He Loves Me Anyway

by Greg Quinn

March 20th, 2023

We humans cannot do things right. We mess up. The Bible calls it "sin". You get it. You try your best and still you fail. And you look around in a world where many don't even try to do right. Evil and darkness are all around. Bad things are happening all the time. Things sometimes seem so dark we don't know what to do, how to take the next step. We try and fail. We try and fail. We try and fail. And don't know the answers.

There is a song by Sidewalk Prophets called "You Love Me Anyway". Some of the lyrics say,

But You love me anyway 

Oh God, how You love me 

Yes You love me anyway 

It's like nothing in life 

That I've ever known 

Yes You love me anyway 

Oh Lord, how You love me

The song goes on to mention the failures of mankind which put Jesus on the cross to die for our sins. Yet the answer to all of them is "you love me anyway".

One of our biggest obstacles as a Christian, or actually as a human being, is that we truly do not understand or embrace the depth of God's love for us. The Bible is filled, from Genesis to Revelation, with examples of God's love for us, His children. The culmination of the Bible is the source of God's love was broken and spilled out for us in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. On that cross Jesus took upon Himself all the sins of mankind. Every sin. All sins. Everything anyone has ever done. Anything you could ever think or do. Jesus took those sins as the sacrifice to redeem you from Hell to a Holy God, with promises of a good life on Earth and eternity with God in Heaven. So, the answer to any problem or sin or question or obstacle in our life is summed up in Jesus' sacrifice on the cross for us. Why did He do it? Because of love. He loves us in spite of what we do, in spite of our failures. The simple answer is "He loves me anyway".

John 3:16 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.

Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

As we reflect upon our lives, we think about where we have failed. We failed God. We failed friends. We failed family. We failed ourselves. We feel guilty and ashamed. But that's not God's plan for us! Why should we carry guilt when Jesus took away all our guilt at the cross? Why should we be ashamed when all the shame for the whole world was placed upon Jesus?

We can go over and over all our sin and the things we have done wrong, but still the answer from God is "I love you anyway". But we say, "I don't deserve your love! Look what I've done!". Friends, it doesn't matter what you have done. It matters only what God has done for you. Nothing we can do good enough to pay for our failures. So God did it for you. Jesus died for your sins because there is nothing you can do about it. And why did He do it? Because "He loves me anyway."

Without the understanding and acceptance of God's love for you, your life will seem to be pointless, dark, indifferent, alone, scared, without purpose, failure, shameful, guilt-ridden. We will go through life in darkness. Once we understand God's love for us, then everything in life becomes more clear. With peace. And purpose.

God's love for us is revealed in the Grace of God which redeemed us from a perilous life and a tragic eternity to one of love and peace and joy, and of an amazing eternity with God in Heaven. Because of God's love. God's grace. The definition of grace is "unmerited favor". Meaning that you were given favor even though you didn't deserve it. Grace. God's love. Because "He loves me anyway." In spite of our sin. He loves me (and you) anyway.

1 John 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

To gain this grace, all we have to do is agree that we are sinners, that we fail, and that in our imperfection we cannot gain access to a Holy God. There is nothing we can do to save ourselves, as we are imperfect. And because of our sin we are doomed to an eternity apart from God in Hell. However, God's grace provides for us an escape. God's grace is in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, who came to earth as all man and all God, and who lived a perfect life as an example to us. And, becoming the sacrifice in our place, Jesus died on the cross to redeem us from our sin, to buy us back to God. His sacrifice took our place. But the grave could not hold Jesus, and he rose from the dead to provide for each of us eternal life. Eternity with God in the glories of Heaven. And while we live here on earth, God the Holy Spirit dwells in us and helps us in every area of our lives. And the best part. It's free. A gift. Nothing we can do to earn it. We simply accept Jesus' sacrifice in our place, believe that He is the Son of God who died for our sins, accept him as our Lord, receive this grace (unmerited favor), believe He rose again, and that He did this for us. Me. You. With this acceptance of the love of God through Jesus His Son, you will inherit eternal life and be saved. 

Because "He loves me anyway".

There is an old hymn named "Grace Greater Than Our Sin". 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord, 

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt! 

Yonder on Calvary's mount out-poured 

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; 

Grace, grace, God's grace, 

Grace that is greater than all our sin!

If you have never done so, please accept the love of God today. The Bible makes it very simple as how to receive salvation from your sin. 

Romans 10: 9-10 
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Pray with me something like this. "God, I know I am a sinner. I know I have done wrong in my life. And I know there is nothing I can do that's good enough to gain forgiveness for these sins. I believe, however, that Jesus came and died for my sins, and through my belief in him right now, I receive forgiveness for my sins. I believe Jesus died for me because of His love for me. I believe Jesus arose from the dead. I believe that I am going to Heaven because of this grace. I receive this gift today. Thank you, Lord. I am saved. In Jesus' name. Amen."

If you prayed this prayer, then according to the Bible, God's Holy Word, you are saved, forgiven, and set apart for a wonderful life, and an eternity with God.

As you continue on this journey called "life", no matter what you face, no matter what you've done, remember one thing. "He loves me anyway".

God bless,

Greg Quinn