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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 850. Eph 3:18-19. The Wonders of Christ's Love
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Eph_3:18-19. The Wonders of Christ's Love
"May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge."—Eph_3:18, Eph_3:19.
Every word of the concluding part of the text might well furnish enough of matter for a profitable discourse.
"Christ!"—what discourse could exhaust that theme! When should we have done with all the great essential particulars connected with him? His various offices—work—sufferings—and glory. Then the "love of Christ,"—the great spring—the eternal fountain—the active cause and source of every blessing—the glory and blessedness of Christ's nature. Then, "to know,"—clearly to discern and perceive the nature, peculiarities, excellences, and value, of this "love."
How rich, then, is the text before us! We can only take a few feeble glances at some of the all-important truths contained in it.
We request your consideration, then,
I. To the love of Christ.
II. To some of its dimensions.
III. To our experimental knowledge of it.
IV. To a few of its unknowable features. Let us advert, then,
I. To the love of Christ. Now the love of Christ to our sinful race, was a love,
1. Of rich mercy and pure compassion. Not an admiring love of excellences; for we were vile and polluted. Not a Complacent affection of delight. But a feeling of commiserating pity and compassion, where there was every thing to condemn, abhor, and hate; for there was no trait of loveliness in us. Consider,
2. The general and self-denying character of the love of Christ.
Not mere pity; not a powerful emotion only; but it was love embodied in his nature—undertaking humiliation, suffering, and death. He became a man of sorrows and griefs, to effect our redemption. "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich."—2Co_8:8, 2Co_8:9. He loved us and gave himself for us—Gethsemane and the cross—how they attest it!
Notice,
3. The grand objects contemplated by its manifestation.
Christ, in his love to us, contemplated our delivery from guilt—from moral defilement—the curse of the divine law—and from eternal death. Then its positive design was, our salvation from all evil, and to the enjoyment of peace, holiness, and eternal life—that we might "not perish, but have everlasting life." These are the three grand features of the love of Christ to our dying world.
Notice, then,
II. Some of its dimensions.
The text directs us,
1. To its breadth.
Now this idea may refer to the extent and multitude of its objects. Did he love all men, or merely some? Did he die for all, or only for a few? If only for a very few, I do not see how its breadth can be matter for wondrous admiration. But his love did extend to the whole world, and to every creature. Our entire species are all inclosed in it; not one soul left out. All were guilty—all were miserable—all were condemned—all were perishing—and he took upon himself the "iniquity of us all."
The rejection of this love by some, and their ruin thereby, does not affect the love itself.
2. Its length.
Or the durability of this love. A love preceding the world's existence, and lasting beyond the end of time. Properly and essentially eternal; coeval with Christ's own being. It was in his heart before he had formed the world, or created one responsible being; and runs parallel with all time, and to the eternal ages to come.
Then there is,
3. Its depth.
This may well refer to the condition of its objects, to which we have already referred. It stooped down to earth—to its rebels, hateful haters of God and of one another. The poet has well said—
"At bell's dark door we lay."
On the very verge of the pit. The Bible says "we were children of wrath,"—"ungodly." How fully this was established in the treatment Christ received! He came to his own, but his own rejected him, and put him to death, and preferred Barabbas, who was a murderer. But notice, also,
4. Its height.
This is seen in what this love confers; the celestial blessings it bestows, and the dignities and glories it reveals. It raises fallen men to Christ's favor—likeness—sonship—heirship of God, and of his eternal kingdom and glory. Hence, we see what it comprehends, in the prayer of the Lord Jesus, offered on behalf of his ransomed people—
"And the glory which thou gavest me, I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one; I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. Father, I will that they also, whom thou hast given me, be with me where I am; that they may behold my glory, which thou hast given me: for thou lovedst me before the foundation of the world."—Joh_17:22-24. And the final sublime exaltation of the beatified saint is expressed in that rich promise—"To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."—Rev_3:21.
Such, then, are the glorious dimensions of the Saviour's love. But notice in the text a reference,
III. To the experimental knowledge of it.
"To know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge."
To know it,
1. As revealed to us in the divine word. The Holy Spirit has inspired a blessed revelation of it. This is in fact the very heart and life of the gospel. It should be heard, and read; and meditated on, so that the word of Christ may dwell in us richly. Now it is by seeing it in the sacred pages of the divine book, and from them bringing it to bear on ourselves by faith, that we attain to a spiritual apprehension of it. And the word of God, while it is precious to us on every possible account, yet it is preeminently so, as it contains the striking record of the Saviour's love. Christ is to the word what the pearl is to the casket, or the Shekinah to the temple. The Scriptures in themselves would be beautiful, marvellous, and interesting, but they are also saving, as revealing to us the love and work of the Lord Jesus Christ. To know it,
2. As experienced in our hearts.
To know it by its being shed abroad in our souls by the Holy Ghost. To know it thus really, and for ourselves. To feel its melting and renewing power: to be. saved by it from the love of sin, and to the love of holiness. This is the inward assurance and personal result of faith in the revelation of it, as given in the gospel.
To know it,
3. In its transforming influence.
Christ's love transforms the heart and life—subordinates the emotions to God, and enables the believer to exclaim, "We love him because he first loved us!"
It produces in us the mind of Christ—it gives tenderness and affection to the heart—spirituality to the mind—obedience to the life, and holiness to the character. This is to know the love of Christ in demonstration and in power: and we should know this more and more; we should grow in it, until like fire it has consumed every evil element within us, and transmuted our whole being into Christ's holy and divine nature. "But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord."—2Co_3:18.
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust."—2Pe_1:4.
Yet observe the text refers,
IV. To the unknowable features of this love.
"Which passeth knowledge." Now, much as we may know of Christ's love—and we may know all that is essential to salvation, and be eternally increasing in it—yet in many particulars it is beyond our comprehension, and "passeth knowledge."
It does so,
1. In its rise.
We cannot trace it to its springing forth; nor assign an adequate reason for it. All we can say is, that he "so loved us."
It does so,
2. In Usefulness.
Men may compute the dimensions of the ocean, and its contents; and the sun, and its light; but this ocean of love—this source of light and grace, passeth knowledge.
It is so,
3. In its results.
We have said something of them, but there is a vast, infinite, and eternal, beyond, that we cannot record. For if eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor heart conceived, of the blessings this love has provided for us here—how can we judge fully, and completely, of the unending bliss and glory it has laid up for us in the future world? Eternity alone will unfold to us the joy and felicity procured for us by the love of Jesus
Then, in conclusion, learn,
(1.) That the gospel message makes known this love to our perishing race. And thus it is, that the sound of the gospel should be music to our ears, and melody to our hearts. Oh, hear the gospel with joy, and receive it into your hearts with gladness!
(2.) The knowledge of this love is the great experimental privilege of the believer. He who receives the gospel by faith, receives this love into his soul, and thus he knows of a truth the love of Christ towards him.
(3.) This love should ever fill our hearts with spiritual transport and delight.
Oh yes, this is the theme of that adoring song which the celestial hosts sing in heaven; and which is described as a new song. "And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God, kings and priests; and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing."—Rev_5:9-12.
(4.) This love will command our loftiest and closest contemplations through all eternity. We may study it, and praise it here; and we may long with the poet—
"That the music of his name,
Refresh our souls in death."
Yea, more, we may resolve,
"This will we sing, till nature fail,
Till sense and language die;"
And, in the language of a blissful hope, expect
"Then to resume the pleasing theme,
In happier worlds on high."
Amen.