When the movie Love Story hit the big screen in 1970, a line from the movie became a popular slogan: “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” It could be found on posters, refrigerator magnets, coffee cups, etc.

The implication was that if you love someone, they will automatically know you’re sorry. No words necessary. I wonder how many marriages ended in divorce because of following that pithy piece of advice?

Love, in fact, always means saying you’re sorry. Sometimes, however, even the words “I’m sorry” ring hollow because too often they’re followed with a three-letter apology killer—but. “I’m sorry, but you started it.” “I’m sorry, but you just don’t understand.”

A sincere apology replaces the word but with two different words: forgive me. Asking for forgiveness demonstrates that we accept full responsibility for the sin we’ve committed and the hurt we’ve caused, without excuse or blame.  

Conditional apologies don’t cut it with God either. God sees expressions of regret such as: “I’m sorry, Lord, but … it’s my parents’ fault … you made me this way … the woman you gave me made me eat the fruit …” as hollow and unreliable.

Thankfully, God offers us a but we can rely on: “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9 NLT).

Love means always having to say, “Forgive me.”