A Gospel of Love

While some of these thoughts have been on my mind lately anyway, a friend's Facebook post prompted this discussion. It appears that there are many Christians of various faiths who believe that God hates sinners and will only love them when they have cast away their sin. It made me sad hearing that. "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). No one on earth is without sin. I am so grateful for a gospel that teaches that God loves all of His children!

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved" (John 3:16-17). God so loved the world. Not the prophets only, not the righteous only, not the Christians only. God so loved the world.

It is true that God does not condone sin: "the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance" (Alma 45:16, Doctrine & Covenants 1:31). But that does not stop Him from loving us, from opening His arms to us, from waiting for us to repent and return to Him. I imagine His feelings must be much like those of earthly parents, who feel sorrow when their children go astray, but who never stop loving their children. If God is unchangeable, and He so loved the world, surely He still so loves the world!

The atonement is the ultimate example of love. Jesus Christ laid down His life to redeem us from our sins. He was perfect. He had no need to repent, because He had no sin. But He made it possible for us to repent, to progress to return to Him.

The atonement makes forgiveness possible. It makes grace and mercy possible. Not only can I be forgiven of my sins, but through the power of the atonement I can find the strength to forgive myself and others, to progress each day, to do things that I could not do alone. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

This gospel is one of peace and love. It is the gospel of Jesus Christ. I know that He is my Savior, and that He knows and loves me as an individual. I am so grateful for the power of this love and for the strength and the hope that it gives me.