"For Christ's love compels us..."

So, what 'drives' a Christian to know and understand God? According to Paul it is the love of Christ: "For Christ's love compels us" (2 Cor. 5:14).

In "The Discipline of Grace ~God's Role and Our Role in the Pursuit of Holiness", Jerry Bridges points out (emphasis mine),

"To live no longer for ourselves but for Him is the essence of discipleship...But what is it that will motivate us to live not for ourselves but for Him? Paul said it is the love of Christ...Notice though, what compelled or motivated Paul in such a strong manner. It was not a continual challenge to be more disciplined, or more committed, or more holy. Rather it was his constant heartfelt awareness of Christ's love for him...Rather his overwhelming sense of Christ's love for him that spurred him on.

We believers do need to be challenged to a life of committed discipleship, but that challenge needs to be based on the gospel, not on duty or guilt. Duty or guilt may motivate us for awhile, but only a sense of Christ's love for us will motivate us for a lifetime."

And, just how does one gain this 'sense of Christ's love for us'? Bridges goes on to say,

"...how then can we come to the place where we are acutely conscious of His love? The answer is, through the gospel. It is of course, the Holy Spirit who pours out His love into our hearts (Romans 5:5), but He does this through the message of the gospel..."

I'm afraid that many misunderstand and think it is OUR love for Christ that motivates us, but we forget that "We love, because He first loved us." (1 John 4:19). As my favorite hymn puts it, "I find, I walk, I love; but O, the whole of love is but my answer Lord to Thee! For Thou wert long beforehand with my soul; Always, always Thou lovedst me."

May you seek and gain a greater understanding of His love for you--only then will you respond in a manner pleasing to God.

Theology 101 - Justification

Today we'll look at another facet of soteriology, justification. It is a once and for all act/event initiated and accomplished by God for His elect.

"Justification may be defined as that legal act of God by which He declares the sinner righteous on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ. It is not an act or process of renewal, such as regeneration, conversion, and sanctification, and does not affect the condition but the state of the sinner. The following points of difference between justification and sanctification should be noted particularly:

1. Justification removes the guilt of sin and restores the sinner to all the rights of a child of God, including an eternal inheritance. Sanctification removes the pollution of sin and renews the sinner in conformity with the image of God.

2. Justification takes place outside of the sinner in the tribunal of God, though it is appropriated by faith. Sanctification takes place in the inner life of man and gradually affects his whole being.

3. Justification takes place once for all: it is not repeated, nor is it a process; it is complete at once and for all time. Sanctification, on the other hand, is a continuous process which is not completed in the present life.

4. While both are fruits of the merits of Christ, the work of justification is ascribed more particularly to the Father, and that of sanctification to the Holy Spirit."

(My thanks, once again, to Louis Berkhof)