Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God

Above all things have fervent love for one another, for "love will cover a multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

America's colonial preacher, Jonathan Edwards, is famous for his sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God," which fueled the Great Awakening. But he also often spoke of God's love. In his Christian Love as Manifested in the Heart and Life, Edwards wrote, "Such was the love of Christ to us that He did, as it were, spend Himself for our sake. His love did not rest in mere feeling nor in light efforts and small sacrifices; but though we were enemies, yet He so loved us that He had a heart to deny Himself and undertake the greatest efforts and undergo the greatest sufferings for our sake. He gave up His own ease and comfort and interest and honor and wealth, and became poor and outcast and despised... and all for us!" “Jesus commands us to love as He loved. His standard for dealing with a spouse or family member is based on the internal workings of the heart, not the day-to-day desire to have someone conforming to our ideals. No one is perfect. But Christ loves imperfect people. He calls us to love one another. And love covers a multitude of sins.

“If this is our spirit, our love to others will not depend on their love to us, but we shall do as Christ did to us--love them.” Jonathan Edwards