“The Constraint of Love”

“The Constraint of Love”

One of my most beloved hymns written by Charles Wesley is “Amazing love oh how can it be that thou my God shouldest die for me.” What a thought, the love of Christ. The love of Christ dominates the scriptures from to . In just the NT alone the word is mentioned 180 times. Paul mentions it 78 times in his letters. In the epistils of John he uses the word love 38 times. The Greek word agape meaning love is used 116 out of 180 times in the NT. For God so loved(agape) the world that he gave his only begotten son. For god loved (agape) ME and gave himself for ME. 1Jn_3:1 Behold, what manner of love (agape) the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 1Jn_4:19 We love (agape) him, because he first loved (agape) us. And we could go on and on, but may we just ponder a moment at why this (agape) love was so constraining.

(v14)

It is a self-less love: one died for all; It is a beneficial love, were all dead, you say how is this beneficial ? Oh death where is thy sting oh grave where is thy victory? ; It is a boundless love. He died for all. His love has no boundaries.

What a wonderful thing to have, the love of Christ. What I would like to look at is how the love of Christ constrains us to do more then sit soak and sour. Paul says …constaineth us, when Paul says this I believe he had a picture in his mind of a parent holding a child, keeping that child from doing something they should not do or because of the union between a parent and child the child will do or not do something because of the parent..(to illustrate bring Kylie or Maddie up).

The word constrain means to hold tight, restrain. “To constrain is so to shut in as to compel to a given end. Unconstrained, a river would spread out into a marsh, a dismal waste, fruitful only of pestilence and death. A river shut in by its constraining banks, flows a thing of life and beauty, watering gardens and fields, purifying and gladdening cities, and broadening into the bay on whose fair bosom ships float as they come and go on their beneficent mission of exchange and distribution. So man, constrained by the love of Christ, is so shut in as to be forbidden to wander and spread into a dismal and pestilent waste; is forced rather to move to a divine end, like a river of life flowing from God, hastening to God, in a channel made and molded by His hand.”(A. M. Fairbairn, D. D.) (The Biblical Illustrator By Joseph S. Exell, M.A.)

Now knowing what Paul had in mind, lets look at what the love of Christ constrains us to do. Paul gives us three things:

I) The love of Christ constrains you, that you may serve him more fully. V.15-16

How does the love of Christ constrain you to serve him more fully?

A. It makes you realize that service promotes ONE higher than yourself. (v15a) He must increase, but I must decrease. 1:27 He it is, who coming after me is preferred before me, whose shoe's latchet I am not worthy to unloose.

Your actions should always promote Christ and never promote yourself.

B. It makes you realize that service involves devotion to someone bigger than you are. (v15b) . He that cometh from above is above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth: he that cometh from heaven is above all. Heb_7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

You are devoted to work or some civil organization that has never done anything for you except given you a since of pride, why cant you be devoted to the ONE that died for you?!

C. It makes you realize that there is a world that Christ died for. (v16)

Rom_5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

died for us.

1Ti_1:15 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of

came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Heb_12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your

whom I am chief. Heb_12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied

and faint in your minds. 1Jn_4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only

endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your

minds. 1Jn_4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his

begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

His love should take the blinders off and make you see a world that is in need of a savior. Sinner friend, being

constrained by the love of Christ causes you to no longer see men as just skin and bones, it makes you see past

savior. Sinner friend, being constrained by the love of Christ causes you to no longer

that and you now see through the eyes of Christ. You see a soul not just a man. Lennored Ravenhill said, “I pray

see men as just skin and bones, it makes you see past that and you now see through

to God that he would stamp eternity on my eye balls.”

the eyes of Christ. You see a soul not just a man. Lennored Ravenhill said, “I pray to

God that he would stamp eternity on my eye balls.”

You should serve Him not because it is your duty but because of His love for you and the world.

II) The love of Christ constrains you, that you may sacrifice more for Him daily. V.17-18

How does the love of Christ constrain you to sacrifice more for him daily?

A. It makes you aware that you are no longer what you use to be.(v17) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 6 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. om 6:10 For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.11 Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.12 Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.13 Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. The love of Christ keeps you aware that I you are not what you use to be and it makes you aware that the life you now live is not unto yourself but unto God. ()

B. It makes you aware that because of Christ there is nothing you can bring to God. (v18) Rom_3:12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. Eph_2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. Heb_10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected forever them that are sanctified.18 Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin. There is nothing you have, nothing you can do nor say that is worthy of coming to God. For you serve a holy and righteous God. “nothing I bring simply to the cross I cling.” (unknown)

Your life as a Christian should not be just an outward showing of an inward change, it should also be a life that will convict the world of their necessity of salvation

III) The Love of Christ constrains you, that you may share him with others (ambassadors). V. 19-21

How does the love of Christ constrain you to share Him with others?

A. It gives you boldness to tell others about Christ. (v19) Act_4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldnessAct_4:13 Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. Act_4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, Php_1:20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 1Ti_3:13 For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. 1Jn_4:18-17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. . There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

You have no reason to be timid or fearful to speak truth in love.

B. It makes you aware of your purpose on earth. (v20) Mar_16:15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.Eph_3:7 Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Php_2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure. 1Co_1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect

As a Christian you have no reason to be sitting on your blessed assurance. You all have a purpose and that is to go into all the highways and hedges. The mandate to preach the gospel was given to all believers. You do not have to stand behind a pulpit to preach (proclaim) the gospel

C. It gives you a message to proclaim. (v21) Mat_24:14 And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come.Rom_1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. You have the best news there is. The world only offers fake news, you have the truth and because of the love of Christ you can and should proclaim it.

The love of Christ constrains you to serve Him more fully, to sacrifice for Him daily and to share Him with others boldly. You have a message that others need to hear so lets keep our eyes to the skies and our hands to the plows, because our Lord is coming back soon.

With every head bowed and every eye closed and as the pianist is coming I would like to ask you Three Questions:

First to the lost sinner among us, you are sitting here tonight without the love of Christ in your heart constraining you, so you have no idea what the constraint of Gods love can do. But I have some good news, you can know what it is to be constrained by the Love of Christ. Simply come tonight and allow God to work in your heart and revel to you His love for you. Will you come tonight?

Second to the Christian, have you been fighting against the constraint of God’s love? Like a child not wanting to be held, have you been squirming in His arms? Come tonight and repent and submit to His constraining love.

And third, will you come tonight and give all of yourself to Him so that He may be able to fill you completely with His love?