The Love of Christ Constraining Us

For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

—2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Have you concluded the same? Does the same love of Christ control you?

Do you hear that? Those whom Christ died for, might no longer live for themselves but live for Him who for their sake died and was raised (v.15)!

Yet in our flesh and our own sinfulness we discount that fact. In the great majority of instances even in the lives of those who profess the name of Christ, not only does the death of men bid little value to their hearts, but even the love of God in the mediating sacrifice of Christ Jesus the Lord bid little value to them.

How is it that we would be more concerned with social justice than the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ? How is it that our hearts would burn more within us when we think about the multitude of our people who are enduring physical suffering than when we think about the condemnation of God’s wrath that abides evermore upon them?

How is it that somehow we are thoroughly ashamed about the Gospel? How is it that so often we are barely Christian at all?

What and indictment indeed. For what are we but detestable worms before the eyes of God, a grave offense before Him. And yet despite our being undeserving, ill-deserving, hell-deserving, the psalmist would say:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

—Psalm 8:3-5

And though made a little lower than the heavenly beings we are given the tremendous privilege that even the angels are not partakers of. The grace of taking part in the heralding of so great a message!

Oh I pray that the Lord would be pleased to work in our minds and hearts that we would cease to be ashamed of His glorious gospel! May we come to the place where we can in honest declare aloud with the apostle Paul:

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

—Romans 1:16-17

Would you confess with me the same words, the author of the book of Hebrews cries out?

…how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?

—Hebrews 2:3a

Oh, dear beloved, how can you and I neglect such a great Gospel?

Examine Yourself

The question then that is left before us is this, are we Christian? Are you? Am I Christian? It’s a fearful thing to fall into the hands of an angry God, because He is angry and furious against you and I against our sin. Are you saved? Could it be that the very reason why you have no anguish for the glory of God and for the souls of men is because you are not saved at all?

Oh, I hope it is not so, but if indeed you find yourself no love for God’s glory and honor throughout the nations, and discover in your heart a practical hatred of the souls of men—Oh, dear friend, repent! The wrath of God burns upon you. He is infinitely holy and you are dreadfully sinful. How will you stand before Him? Repent from your sins and by faith and faith alone believe in Christ Jesus the Lord, He came to save sinners, even one such as you are!

Have you no wish for others to be saved? Then you are not saved yourself. Be sure of that.

The saving of souls, if a man has once gained love to perishing sinners and his blessed Master, will be an all-absorbing passion to him. It will so carry him away, that he will almost forget himself in the saving of others. He will be like the brave fireman, who cares not for the scorch or the heat, so that he may rescue the poor creature on whom true humanity has set its heart.

If sinners will be damned, at least let them leap to hell over our bodies. And if they will perish, let them perish with our arms about their knees, imploring them to stay. If hell must be filled, at least let it be filled in the teeth of our exertions, and let not one go there unwarned and unprayed for.

—C.H. Spurgeon

How I desperately pray, that if you are indeed Christian, by His grace, may God grant us greater faith and grace that we may be able to say these words:

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures…

—1 Corinthians 15:3-4

May the Gospel indeed be so much a precious thing for you and me, that the love of Christ may constrain us, the fear of God grip us, the love for our fellow men compel us. And perhaps then we would be able to understand the heart of the apostle Paul, in all his theological pedigree and success in ministry, he would still say these words:

For I could wish that I myself were accursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my brothers, my kinsmen according to the flesh.

—Romans 9:3

Brothers, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for them is that they may be saved.

—Romans 10:1

In 1980 a young man from Rwanda was forced by his tribe to either renounce Christ or face certain death. He refused to renounce Christ, and he was killed on the spot. The night before he had written the following commitment which was found in his room:

I’m part of the fellowship of the unashamed, the die has been cast, I have stepped over the line, the decision has been made- I’m a disciple of Jesus Christ. I won’t look back, let up, slow down, back away or be still.

My past is redeemed, my present makes sense, my future is secure. I’m finished and done with low living, sight walking, smooth knees, colorless dreams, tamed vision, worldly talking, cheap giving & dwarfed goals.

My face is set, my gait is fast, my goal is heaven, my road is narrow, my way is rough, my companions are few, my guide is reliable, my mission is clear. I won’t give up, shut up, let up until I have stayed up, stored up, prayed up for the cause of Jesus Christ.

I must go till He comes, give till I drop, preach till everyone knows, work till He stops me & when He comes for His own, He will have no trouble recognizing me because my banner will have been clear.

The Motivation of Evangelism

I. Why People Don’t Evangelize

II. Why People Should Evangelize

III. The Love of Christ Constraining Us