How can God love the unlovely?

First, we must be *lovable i.e. there must be something about us that God cherishes (loves) deeply. While at the same time, there is also something about us (unlovely) that God opposes. How can both of these be true and reside in the same being?

What does God cherish?

First and foremost God cherishes himself, for he is the greatest, wisest, loveliest, most beautiful, majestic and powerful being in the universe. There is no one more powerful or significant than the Creator and Sustainer of all things.

We are like God.

And because we are, we are able to enjoy and glory in who he is and to reflect something of himself back to him and out to others in a way no other created being can. Our capacity to appreciate, enjoy and reflect the infinitely valuable God is the essence of what makes us valuable. **Valuable both to others as well as to God himself.

What does God oppose?

Anything that diminishes the recognition of His great glory/value (His actual intrinsic glory can never be diminished).

Why does he oppose this? Because everything is from, through and to him. Nothing that is, would be if not for him. For Him or for us to conduct ourselves as if these things are not so is not in line with the reality of who God is and who we are. This not only dishonor's who He is as the most glorious of all beings but is also to our harm. For use to value anything above God most high (most valuable) is to live contrary to the reality of how things are designed, as well as pointing others away from what is most valuable i.e. God. This ultimately leads to their destruction and as well as ours.

So if both of these qualities (lovable and unlovely) are within us at the same time how does God reconcile these opposite attributes i.e. how does he love the unlovely?

He removed the consequences of our unloveliness by putting them on himself in and through his own son Jesus. Now that the consequences are removed he is ***free to focus in on who we are as his image bearers with the capacity to receive and give his love, honor, and glory and reflect him out to others. This should be our focus as well. The unlovely part of us is no longer ****in the picture or part of the equation, only the lovable part as originally designed. 

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*For a more in-depth discussion on being lovable vs lovely click here.

**This does not mean God needs us in the ultimate sense for all he needs is within Himself as the all-powerful, wise and loving Father, Son, and Spirit.

*** Due to the character of his nature, there are certain things God can not do. He can not “look upon” i.e. approve of rebellious unbelief/distrust (i.e. sin) that God is who He claims to be. To do so would be contrary to His very being and nature.

****Our distrust of God still matters for us, but doesn't matter for God i.e. it has no impact on God's love and commitment to us, once we are in Christ.