I have chosen to title this blog ‘For the Love of Christ’ in reference to a single passage; namely, 2 Corinthians 5:14-15. Although this blog and possibly others will directly refer to this passage, I also wish to blog about other passages that God lays on my heart, and I believe that the theme of this verse is the umbrella under which I write. Therefore I want the theme of this “For the love of Christ” ‘umbrella’ to permeate the entire blog and its future content. I write because I feel constrained to do so; may my passion ever lie in and for the love of my Savior.
I first stumbled across 2 Cor. 5:14-15 sometime during my junior year, and ever since I have been impacted by its life changing truth. The passage states the following:
“For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised.”
For the moment, I will summarize what these verses have meant to me without looking at the cultural, historical context. The big hammer that I believe this passage has is the very significance of the conclusion made. The ‘that one has died for all’, and following, is pretty much the bare bones of the gospel. The ‘we’ of this passage concludes that the gospel is real; that Christ the Son of God died, sacrificially for the sins of the world, for His own glorification through His resurrection from the dead and His victory over physical and spiritual death, and for the eternal purpose of restoring sinners to eternal fellowship. The ‘we’ also concludes that there are several compelling factors of Christ’s substitutionary sacrifice, some namely stated that saved sinners are no longer constrained to sinfully serve themselves in the flesh, but are freed and even compelled to joyfully serve their Savior, Jesus Christ. Furthermore, the ‘we’ concludes that holding to the entirety of the above conclusion is directly proportional to a significant change on their lives, stated as being controlled by the love of Christ. They proclaim that the gospel, as we would call it, is real, binding, and eternal; and because of this reality, they are controlled by the love of Christ.
I plan to write more on looking deeper into the implications of exactly what it means to be controlled by the love of Christ and why it is important; but for now I will stop with my conviction and exhortation. As a Christian, it is because of the gospel that I live, both spiritually and purposefully. Part of what impacted me when I first contemplated this verse was the resolve and passion behind the conclusion that the gospel is real. The reality of what Christ has done for us is worth conclusion and resolve. Secondly, the reality of what Christ has done, for those who claim Him, is life changing. I cannot claim to love Christ and have Him as my Savior without a drastic impact on my life.
As Christians, we have been given an entirely new life that is completely free from the bonds of sin. Our debt has been paid, our slate eternally wiped clean. Col 2:14
In our new life, we have been given a direction and focus; to no longer live for ourselves as we used to, but to live for the one who paid our price, and presently owns us. We are not our own, for we are bondservants of God. Romans 6:18
In our new ‘slavery’, we are not forced against our will, for we are filled with and compelled by the love of Christ. Our service and worship of Him is selfless and joyful, because of the gospel.
Because of the gospel, then, Christ has died in my place and I am no longer my own; He died so that I would no longer live for myself in sin, but for Him in righteousness. I have concluded that the gospel is great and true; I conclude that Christ’s sacrifice is real, and I believe in Him as my Savior. Because of Gods saving work in me, to be theologically accurate, I am filled with the Holy Spirit who changes me into His image and sanctifies me to want God’s wants. I stand in awe of Christ’s love for me, and I am filled with love for Him. Therefore, because of the gospel, I am filled with and controlled by the love of Christ. I cannot help but to seek my greatest joy in Him, and to let His love control my life as I attempt to worship Him in it. I am resolved to live a life ‘For the love of Christ.’ God help me.
Resolve with me, dear reader, to live for Christ in light of what He has done for us.
~Soli Deo Gloria~