Conditional statements in the Bible

“IF” is a powerful word that is often not emphasized seemingly to make room for new doctrines. The popular mantra today is that God’s plan of reconciliation of man to Him is unconditional.

First we should make sure we understand what 'if' means.

Per Webster's 1828 (and all newer dictionaries as well...): 'IF'...is used as the sign of a condition, or it introduces a conditional sentence. Many today over look or interpret the many conditional statements in the Bible in order to make these new doctrines work for them. New doctrines that fall into this modern day perversion is once saved always saved (OSAS) or originally termed the preservation of the saints as well as the popular mantra that God hates the sin but loves the sinner. Are you guilty of falling into this trap? I was for many years of my walk with God until I came to terms with the original intent and the specific context of His word. I thus began to take Him at His word and I stopped trying to make His word say whatever I wanted it to say. Conditional statements conclude in outcomes that are dictated by fulfilling, either in the positive or the negative, specifically identified actions or conditions… I have addressed this in the past and the main complaint from many folks that is typically brought up whenever this issue is discussed is that this biblical line of thinking is a ‘works based’ salvation. This is not at all what the Bible states. Salvation was provided once and for all on the cross by our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. What the Bible says is that faith itself is essentially works based in the sense that without good works, done selflessly and for the Lord, your faith is dead. James 2:17-26 says: Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works. Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar? Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect? And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God. Ye see then how that by works a man is justified, and not by faith only. Likewise also was not Rahab the harlot justified by works, when she had received the messengers, and had sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also. If you, the salt of the earth lose your savour or saltiness if you will then you will be cast out and trodden under foot of men. Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Matthew 5:13 If you attempt to continue on in a reconciled relationship with God that supposedly includes worshiping Him alone and yet you have not attempted to be reconciled with another person over some wrong done then you will be judged and cast into prison. Full forgiveness is required on our part towards others in order for ourselves to be forgiven by God. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Matthew 5:23-26 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15 Death comes to all who do not repent. 'IF' is implied here. I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Luke 13:3

'IF' is implied here. In other words, if you do not repent then you die. Death here is in reference to the eternal death, the separation from God in Hell for eternity. If you ask for anything in Jesus’ name He will do it beginning first and foremost towards a repentant request for the forgiveness of your sins. I say this because He does not hear the prayers of non-believers unless it is a prayer of repentance in turning to Him. That in itself is a very interesting study but will not be addressed here. If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it. John 14:14 Simply put, if you love Jesus you will obey Him. If you do not obey Him then you do not love Him and God will not abide with you. Keep in mind that the opposite of conditional statements hold true as well. If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me. John 14:21-24 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. John 15:10 These following verses highlight the opposite outcomes of the above verses from John chapters 14 and 15 when they are taken in reversed context (Love God vs Love not God or Hate God). This is regarding not keeping God’s commandments. These verses fly in stark contrast to the modern popular mantra that God is only love and hates only the sin and not the sinner. The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing: the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. Psalm 5:5-6 The LORD trieth the righteous: but the wicked and him that loveth violence his soul hateth. Upon the wicked he shall rain snares, fire and brimstone, and an horrible tempest: this shall be the portion of their cup. For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; his countenance doth behold the upright. Psalm 11:5-7 And ye shall not walk in the manners of the nation, which I cast out before you: for they committed all these things, and therefore I abhorred them. Leviticus 20:23 These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Proverbs 6:16-19 All their wickedness is in Gilgal: for there I hated them: for the wickedness of their doings I will drive them out of mine house, I will love them no more: all their princes are revolters. Hosea 9:15 The conditional statements listed in this writing are but a few of the many that are located in the Bible. It is very important that we do not blow these off or diminish the original and contextual intent of these, the words of God, in order to make them fit into a doctrine that is not represented within scriptures and that was not taught in the early Christian Church. The challenge is for all who desire to rightly divide the word of God to examine all of the scriptures to see if these things are so…