common is that the premise is the same - what you think or believe will happen is ultimately what controls what will happen. If you think negative thoughts or are lacking in faith, you will suffer or not get what you want.

The idea that if you think positive thoughts or just have “enough faith,” then you can have health, wealth, and happiness is a false teaching that appeals to one of man’s most basic needs (health & wealth), which is one reason why it is hugely popular.

While the prosperity gospel and the idea of controlling one’s future with thoughts or faith is appealing to sinful man, it is insulting to the sovereign God.

Instead of recognizing the absolute sovereign power of God, the “name it and claim it” followers embrace a false god who cannot operate apart from their faith. They present a false view of God by teaching that He wants to bless us with health, wealth, and happiness but cannot do so unless YOU have enough faith.

This implies that God is no longer in control but man is - which is of course, is completely incompatible to what Scripture teaches. God does not depend upon man’s “faith” to act.

Throughout Scripture we see God blessing whom He chooses to bless and healing whom He chooses to heal. God is sovereign over all things, and His will is not dependent on our faith or desires. True faith trusts in His wisdom and timing, recognizing that He alone holds ultimate control over every aspect of our lives.

Experience is never the basis for truth

Journey for truth

Experience is never the basis for truth

Some churches regularly elevate personal experiences over sound doctrine and biblical truth. This has led to a form of "experiential Christianity" where unbiblical practices are promoted not because there is a scriptural precedent for them but because they make people feel good. 

However, spiritual experiences should never trump biblical authority. 

The norm has become to first experience something and then run to scripture to try and find a rationale for what happened. People are told things like, "don't resist, don't take control, don't analyze; just surrender completely to His love, and you can examine the experience later." 

But this is completely backwards from what we are required to do as disciplined Christians. 

We have to begin with the Word of God, allowing a proper interpretation of the text to govern our experiences. 

Experience is not the test of biblical truth; rather, biblical truth stands as the final test for our experiences.

Any true work of the Spirit of God is built on sound doctrine and biblical truth.

Doctrine and theology are never to be seen as a threat; instead, they should serve as a basis on which we are to filter lies from the truth. But once we allow subjectivism (through experience) to become the basis of our decisions, we will eventually deviate from the standard that Scripture prescribes. 

Unfortunately, charismatics often downplay the importance of doctrine for the same reason they undermine the sufficiency of Scripture. Their assumption is that extensive efforts spent on scripture only stifle the work of the Spirit. Some even go so far as to state that teaching doctrines is a way for Satan to get us to rely on the Scriptures rather than on the Holy Spirit. 

Moreover, charismatic Christians believe that progress in a Christian life requires experiencing an electrifying experience, something more, or something better. Consequently, many people within these movements are also frustrated because they spend their entire lives chasing one experience after another, and if their next experience isn't as extraordinary as the previous, they wonder if there is something wrong with them. 

In saying all this it must also be noted that we aren’t downplaying all spiritual experiences. Believers do experience authentic emotions and feelings. 

A person may experience guilt for committing sin, pain during a traumatic situation, overwhelming peace in the face of adversity, a feeling of joy and confidence in God during a difficult time, an intense sense of loss, an inexpressible sense of praise for God when we comprehend His glory or heightened zeal and passion for service and ministry. 

As a result of the convicting nature of God's Word, Christians will experience strong internal emotions. This emotion is amplified by the Holy Spirit and personally applied to us.

The charismatic movement has often failed in this area since it tends to build its teachings on experience. This is because it fails to understand that any authentic experience occurs in response to truth and it begins with - the Gospel truth.

Conclusion

While authentic Christian life involves real emotions and experiences, these should be responses to the truth found in Scripture, not substitutes for it. The Bible consistently calls us to test everything against its teachings, ensuring our experiences align with God’s revealed Word. When we let experience overshadow doctrine, we risk building a faith that is emotionally driven and potentially misguided. True spiritual maturity is marked by a firm foundation in biblical truth, allowing the Holy Spirit to work in us in a way that reflects sound doctrine. This balanced approach safeguards our faith, keeps us from being swayed by fleeting feelings, and honors God by aligning our lives with His eternal truth.

Are we blaspheming the Holy Spirit?

Journey for truth

Are we blaspheming the Holy Spirit?

Some readers may find aspects of this blog uncomfortable or even offensive, and they may wonder if critiquing certain modern practices amounts to committing the unpardonable sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

But this is far from the truth. Ironically, much of what is labeled as “the work of the Holy Spirit” in some modern churches might actually dishonor Him, as it includes actions and teachings that lack biblical support and misattribute false works to the Holy Spirit.

The specific sin of blaspheming the Holy Spirit, as outlined in Matthew 12 and Mark 3, refers to something very different from questioning doctrines or assessing teachings. Jesus’ warning in these passages points to a deliberate rejection and misattribution of the Holy Spirit’s work.

In context, Jesus addressed the Pharisees who, despite witnessing His miracles and authority, attributed His work to demonic powers.

This was a knowing, willful rejection of the Spirit’s testimony to Christ, characterized by hardened unbelief and outright opposition to the truth.

The unpardonable nature of this sin lies in the fixed condition of heart that continually rejects God’s grace and attributes the Spirit’s work to evil. It is not about having doubts, asking questions, or even critiquing certain practices.

True blasphemy of the Holy Spirit reflects a complete indifference to conviction and an unwillingness to accept the Spirit’s work in pointing us to Christ.