God's Love for You

Everyone senses that something is wrong with the human race: we are all sinners, and on our own we cannot break free. But God is love. He sent his Son, who died and rose to save us, and he invites each of us to choose him by repenting, believing, being baptized, and joining the Church Christ founded.

Something is wrong

We are not as kind, generous or loving as we should be. We are selfish and sometimes cruel, and we fall short even of our own standards. The Bible calls this sin. It is all around us and inside us; we are all sinners, in large ways and small.

When God first made man, he made him able to live and love as he should, free from sin and from its worst consequence, death. But our first parents turned away from God. Sin violates God's law, a law designed to make us happy. In breaking it we turn away from him, and if we do not come back we will be separated from him forever. Yet we are caught in a cycle of sin we cannot break on our own.

The love of God

God has not abandoned us, because God is love. He sent his only Son to become one of us and save the human race. Jesus of Nazareth, the Messiah, taught, healed the sick, gave sight to the blind and raised the dead, showing God's desire to heal us spiritually as well as physically.

The Cross

Though he was God in the flesh, Jesus let himself be scourged, crowned with thorns and crucified. He offered his life as an act of love so perfect that it paid for the sins of the whole world. Only God could do this: as finite creatures we could never pay for offenses against God's infinite holiness. Then Jesus rose from the dead, a sign of what awaits all who turn to God: when he returns, those who have loved God will share in a glorious resurrection and eternal life.

What will you choose?

God respects our freedom; if anyone chooses eternity apart from him, he allows it. If you choose to embrace God's love, you must become a follower of Christ: repent of your sins, believe in Christ, and be baptized. God will fill you with his Holy Spirit.

Being a Christian includes belonging to the Church Christ founded. Jesus made the apostle Peter the rock on which he built his Church (Matthew 16:18), and for 2,000 years the popes, Peter's successors, have led it. Since the early centuries it has been called the Catholic ("universal") Church. Many offshoots arose, but you need to join the one Church Jesus founded for you and promised to preserve.

What to do next

Build your relationship with God through daily prayer.
Attend Mass at your local Catholic church on Sunday.
Join the Church: if you were Catholic before, go to confession; if not, ask your parish about its program for becoming Catholic.
Read the Bible and a good catechism; the most authoritative is the Catechism of the Catholic Church.
Get your questions answered by your parish or by Catholic Answers.
Tell others how God has blessed your life.