Heart of the Gospel: A Message of God's Love

An early biblical scholar named Jerome (ca. 345-420) tells the story of Apostle John. The Apostle John wrote the Gospel of John and three Epistles (1 John, 2 John and 3 John) found in the New Testament. Jerome tells the story of the Apostle John as a very old man being carried into the church of Ephesus. The church had gathered to hear a message from the famous Apostle. However, the Apostle John would only repeat the words, “Little children, love one another.” When asked why, the Apostle John said, “Because it is the Lord’s command, and if this is one it is enough.”

Although many people anxiously seek to know what God wishes of them, they are intimidated by the size of the Bible—sixty-six books—as well as language that to some is difficult to understand. To the seeking Christian, however, whose heart is open to the message of an all-loving God, there is no reason for this. With just a little bit of guidance, the will of God is transparent to everyone who seeks it.

When we look closely into the Bible, we find that God has clearly stated what He expects of His children: To love Him with all our hearts and to love one another as we love ourselves. In practical terms, for joy and peace in this lifetime and eternal bliss in eternity, that’s all it takes. And far from being an esoteric or complicated message buried in the many books of the Old and New Testaments, that truth is proclaimed in some of the Holy Scriptures’ most familiar verses. That includes, for example, the ultimate expression of God’s love, as found in John 3: 16: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

In the Heart of the Gospel, author Lola Richey refines 20 years of reading and studying the Holy Bible to answer the question of What Does God Desire of Us? She reveals that the teachings of the Holy Bible center around a foundation of love.