[Date not given.]
Though so dissimilar, these passages teach the same truth, viz.: that love to the Lord Jesus Christ is the indispensable condition of salvation. The conditions of salvation are unalterable. They are the same at all times, and for all men. We can alter them neither for ourselves nor others.
I. Why is the love of Christ thus necessary? There must be some real necessity for it. It is not an arbitrary condition which might be altered at pleasure. It is an absolute necessity, and can no more be changed than God can change. Then why is it?
-
Because Christ is God. He is God in the clearest form of manifestation. It is impossible to love God as revealed in nature, or in the Old Testament, without loving Christ. That would be to love a person imperfectly known, and not love him when more clearly known. Christ, therefore, includes in himself the sum of divine perfections. All there is in God to command love, is in Christ.
-
Christ is God in our nature. He is thus invested with special attractions. (a.) Because possessed of another kind of excellence. (b.) Because brought into new and peculiar relation to us, a relation which he sustains to no other order of beings.
-
Because he has loved us and given himself for us. He has loved us enough to humble himself, to be found in fashion as a man, and to become obedient unto death, even the accursed death of the cross. To be insensible to such love and to such excellence combined, is indicative of the greatest moral degradation and depravity. God’s standard of judgment is different from ours. Many who think well of themselves, and are admired by others, will be abhorred and rejected by God.
-
Because by his love and death he has delivered us from inconceivable degradation and misery, and opened the way for access to eternal life and glory.
-
Because we are shut up to the necessity of loving Christ or Satan. There are but two sovereigns, we must choose between them. Not choosing Christ, is choosing Satan. Here stands Christ, and there stands Satan. Which do you choose?
II. What is it to love Christ, and how can we tell whether we love him or not? These questions need not be separated. The answer to the one involves the answer to the other. The difficulty which attends this subject arises from the comprehensiveness of the word “love,” and from the variety of its manifestations. We are said to love an infant, and to love God. Yet how different the states of mind expressed by the word! Analyze the love which you have for a father, and see how that sentiment manifests itself. 1. There is a feeling of reverence and complacency, which prevents you from ever treating him with neglect or indignity, and which makes his society agreeable to you. Love to Christ includes these sentiments; reverence for his person. He is an object of adoration to all who love him. Adoration is the expression of love. He is also the object of complacency. We delight in his excellence, and in his love, and are grateful for his benefits. And therefore intercourse with him is a pleasure, and not a burden; and in looking forward to heaven, our desire is to be with Christ, and to behold his glory. 2. Love to a father includes zeal for his honor. Any disrespect shown to him is painful to us, and anything which promotes his honor is a source of delight to us. We love those who love and honor him, and we avoid those who treat him with indignity. If we love Christ, we shall have analogous feelings towards him. We shall be zealous for his glory. Any neglect or irreverence shown the Saviour will wound our hearts. Any honor rendered him will give us delight. We will love those who love and honor him, and avoid those who neglect and abuse him. 3. The son who loves his father desires to please him, to do his will, obey his command, observe his counsel, always and in all places. So those who love Christ, keep his commandments. This is the test of love; not emotion, not excited feeling, but obedience.
What say you? Do you love the Lord Jesus Christ? On this question depends eternity. Here, those who love and those who do not love form a distinct class, though intermingled. Hereafter they will be separated. Do you desire to love? That is love, if it only leads to a constant endeavor to do his will, and to associate with his people.
← 153. Hope, the Helmet of Salvation.—1 Thess. 5:8 · Contents · 155. That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, &c. Eph. 3:17 →