GOD'S EVERLASTING LOVE Prior to this, Romans has mentioned "the love of God," which is "poured out within our hearts by the Holy Spirit" (5:5, NASB). Later, we will read of the "love of the Spirit," which has a powerful influence upon the people of God (15:30). Now, for the first time in the book of Romans, we read of "the love of Christ." In all three cases, the love is toward the believer. It is not speaking of the believers love for God, the Spirit, or Christ – even though all three are found in the redeemed. Here, the reference is to Christ's love FOR us. His love is the stronger and more effective love! Our love derives its effectiveness and acceptability from His. CHRIST AND THE CHURCH Christ's love is exclusively related to His children, or brethren – the church. It was in this sense that He said to His disciples, "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, AND I WILL LOVE HIM and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21, NKJV). While God's love is said to have been focused on the world in Christ (John 3:16), this is never said of Jesus Christ. There is an exclusive relationship He holds with the saved, and His love focuses upon that. THE REASON FOR THIS REPRESENTATION There is a reason for this representation, and we do well to consider it. No one should conclude from these remarks that Christ has no interest in the world, or that His atoning death was not for them. This is not, however, how Christ's love is proclaimed. SEPARATED FROM THE LOVE OF CHRIST To be separated from the love of Christ is to be pushed beyond His loving care as the "good Shepherd." It is to be moved where His intercession is ineffectual, and where He no longer teaches. To be separated from the "love of Christ" is to be no longer led to glory, or taste of the benefits of His heavenly ministry. – Tomorrow:
"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written: 'For Your sake we are killed all day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.' Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35-39, NKJV)
"The love of Christ" for the saved is mentioned five other places in Scripture.
1. "For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again" (2 Cor 5:14-15, NKJV).
2. "That He [God] would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height; to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God" (Eph 3:16-19, NKJV).
3. "Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish" (Eph 5:25-27, NKJV).
4. "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Gal 2:20, NKJV).
5. "And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor" (Eph 5:2, NKJV).
It is true that Paul said, "Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me" (Gal 2:20). That was, however, the same love of which Jesus spoke when he said, "the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep" (John 10:11). It is the same love referenced in Ephesians 5:25; "Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it."
In the Divine economy, God turns the saved over to Jesus. They are referred to as those whom God has given to Christ. He trusts His Son to bring them home.
1. "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out
of My hand. My Father, who HAS GIVEN THEM TO ME, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father's hand" (John 10:28-29).
2. "This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all HE HAS GIVEN ME I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day" (John 6:39).
3. "I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, for they are Yours" (John 17:9).
4. "Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, that they may be one as We are" (John 17:11).
5. "Father, I desire that they also whom YOU GAVE ME may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world" (John 17:24).
6. "And again: 'I will put My trust in Him.' And again: 'Here am I and the children WHOM GOD HAS GIVEN TO ME'" (Heb 2:13).
These are the people Christ shepherds (John 10:11,14), leads (John 10;3), teaches (Eph 4:20-21), and for whom He faithfully intercedes (Heb 7:25). His mediatorship is exclusively for them (Heb 12:24), and He is bringing them alone "to glory" (Heb 2:10). He is the "Captain of their salvation" (Heb 2:10), and ministers in "the true tabernacle" exclusively for them (Heb 8:2). He is actually ruling the entire world with them in mind, marshaling favorable forces for them, and subduing inimical ones.
For any person interested in this "great salvation," this is a pertinent question, indeed! Is there something in earth's battle zone that can cut off the heavenly supplies? Is there an enemy that can suffocate our spirits by shutting off communication with the Lord of glory? Can circumstance separate us from Christ's love? That is what it means to be separated from the love of Christ! It is essential that we know if it is possible to face any adversary or circumstance that can effectively move us beyond the perimeter of Christ's loving care, thus separating us from it.
PRAYER POINT: Father, I ask You in the name of Jesus to help me be more aware of His great love for me.