In 1984, the Irish rock band U2 released a song titled “In the Name of Love.” The song is a tribute to people who gave their lives because of their love for something that mattered more to them. The first lines of the song go like this.

One man come in the name of love
One man come and go
One man come he to justify
One man to overthrow

One man caught on a barbed wire fence
One man he resist
One man washed on an empty beach
One man betrayed with a kiss

Early evening, April 4
Shot rings out in the Memphis sky
Free at last, they took your life
They could not take your pride

In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?
In the name of love!
What more in the name of love?

These lyrics refer to the soldiers of World War II who fought and died for the sake of Europe’s freedom as well as the pacifists who opposed the war because of their love for peace at all costs. The line about the man “washed up on an empty beach” likely refers to Roger Casement, an Irish nationalist who fought human rights abuses in the Congo and Peru. He was put to death by the British government in 1916. The song is also a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. who was assassinated on April 4th, 1968, because of his efforts, through love and nonviolence, to end discrimination against blacks in America. All of these people died because they loved an ideal and they loved people more than they loved their own lives.

The song is also about Jesus Christ who was “betrayed with a kiss” and willingly went to the cross to die for the sins of the entire world. In John 15:13, Jesus Christ told his disciples, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 1 Corinthians 13:13 says, “And now abideth faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

John 3:16 says, “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.” Jesus Christ, as God’s Son, willingly came down from Heaven, took on the form of a human being, and died on the cross for our sins all because of his great love for us. He did not come down and die for us because we were good people, or because we were rich, or because he was trying to get us to worship him. He came down and died for us only because he loved us and because he did not want to see us die and spend eternity without him. As U2 sings, what more could he have done in the name of love?

Jesus Christ made the first move, stepping toward us and holding out his arms, ready to welcome us into his family as one of God’s children. But, as you know, there are two sides to every love story. We must respond to his love. We can turn our backs on his outstretched arms, or we can run to him and throw ourselves into the sea of his love, mercy, and grace, allowing his blood to wash over us — crimson waves purifying us and cleansing us from all our sins.

We all fall short of God’s perfect holiness. We do not deserve to be loved the way he loves us. And since He is unable to accept us in our fallen, sinful state, He provided the solution by sending His Son Jesus to earth — to live as a man and die on the cross. This is the ultimate expression of love. As 1 John 4:10 states, “In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation (the appeasement — the satisfying sacrifice) for our sins.”

The question that remains is: will you receive Jesus’ love? Will you respond to the invitation that he is offering you? The wise will accept the free gift of salvation. They will receive Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior and commit to follow Him. If you want to do this in response to his amazing love, allow me to show you how:

First, recognize that your sins have separated you from God. Our sins are the bad or wrong things that we do. In honest repentance, agree with God about your sinfulness and admit your need for forgiveness. 1 John 1:9 says, “If we confess our sins, he [God] is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Because of our sins, we are automatically sentenced to die and go to an awful place called hell. The Bible says in Romans 6:23 that “the wages of sin is death.” Revelation 21:8 says, “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.” This is what happens to those who die without giving their life to Jesus Christ while they have a chance.

Second, realize that God loves you, and believe that his perfect Son, Jesus Christ, died for our sins –taking the punishment that we deserve. Romans 5:8 says, “But God commendeth (or showed) his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ on the cross, we do not have to go to Hell. We can be saved from that terrible place.

Third, accept this invitation from Jesus Christ to receive salvation by trusting him by faith to be your Savior. Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “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.” “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

If you trust Jesus Christ for salvation, you will be saved from sin, spiritual death, and hell. You will be guaranteed a life worth living on earth and eternal life in Heaven. If this is your heart’s desire, you can pray a short prayer to let God know about your decision:

Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today and forever. Amen.

If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! I want to congratulate you on doing the most important thing in life and that is receiving Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”

Believe by faith. Share the faith. And keep the faith! God Bless You!