Cross Series

“Love”

“I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” Galatians 2:20

He died for me!

The only way we can truly see Christ’s cross bearing from a personal perspective, is to see our offence toward Him as personal.  While we know that God’s love is general (John 3:16), it is also specific. Why is it important to see Christ’s love from a personal perspective?  It is difficult for man to treasure that which is general to all alone. However, when a thing is made personal, our treasuring of that thing becomes personal and intimate. (friendship, released from prison).

In addition, viewing Calvary and Christ’s love from a personal perspective causes me to remain focused on my sin and not the sin of others.  This is why we see both God’s general love for all and a personal love for individuals. General love creates a desire for evangelism and personal love generates a desire for personal sanctification.  You will never know the joy of evangelism till you know the joy of a personal relationship with Christ.

He died for me… and you!

The cross was a display to the world of Christ’s love for all. Throughout the Bible we read of the various people groups that were given access to the love of God through Calvary.

• He died for His people - Eph. 5:25 says, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;”
• He died for His friends – John 15:13 says, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
• He died for many – Matt. 20:28 says, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
• He died for sinners – Romans 5:6 says, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”
• He died for all – John 3:17, “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.”
• It is important that we understand that the view of Calvary from heaven was both broad and narrow. 

Love + Calvary = the death of God’s Son

As Christians, we neither deny Christ’s death or His love; but a question needs to be asked: did the death of Christ require His love? In other words, could He have died for us without loving us? Another way of asking the question might be, was the emotion of love necessary for His death on the cross to be effective for the forgiveness of sins?  The answer is: it was His love for us that initiated His sacrifice of Himself for us.   It WAS enough for Him to die for us… “the just for the unjust.”  However, sacrifice without emotion is simply obligation.  It is His love for us that draws us to recognize the sacrifice. Turn and read 1John 4:7-21

We need to see that Love requires a response.  Outside of love, we have no commitment or sense of responsibility.  Therefore, as Christ loved us, so we are to love our neighbors.  And how do we know if we love them?  We will respond by giving