The little word if has a great and important place in the relationship men have with God. In both the Old and New Testaments, it indicates that which is conditional. For example in Deuteronomy 28:1, Moses said, “Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will set you high above all nations of the earth.”
God’s promise to Israel was conditional. If they observed God’s will, he would exalt them. All that is required to note this truth is to examine Israel’s history. Too often the nation did not keep the conditions of the covenant, and God’s favor would leave them. Upon repentance, his favor would return. This is the way God dealt with Israel, and the way that He deals with men today.
There is a false view of God’s sovereignty that denies this truth. The belief is that if God is truly sovereign, the salvation of any individual is set in eternity before he is born. God solely determines it. This view makes the idea of free choice illusory, and the edict of God a matter of caprice. It is objectionable because of its portrayal of God, and because it has no foundation in scripture.
Consider the following scriptures that simply show the conditional nature of God’s approval:
(Genesis 4:7) [God’s words to Cain], “If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.”
(Genesis 20:7) [God’s warning to king Abimelech], “Now therefore, restore the man’s wife; for he is a prophet, and he will pray for you and you shall live. But if you do not restore her, know that you shall surely die, you and all who are yours.”
(Deuteronomy 8:19-20) [Moses’ words to Israel], “Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the Lord your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish. As the nations which the Lord destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the Lord your God.”
(Matthew 6:14), “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”
(Romans 8:13), “For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live.”
A simple concordance search of the phrase “if you” gives sufficient evidence to indicate the conditional nature of God’s approval. The listed examples barely touch the hem of the garment establishing the God given right of choice. The choice to serve God or disobey, with the commensurate blessings or punishment. This truth is not hard to establish from God.
God is just and loving. He desires the salvation of every man, but His righteousness requires the condemnation of evil. His love made available a gift of grace. That gift is rejected by many. Some reject it outright (cf. Mark 16:16), and others accept it for a while, but eventually return to disobedience (cf. Hebrews 6:4-6).
To be saved, God requires we “be faithful unto death.” It is only by such faithfulness that we will receive “the crown of life” (cf. Revelation 2:10).
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