I HAVE LOVED THEE
“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea,
I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness
have I drawn thee.” Jeremiah
31:3
The love of God, in Christ Jesus our Lord, I am convinced, is the foundation
of all things concerned with the accomplishment of the salvation of
His elect. In fact, it is His love for us that is the cause of our love
for Him - “We love him, because He first loved
us” 1John 4:19. The union
of Christ and His sheep is a union of love. It is not just a judicial
agreement between the Father, Son, and Spirit. Although the law must
be satisfied, love is the motive and moving cause. When love is absent,
all that is left is a legalistic system of works, both with God and
with man. Christ’s love for His sheep is revealed in God’s
Eternal Covenant of Grace , in the person and work of Christ, and in
the glorification of His elect. The love of God grips the hearts of
all to whom He reveals Himself. The union of the love of the blessed
Trinity is amazing, yet conceivable. But the love of the blessed God
for sinful man is incomprehensible. The only way that we can comprehend
the love of God for us to any degree is that He died for us - “Hereby
perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us…”
1John 3:16. In love, God sent Christ
into the world - “In this was manifested the love of God toward
us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that
we might live through Him.” 1John
4:9 . In love Christ lived for us…fulfilling the law, thereby
working out a righteousness for us. Not only do we see God’s justice
satisfied in the cross-death of the Lord Jesus Christ, we see His
love displayed and fulfilled - “But God commendeth His
love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ
died for us” Romans 5:8.
If it be not Christ’s love for us that captivates us and Christ’s
love in us that motivates us in religious privileges and duties, then
it is all in vain and is nothing more than self-righteous works of the
flesh and will condemn us in that great day of judgment.
“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being
rooted and grounded in 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, that ye might be filled with all the fulness
of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19
- Tommy Robbins
