Jesus Christ gave his life as a human sacrifice for the sins of the human race. Can we say that since Jesus paid the debt of sin, as so often expressed, that God will then welcome ALL humans regardless of their sins in life?
Were there certain defects both in the Body and the Soul of Christ?
Yes; and such were necessary for the end of the Incarnation, which was to make satisfaction for our sins to come on earth as one of us to be for us an example by the practice of the highest virtues of patience and immolation (XIV.,XV.). (Cat. on the Summa Fr. Thomas Pegues, O. P,)
Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life, no one can come to the Father but by me.” We do not try to get into heaven. We die to natural operations of our body and live for the Holy Spirit, the seven-fold gift to emulate the imitation of Christ. We are given
the divine instruction not to expect heaven by our own body, but rather to hope on the fruit of the seeds of divine instruction. “We are saved by hope” (Rom 8:24) “Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Mt 7:21) Our will has to be divinized. This is the proper context to see satisfaction for sin.
God is expressed as love, merciful and will forgive each person, but, this is on condition that the person asks to be forgiven.
Again, we take on Christ, and die to self. “I die daily” (1 Cor 15:31) “And put on the new man, who according to God is created in justice and holiness of truth.” (Eph 4:24) “And putting on the new, him who is renewed unto knowledge, according to the image of him that created him.” (Col 3:10) Primarily, this knowledge leads to the value of heaven over pursuit that ends in this world, this value is by our risk of freedom to choose the truthful instruction. For we diligently choose not to be deceived. As soul and body we are responsible for its mortal condition, and bring it into divinization.
God would always love a person, even if they do not worship God in any way, so wouldn’t God give his mercy and forgiveness too?
In his love God in subtle ways reveals consequence of the sin. But yet, often times the mortal condition traps the soul, “He hath blinded their eyes, and hardened their heart, that they should not see with their eyes, nor understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them.” (Jn 12:40) This is one aspect, but it doesn’t answer the question. I think a good way to look at it, is the testimony of Saint Anthony the Great: "When the same Abba Anthony thought about the depth of the judgments of God, he asked, “Lord, how is it that some die when they are young, while others drag on to extreme old age? Why are there those who are poor, and those who are rich? Why do wicked men prosper, and why are the just in need?” He heard a voice answering him, “Anthony, keep your attention on yourself. These things are according to the judgment of God, and it is not to your advantage to know anything about them.”
What is the difference between God’s love and God’s forgiveness?
Love is a reciprocal partnership to collaborate to a certain end in view in which strives to avoid the less noble things. Forgiveness is the means to get through what is less noble and continue on the partnership granted that the same goal is sought.
