Throughout Scripture, God's promises and blessings are often accompanied by specific conditions that must be met for their fulfillment.
These conditions are not meant to be burdensome requirements but rather pathways through which believers can properly position themselves to
receive God's best. Understanding these biblical conditions helps us grasp the covenantal nature of our relationship with God and the
responsibilities that come with His gracious promises.
For any offer to be fulfilled depends on certain criteria being met. The promises of God are dependent on us meeting the terms and
conditions so they can come into reality. Some examples are:
1/. Entry into heaven.
The love of God initiates, it is never a response. If it was conditional we would have to do something to earn or merit it. However, God
motivated by love, moved unconditionally to save humanity from their sin. Yet this unconditional action of love does not mean everyone will
be saved (Mt 7:13-14, 25:46). Being granted entry into heaven depends on each person individually accepting Christ as Saviour and living as
He desires (Mt 7:21; Jn 1:12). The offer must be acted on in this life, and as it is of utmost importance it should be attended to urgently.
So even though we can't work for our salvation, to receive this blessing and enter into eternal life we must do what is required: repent and
believe (Mk 1:15; Rom 10:9-10; Eph 2:8-9).
Have I fulfilled the conditions?
See also: repentance, salvation.
2/. Answered prayer
We must be a child of God for our prayers to be answered and we must direct them to God and no one else, with the only prayer that God hears
from unbelievers being a prayer of repentance and asking for salvation (Mt 6:9; Jn 1:12).
Jesus said, "If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer" (Mt 7:11, 21:22). However for this to be a reality we need to
pray from a righteous heart for the Lord will not hear if we have unconfessed sin (Ps 66:18; Heb 10:22; Jas 5:16). We must pray with the
right motives and within the will of God as He answers 'according to His will' (Mt 6:33; Jas 4:3; 1 Jn 5:14-15).
If I do my part, God will do His
Probably the biggest struggle is getting our prayers lined up with God's will as we endeavour to live uprightly. Paul prayed three times to be healed of an affliction, and each time God said, 'No.' It was when he gained the divine perspective, understanding God had a better way, specifically, of living by the enabling divine grace he stopped praying for healing and began to rejoice in his weakness (2 Cor 12:7-10).
We will know God's will by studying the Word of God (Eph 5:17; 2 Tim 2:15, 3:16-17). Moses knew the revealed will of God was to bless and
multiply the Jews so he could confidently and boldly pray that God would spare them (Ex 32:9-14; Heb 4:16). Thus as we discover the promises
of God's Word we must consider the conditions that are attached and ensure we live according to His ways so He can reward us for "All things
work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose" (Rom 8:28). "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you
the desires of your heart...Whatever we ask we receive from Him is because we keep His commandments and do what pleases Him" (Ps 37:4; 1 Jn
3:22). Jesus expressed this as, "If you abide in me and my words abide in you, you can ask what you will, and it will be done unto you" (Jn
15:7). So while there are conditions to meet we all have the freewill and ability to meet those conditions.
See also: God's will, if, prayer,
promise.
