What is the Love of Christ ?

1. "Whatis JesusChrist’s love?"- 30th
May 2017
“But Goddemonstrateshis ownlove for us in this:While we were still sinners,Christdied forus.”
(Romans5: 8).
The phrase “Christ’slove,”asopposedto“love forChrist,”referstothe love that He has toward
mankind.Hislove canbe brieflystatedasHiswillingnesstoactin ourbestinterest,especiallyinmeeting
our greatestneed…andthatis our salvation.Thisisafree giftof God availedforthe believerinJesus
Christas one’ssaviour.Jesus Christ, whowe believe asGod inthe flesh,hadto sufferanddie tosave us
frometernal damnation.We learnin John3:16, “ For Godso lovedthe world that he gave his one and
onlySon, that whoever believesin him shall notperish but have eternal life.” A promise of eternal
life…ButasChristianswe needtobearinmindthat eventhoughitcost Him everything, we were the
leastworthyof such love…
The bible teachesusthatJesus Christexistedfromthe beginningof time withGodthe Father as stated
inJohn 1:1, “In the beginningwasthe Word,andthe Wordwas withGod,and the Wordwas God.” He
become a man,that He mightpaythe penaltyforoursinso that we wouldnothave to pay forit for all
eternityinthe lake of fire aswe can read from Revelation20:11-15. Because mankind’ssinhasbeen
paidfor byour sinlessSaviorJesusChrist,Godwhoisjustandholycan now forgive oursinswhenwe
accept ChristJesus’paymentasourown as we can learnwhenwe read Romans3:21-24, “But now
apart fromthe lawthe righteousnessofGodhas been made known,to which the Law and the
Prophets testify.22
Thisrighteousnessis given through faithinJesus Christto all whobelieve. There is
no differencebetween Jew and Gentile, 23
forall have sinnedand fall short ofthe gloryof God, 24
and
all are justifiedfreelyby his grace throughthe redemption that came by ChristJesus.”
The bible alsoteachesusthat God presentedJesusChristasa sacrifice of atonementtodemonstrateHis
righteousnesstoall of mankind.We can learnthisfromreading Romans3:25-26, “GodpresentedChrist
as a sacrificeof atonement,throughthe sheddingofhis blood—tobereceived by faith.He didthis to
demonstrate hisrighteousness,becausein hisforbearance he had leftthe sinscommittedbeforehand
unpunished— 26
hedidit to demonstratehis righteousnessat the present time, so as to be just andthe
one who justifiesthosewho have faithin Jesus.” Thus,Christ’slove isshowninHisleavingHishome in
heaven,where He wasworshippedandhonoredasHe deserved,tocome toearth as a man where He
wouldbe mocked,betrayed,beaten,andcrucifiedonacross to pay the penaltyforour sin,risingagain
fromthe deadonthe thirdday.He consideredourneedof aSaviorfrom oursin andits penaltyasmore
importantthanHis owncomfortand life aswe can learnfrom Philippians2:3-8, ‘Inyour relationships
with one another,have the same mindset asChrist Jesus: 6
Who,being invery nature God, didnot
considerequalitywith Godsomethingto be used to his ownadvantage;7
rather,he made himself
nothingby takingthe very nature ofa servant, being madein humanlikeness.8
Andbeingfoundin
appearanceas a man, he humbledhimself bybecomingobedient to death—evendeath on a cross!
Sometimespeoplemaygive theirliveswillinglyforonestheydeemasworthy—afriend,arelative,other
“good” people—butChrist’slovegoesbeyondthat.Christ’slove extendstothose mostunworthyof it.
He willinglytookthe terrible punishmentgivenby those whotorturedHim, hatedHim, rebelledagainst
Him,and cared nothingaboutHim and therefore practically those whowere mostundeservingof His
love…butHe diedforall while we were still sinners! “Yousee,at just the right time,when we were still
powerless,Christ diedfor the ungodly. 7
Very rarely will anyone diefor a righteousperson, thoughfor

2. a goodperson someone mightpossiblydareto die. 8
But God demonstrateshisown love for us inthis:
Whilewe were still sinners,Christdied for us.” (Romans5:6-8).
We can learnthroughthe gospelsthatJesus gave the mostHe couldgive forthose whodeserveditthe
least…!Sacrifice,then,isthe essence of godlylove,called agapelove.Thisislove of Christ,NOTman-
like love aswe knowit.We get a good understandingaboutthe deference inthe Love of Christwhen
Jesushimselfsaysin Matthew5:43-48, “Youhave heard that it wassaid,‘Love yourneighbor andhate
your enemy.’ 44
But I tell you,love your enemies andpray for those who persecute you, 45
thatyou may
be childrenof your Father in heaven.He causes hissun to rise on the evil andthe good,andsends rain
on the righteousand the unrighteous. 46
Ifyou love thosewho love you,what reward will youget? Are
not even the taxcollectors doingthat? 47
And ifyou greet onlyyour own people,what are you doing
more than others? Do not even pagansdo that? 48
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenlyFather is
perfect.” Histeachingisso radical that thisseemsimpossibleforus…butthat is the love of Christ and
He desiresustohave as Christfollower!
Thislove whichHe demonstratedtowardusonthe crossis justthe beginning because there ismore...
Whenwe place our trust inHim as our Savior,He makesus God’schildren,co-heirswithHim!He comes
to dwell withinusthroughHisHoly Spirit,promisingthatHe will neverleave usorforsake us as we learn
fromHebrews 13:5-6, “Keep your lives free from the love of moneyand be content with whatyou
have, becauseGod hassaid,“Never will I leave you; never will I forsakeyou.”6
Sowe say with
confidence,“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.Whatcan mere mortalsdo to me?”
Therefore asChristianswe needtosteadfastlybearinmindthatinJesusChrist we have a loving
companionforlife.Andnomatterwhat everwe go through,He is there,andHis love iseveravailableto
us.Because we can learnwhere Romans8:35, tellsus:“Whoshall separate us from the love ofChrist?
Shall troubleor hardshiporpersecution or famineor nakedness or danger or sword? Actuallyitiswe
whoseparate ourselvesfromHispresence throughoursinandsinful ways!Butas He reignsasa
benevolentKinginheaven asHe has for the beginningof time,andwe needtogive Him the beep
understandingastowhohe was,whoIs and whoHe will be tous forever! AsChristianswe needtotrust
and believe inHimasour companion andmore…and throughoutourlife.Itisonly thenthat we will
experience life asHe intended ustohave andlive inthe fullnessof Hislove.