160. JOH 13:1. CHRIST’S UNCHANGING LOVE TO HIS PEOPLE

Joh_13:1. Christ’s Unchanging Love to His People

"Having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end."’97Joh_13:1.

We have in the text, I. A peculiar Description of believers’97Christ’s own. II. Their present Condition’97"In the world." III. Christ’s unalterable Attachment to them’97"Having loved them, he loved them to the end."

We have,

I. A peculiar Description of Believers.

They are Christ’s own. No doubt this referred originally to the disciples of Jesus; but it is equally applicable to all who shall believe upon him to the end of the world. Believers are Christ’s own.

1. They are his own by purchase.

"Redeemed by his blood." "Bought with a price." "He loved them, and gave himself for them."

2. They are his own by gift.

They are given to him by his heavenly Father. As his seed’97his reward’97the travail of his soul, &c. Joh_6:37-40; Joh_10:29.

3. They are his own by a cheerful and entire consecration of themselves to his service.

Given themselves to the Lord. Left all and followed him. Yielded themselves to his service. "This God shall be our God forever," &c.

4. They are Christ’s own, as they bear his image, and manifest his Spirit.

Christ dwells in them by his Spirit, and they are changed into his imago, &c. Same mind in them that was in Christ. He is their example, and they tread in his steps.

II. Their present Condition.

"In the world." Not of the world. Brought out of it. Saved from it. Crucified to it. But they are in it. As strangers and pilgrims on their way to another and a better world. They are in the world,

1. For their own sake.

To be instructed, and that they may grow in grace, in knowledge, and in holiness, and be thus made meet for the celestial inheritance. Here they have to labor, wrestle, and run the race set before them.

2. For Christ’s sake.

To profess him. To testify of him. To be his witnesses. His living epistles. His avowed friends.

3. For the world’s sake.

They are the pillars of the world. The lights of the world. The salt of the earth. They are blessings to it, by their example, by their counsels, and by their prayers. Sodom would have remained to this day, had ten righteous persons been found in it. Jerusalem was not destroyed, until Christ’s disciples fled out of it. Notice,

III. Christ’s unalterable Attachment to them.

"Having loved them, he loved them to the end."

1. Christ loved them when he freely gave himself a ransom for their souls.

"Herein is love," &c. "Greater love hath no man," &c. "Unto him who loved us," &c.

2. Christ loves them as his believing disciples.

He loves them with complacency and delight. His heart is set upon them. His words’97his smiles’97his communications to them, are all evidences of his love. They are his flock, his jewels, &c. Joh_15:9. He pities them. Bears with them. Keeps them. Blesses them. Saves them, &c.

3. Christ loves them unchangeably.

"Unto the end." In life’97health’97sickness’97death’97and forever and ever. His love is ardent’97abiding’97increasing’97inconceivable, and everlasting. Eph_3:19; Jer_31:3.

How distinguished the character, how responsible the station, and how happy the privilege of the people of God!

Autor: JABEZ BURNS