Over the last few weeks, in my “Come Follow Me” reading, I’ve come across several verses that make me think of Christ’s unconditional love. These verses have emphasized to me how much He loves us and wants us to succeed. While there are many verses where our Savior’s unconditional love is shown, I’m going to be looking at verses from the last half of 2 Nephi. Please note, these are all my own opinions. You may read these verses differently than me.
… “But His Hand is Stretched Out Still”
From 2 Nephi 15:25 through 2 Nephi 20:4, there are at least five verses that contain the phrase, “For all this his anger is not turned away, but his hand is stretched out still.”
To me, this phrase demonstrates two important truths. First, our Savior is not going to ignore or overlook sin. When we sin, we are accountable for it. Our sins make Him unhappy, or as it is phrased in the verses, “angry.”
Yet, the second message offers hope. When we have sinned, His hand is stretched out, ready to help us. Through His unconditional love, He reaches out, ready to help us when we struggle. He wants us to return to the path of righteousness.
To me, the fact that this phrase is included in multiple verses emphasizes its importance. We need to know that Christ loves us and that He wants to help us. We also, though, need to remember that this does not mean that He will ignore our sins.
All Shall Partake
2 Nephi 26 has several verses that talk about how Christ is not going to turn people away from salvation. Verse 24 says, “… Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.” The next verse says, “Behold, doth he cry unto any saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto, Nay….” Both verses emphasize His attitude that if we are willing to follow Him, Christ is willing to accept us into His fold. More than that, though, He wants us in His fold.
More Unconditional Love
2 Nephi 26:33 stands out as one of the best representations of Christ’s unconditional love. Unlike many of us, Christ is not being judgmental based on race, gender, material goods, or other criteria. He simply wants everyone everywhere to come unto Him and accept of His sacrifice.
Follow Him
Another area where Christ demonstrates His conditional love is through His desire for us to follow His example. 2 Nephi 31 talks about this a lot. Because He loves us, our Savior provided an example for us. By following this example, we can return to Heavenly Father. He is our teacher, and He is teaching us a priceless lesson through example. Yet, He’s not asking for money or any earthly payment. Repentance and seeking to be more like Him is really the only payment required.
Our Unconditional Love
Of course, there are many other verses demonstrating Christ’s unconditional love. Even in this section, there are many verses that I didn’t mention, which represent His unconditional love for us. Each of these examples, though, show us how we can show unconditional love in our own way.
We can also recognize sin for what it is while also being willing to help others overcome sin. We can be a friend and support someone who is struggling to repent. This support may include encouraging the friend to confess the sin to their bishop if the sin is serious. It might include helping the person find a different habit to replace an unrighteous one. It might just mean being willing to listen to your friend’s concerns about the struggle.
Like Christ, we can invite others to participate in His gospel message. We should avoid assuming that someone isn’t worthy or wouldn’t be interested. Like our Savior, we can invite all to come unto Him.
Finally, we can also be an example. While we will not be perfect examples, the things we do and the way we act can be examples of righteousness to others. Through these actions, we can begin to develop and show unconditional love for others.
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