The Love of Christ For His Own

Temple Baptist Church - 1-3-2024

John 13:1

 

Introduction:

 

A.  In John 13, we find the end of Christ’s life on this earth coming swiftly to an end.  The Cross was in sight, but His children were on His mind.

 

1.  I find here a choice to be made.  He loved “his own” unto the end.  Though God loves the world, not all the world will love Him.

 

2.  The Unsaved will not always be loved as one day they will spend an eternity in hell while “his own” will spend eternity with Him.

 

B.  In our verse for tonight, we find the amazing love of Christ for His children.  “O how He loves you and me!” 

 

1.  I thought it appropriate to begin 2024 in the Book of John with the next in line sermon.  God’s timing is perfect.

 

2.  “O how He loves You and Me” goes the song.  This New Year, I think that we need to be reminded of just how much we that are saved are loved.

 

C.  The Love of God is something incomprehensible and immeasurable to the human mind.  Having said that, we find that the Bible says that we can to some extent comprehend the love of Christ.

 

D.  So much could be said at this point.

 

1.  The Love of Christ is an Initiated Love.  Though God loves the world and gave His Son for their propitiation, He came to me before I sought Him. 

 

Ezekiel 16:4-6  And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.  (5)  None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the lothing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born.  (6)  And when I passed by thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live.

 

2.  The Love of Christ is an Identifying Love.  “Having loved His own.”  The love of Christ for His children is an amazing love.

 

a)  The Love of Christ is an Overlooking Love.  Though still undeserved, His love for His children never NEVER diminishes.

 

b)  The Love of Christ is a Consistent Love.  Not only never diminishes, never changes and that love is given to all His children all the time.

 

3.  The Love of Christ is an Infinite Love.  “He loved them unto the end.”

 

E.  The best description of the love of Christ is possibly found in Ephesians, chapter 3.

 

Ephesians 3:17-19  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  (18)  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  (19)  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. 

 

TO COMPREHEND WITH ALL SAINTS – What God wants all saints to know.

 

F.  God wants us to know:

 

1.  The Breadth Of God’s Love – 1 John 2:2  And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 

 

His love is from Pole to Pole.  His love is from the East to the West.  His love is from Wall to Wall.  The Love of God covers every man, woman, and child.  There are none exempt and there are none excluded!  There is not a race, color, or creed rejected!  His love is for the whole world!  I cannot understand it, but I believe it!

 

2.  The Length Of God’s Love – Psalms 86:15  But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 

 

God’s love is not only universal in its scope; it is longsuffering in its forbearance.  God is compassionate, gracious, longsuffering, and merciful.  I did not deserve to receive it nor do I deserve to keep it.  The Lord has been far better to me than I deserve, and I am eternally grateful for it.  I cannot understand it, but I have seen it!

 

3.  The Depth Of God’s Love – 1 Timothy 1:15  This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 

 

The wickedest man in the world is a candidate for His great salvation.  It matters not what you have done; it matters not what you have thought; it matters not where you came from!  His love goes to the deepest in sin and despair.  I cannot understand it, but I have received it!

 

4.  The Height Of God’s Love – Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: 

 

His wonderful love is far greater than all of our sin put together.  God’s gracious love is always there, and you cannot sin your salvation away.  He will forgive 70 times 7 and never exhaust his love or forgiveness.  I cannot understand it, but I have experienced it!

 

Conclusion:  The work of the gospel was for all but especially those who have and will believe on Him.