Musick-al Note # 66
Paul prayed for the Ephesians to be strengthened in their spirits so that Christ would dwell in them and that they might comprehend the breadth, length, height and the depth of His love that surpasses knowledge and be filled with the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-19). Jesus’ love is greater than man can comprehend. He left the joys and the bliss of heaven where He had the fellowship of God and the angels in order to save man. His love reaches to the very depth of sin, stretches to the ends of the earth, continues throughout all generations of men and saves every sinner who believes and obeys His will, bringing them to the throne of God (1 Corinthians 15:24, Hebrews 5:9). Jesus submitted to the Father’s will to ransom all men by paying the debt of sin for all men (Luke 22:41-44, Hebrews 5:7-8) was indeed a demonstration of his great love. God had long ago decreed that the soul who sinned would die (Ezekiel 18:4, Romans 6:23). Jesus’ death on the cross of Calvary was the final demonstration of His love (Hebrews 12:2). His death paid the penalty for the sins of all men (Hebrews 2:9, Romans 5:8, 18). The prophet Isaiah said that God would see his death and be satisfied (Isaiah 53:11).
His great love should cause us to love Him in return (1 John 4:19). When we love the Lord we will keep His words (John 14:15) and the words of his apostles (John 16:13-15, 2 Peter 1:3, 3:2) but what a great treasure we receive when we respond to Him! God also loves us and will dwell with us (John 14:23). If we do not obey Him, it is ample proof that we do not love Him. (John 14:24). Love inspires us to do the will of the Lord, but lack of love will cause us to fail to keep His sayings. Jesus stated in John 3:5 that we must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. That ‘birth’ of life in Christ is baptism (Galatians 3:26-27) in which all sins are washed away (Acts 22:16). This enables us to live a new life in Christ (Romans 6:3-14)/
Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5:14 that the love of Christ constrains us. It urges us to go with the gospel of Christ for He would save the world. Death overtakes men and women daily who are unprepared to meet God. Many have never heard a single gospel sermon, none has told them the glorious message of Christ that they might be saved. His love impels us to be busy in the work of the Lord, to encourage one another, to strengthen the weak, care for the sick and do all that is within our power to bring them to Christ. He loves us. Do we really love Him? Do we love Him enough to obey His will (John 14:15-24)?
Gordon Musick
Musick-al Notes 