6) To Show His Own Love For Us

Christ Suffered and Died . . .

To Show His Own Love For Us

Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, 

a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:2

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her.

Ephesians 5:25

[He] loved me and gave Himself for me.

Galatians 2:20 

The death of Christ is not only the demonstration of God’s love (John 3:16), it is also the supreme expression of Christ’s own love for all who receive it as their treasure. 

The early witnesses who suffered most for being Christians were captured by this fact: "Christ loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). They took the self-giving act of Christ’s sacrifice very personally. They said, “He loved me. He gave Himself for me.” Surely this is the way we should understand the sufferings and death of Christ. They have to do with me. They are about Christ’s love for me personally. I am lost and perishing. It is my sin that cuts me off from God, not sin in general. It is my hard-heartedness and spiritual numbness that demeans the worth of Christ. When it comes to salvation, I have forfeited all claims on justice. All I can do is plead for God's mercy.

Then, I see Christ suffering and dying. For whom? It says, “Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Ephesians 5:25). “Greater love has no one than this, that someone lays down his life for his friends” (John 15:13).  “The Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28).

And I ask, Am I among the “many”? Can I be one of His “friends”? May I belong to the church”?  

 And I hear the answer, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31). 

“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:13). “Everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:43). 

 “To all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

 “Whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

My heart is swayed, and I embrace the beauty and bounty of Christ as my treasure. And there flows into my heart this great reality—the love of Christ for me. So I say with those early witnesses, “He loved me and gave himself for me.”

And what do I mean, when I speak of these things? I mean that He has paid the highest price possible to give me the greatest possible gift. And what is that greatest gift? It is the gift He prayed for: “Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, may be with Me where I am, to see My glory” (John 17:24). He died to secure eternal life, a life where we would live and be with Him, for all eternity. That is the love of Christ. Believe it and receive it - by faith today! 

Let's pray: 

"Dear Father, Thank You for the love that Jesus has for me. Although He loves all mankind in general, I know deep in my heart, that He loves me personally. Thank You for such personal love that You have demonstrated to me. Many say they are my friends but none would die shedding his/her blood to pay for the sins that I have committed against You. I rejoice in the amazing love that Jesus demonstrated by dying for me. Please pour out that love into my heart, today, to love You and others. In Jesus Name, I pray. Amen."

Let's worship with song:  My Lord what love is this (Amazing love) by Graham Kendrick 

Be blessed,

Meghna and Ashish

(inspired by 'Fifty reasons why He came to die' by author John Piper)