No one said we "were" deserving.
What was said? Was that when grace and truth does its work in transforming a believer?
That the transformation that takes place is deserving of His love.
Now, God being omniscient? He knew while we were yet undeserving how He would transform us into being deserving.
Here is how we become deserving of His love in our experience if we mature in Christ....
We all, with unveiled faces, are looking as in a mirror at the glory of the Lord
and are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory; this is
from the Lord who is the Spirit." 2 Cor 3:18
Without being taught sound doctrine on a steady basis one can not experience what Paul was speaking about.
Paul did teach sound doctrine on a steady basis.
So 2 Cor 3:18 can only apply to those who have found a good pastor teacher. Many today have pastors who can
not teach sound doctrine on a regular basis.
2 Timothy 4:3
For the time will come when they will not tolerate sound doctrine.
Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them
a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
The more we become transformed into His image by the transformation of our thinking?
By means of sound doctrinal teaching?
The more we are made able (by grace) to experience the Love of God in our walk.
Keep in mind. Its not what God initially saved.
Its what we who are being transformed into after salvation that deserves His love!
In contrast..
Those who walk outside of grace?
Those who keep failing to transform into His image?
These ones can not know they have become what is deserving of God's love.
Usually, such as these resort to religion as a means to keep working for God's love....
Religion has infiltrated the Church for that reason, and has split it up into many denominations.
in Christ ............