In the book of John, chapter 13 verse 1, we read a beautiful verse that describes the amazing and unchanging love that Jesus Christ has for His people.
The verse reads, “Having loved His own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.”
In this short verse, we find a wealth of information that reveals Christ’s unchanging love for His believers. In this article, we will delve deeper into this verse and explore the different aspects of Christ’s love for His people.
A Peculiar Description of Believers
Christ’s Own Believers are called “Christ’s own” in this verse. This phrase was originally used to refer to the disciples of Jesus, but it is equally applicable to all who believe in him.
It is a term that denotes a special relationship between Christ and His followers. Believers are Christ’s own in several ways:
- They are His own by purchase. Believers have been redeemed by the blood of Christ. They have been bought with a price, and that price was the precious blood of Jesus Christ. He loved them so much that he gave himself up for them.
- They are His own by gift. Believers have been given to Christ by His heavenly Father. They are His reward, His seed, the travail of His soul, and more. The Father has given them to Christ to be His own.
- They are His own by a cheerful and entire consecration of themselves to His service. Believers have given themselves completely to the Lord. They have left everything and followed him. They have yielded themselves to His service, and they have committed to following him all the days of their lives.
- They are Christ’s own, as they bear His image and manifest His spirit. Christ dwells in believers by His Spirit, and they are changed into His image. They have the same mind that was in Christ, and they follow His example.
Their Present Condition
In the World Believers are currently in the world, but they are not of the world. They have been saved from the world, and they have been crucified to it.
They are strangers and pilgrims on their way to another and a better world. They are in the world for several reasons:
- For their own sake. Believers are in the world to be instructed and to grow in grace, knowledge, and holiness. They are here to labor, wrestle, and run the race that is set before them.
- For Christ’s sake. Believers are in the world to profess him, to testify of him, and to be His witnesses. They are His living epistles and His avowed friends.
- For the world’s sake. Believers are the pillars of the world, the lights of the world, and the salt of the earth. They are a blessing to the world through their example, their counsel, and their prayers. The world needs believers to be a light in the darkness and to be a blessing to those around them.
Christ’s Unalterable Attachment to Them
The most beautiful aspect of this verse is the unchanging and unwavering love that Christ has for His believers. He loved them when he gave himself as a ransom for their souls, and he loves them now as His disciples.
He loves them with complacency and delight, and His heart is set upon them. He pities them, bears with them, keeps them, blesses them, saves them, and more. His love is ardent, abiding, increasing, inconceivable, and everlasting. Christ’s love for His believers is unchangeable, and it will last forever.”
This unchanging and unwavering love of Christ is a source of great comfort and strength for His followers. It is a love that surpasses all understanding and sustains them through the trials and tribulations of life.
No matter what challenges they may face, they can always turn to Christ and know that His love for them remains constant and steadfast.
Moreover, Christ’s love for His believers is not just a passive feeling or emotion. It is a love that is active and transformative, that changes their lives and empowers them to live for him. Through His love, Christ calls His followers to a life of service and sacrifice, to love others as he has loved them.
Transformative Power of Faith: Being Crucified with Christ
The Apostle Paul captures this idea in Galatians 2:20 when he says,
“I have been crucified with Christ, and it is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”
This passage is a powerful testament to the transformative power of faith and the impact that it can have on an individual’s life. Paul’s statement highlights the central tenet of Christianity, which is the belief that through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, individuals can be reborn and live a new life in Him.
The phrase “crucified with Christ” is a reference to the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul is stating that by accepting Jesus as his savior and acknowledging His sacrifice, he has died to his old self and been reborn as a new creation in Christ.
This means that Paul no longer lives for himself, but instead lives for Christ, and his life is now characterized by faith and obedience to God’s will.
The concept of being “crucified with Christ” is a powerful reminder of the depth and significance of Christ’s sacrifice. By dying on the cross, Jesus not only paid the penalty for our sins, but He also made a way for us to die to our old selves and be reborn as new creations in Him.
For Paul, Christ’s love was not just a warm and fuzzy feeling, but a reality that had transformed His entire life.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the verse from Romans 8:35-39 is a powerful reminder of the depth and breadth of Christ’s love for His believers. It is a love that is unchanging and unwavering, that sustains them through all of life’s challenges and empowers them to live for him. May we always be grateful for this amazing love and seek to share it with others as we live out our faith.
