Love in the New World

God's love and the love of Jesus are readily available without cost, and understanding these concepts can enhance one's spiritual journey. Shawn McCraney examines Mormon beliefs about water baptism, the sacrament, and the Holy Spirit, contrasting these with biblical teachings that emphasize love for God and neighbor as the singular requirement for eternal life, which is supported by scriptures like Luke 10:25.

To inherit eternal life, which was a common inquiry among Jews of that era, Jesus emphasized faith and adherence to commandments, ultimately teaching that eternal life is linked with belief in Him and is granted to those who embrace His teachings. The concept of "eternal life" in the New Testament involves not merely an afterlife but a profound connection to Jesus, promising a life beyond suffering and loss, and a resurrection fit to dwell in the presence of God.

To inherit eternal life, a belief in Jesus Christ and His gift of grace is essential, as Paul and John emphasize that eternal life is obtained through faith in Jesus, beyond mere adherence to the Law. Eternal life is a promise given by God, as reaffirmed across multiple scriptures including Romans, Timothy, Titus, and 1 John, encouraging believers to place hope and faith in Jesus for true salvation and the transformation needed to be in God's presence.

Shawn teaches that the Law acts as a schoolmaster, highlighting human failures and emphasizing the impossibility of perfectly loving God with all one's heart, soul, strength, and mind, as well as loving one's neighbor as oneself. Through the scribe's interaction with Jesus, the lesson illustrates that true adherence to these commandments is unattainable alone, and emphasizes that love is the fulfillment of the Law, applicable to all people without exclusion.

Jesus teaches through the parable of the Good Samaritan that true righteousness is demonstrated by acts of mercy and compassion rather than mere ritual adherence to religious laws. Despite societal expectations, it was a Samaritan—an outsider and adversary to the Jews—who embodied the love and kindness God desires, highlighting that loving God and one's neighbor is the essence of eternal life.

To illustrate true neighborly love, the teaching emphasizes the Samaritan's actions of compassion, sacrifice, and responsibility towards an injured man he did not know, contrasting this with the inaction of others, thereby showcasing profound love for others regardless of societal boundaries. By encouraging the scribe to "Go, and do likewise," it underscores that embodying committed and costly love for one's neighbor is essential for eternal life and is above merely believing in Jesus without action.

The lesson of the Good Samaritan emphasizes that while the ultimate goal is to embody sacrificial love by "going and doing likewise," it is truly impossible to accomplish this if we cling to the traditions and prejudices of religious doctrine rather than following Jesus, who embodies eternal life. Jesus challenges us to choose between religious constraints and genuinely loving others, highlighting that this transformative love can only be achieved by embracing Him over rigid adherence to the Law.