Why the Word “Deserve” is Not Biblical
The word “deserve” is not a biblical category for how God relates to His children. In Galatians, Paul dismantles the entire idea that humans can earn, merit, or qualify for God’s love, His Spirit, or His righteousness. Why? Because everything good comes from God, and only God is truly good. (see THE operating System page for more on that)
When people say, “I don’t deserve God’s love,” they’re actually using the wrong framework. Grace is not “God giving you something you don’t deserve.” Grace is God giving you what He can and what He wants to give you because He is good, and you were created to depend on that goodness.
You weren’t designed to earn. You were designed to receive.
Why “deserve” is a misleading word:
“Deserve” creates pride when things go well. If I think I deserve blessing, I start believing I earned it. Galatians calls this “confidence in the flesh.” It leads to entitlement, comparison, and spiritual arrogance.
“Deserve” creates shame when things go poorly. If I think I don’t deserve God’s love, I start believing I’m disqualified. But Galatians says righteousness is imputed, not achieved. You can’t disqualify yourself from something you never qualified for.
“Deserve” ignores the truth that we are dependent creatures. You cannot come to God without His help. You cannot believe without His Spirit. You cannot produce righteousness—Christ becomes righteousness for you. That’s not “undeserved.” That’s designed dependence.
“Deserve” contradicts the nature of grace and mercy. Grace = unmerited favor. Mercy = unmerited forgiveness. Neither word means “you don’t deserve it.” Both mean “God gives because He is good, not because you are.”
“Deserve” forgets that God alone is holy. Revelation 15:4 says He alone is holy. If only God is holy, then all holiness in us is borrowed, gifted, shared. That means righteousness is not a wage—it’s an inheritance.
Looking at This Through the Book of Galatians:
Paul’s entire argument is this:
You didn’t start by earning.
You don’t continue by earning.
You won’t finish by earning.
Everything—from salvation to sanctification to spiritual fruit—is the result of God’s goodness working in you, not your goodness working for Him.
So the problem isn’t that you “don’t deserve” God’s love. The problem is that “deserve” was never the right category.
You are not an employee earning wages. You are a child receiving life.
Main Interpretations
The “deserve” framework is a flesh-based mindset. It assumes humans can produce spiritual worthiness. Galatians rejects this completely.
The gospel replaces “deserve” with “depend.” Humans were created to rely on God’s goodness, not to generate their own.
Grace is not about undeserving people—it’s about a good God. The focus is not on human lack but divine generosity.
Righteousness is imputed, not earned. Therefore “deserve” cannot apply to righteousness at all.
God’s design removes shame. If God made you needy, then your neediness is not a flaw—it’s part of the relationship.
Reflection Questions
Where has the word “deserve” shaped your view of God—either in pride or in shame?
How does seeing yourself as dependent instead of undeserving change the way you approach God?
What would it look like this week to receive God’s goodness without trying to qualify for it?
Notes:
Grace — charis: favor that flows from God’s own goodness, not from human merit; generosity rooted in His nature, not our performance.
Mercy — eleos: compassion that moves God to withhold judgment and restore; forgiveness that originates in His heart, not in our worthiness.
Righteousness — dikaiosynē: a status given by God, not achieved; a gift credited to us because of Christ.
Holy — hagios: utterly set apart, morally perfect, uniquely pure; Revelation 15:4 says He alone is holy.
Faith — pistis: trustful dependence, leaning your whole weight on God’s reliability.
