The Love of Christ Controls Us

If we have experienced the love of Christ there will be a dying of self. The more fully we comprehend the love of Christ for us the more dying that will take place. The more we will look like Jesus and the more we will have a compassion for souls. The more we will have a passion to reconcile others to God. The more we will want to be ambassadors for Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17-20 (NASB)
¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose on their behalf.
 ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ, this person is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. ¹⁸ Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation, ¹⁹ namely, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their wrongdoings against them, and He has committed to us the word of reconciliation. ²⁰ Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 

2 Corinthians 5:14-15, 17-20 Amplified
¹⁴ For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died; ¹⁵ and He died for all, so that all those who live would no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and was raised for their sake.

¹⁶ So from now on we regard no one from a human point of view [according to worldly standards and values]. Though we have known Christ from a human point of view, now we no longer know Him in this way. ¹⁷ Therefore if anyone is in Christ [that is, grafted in, joined to Him by faith in Him as Savior], he is a new creature [reborn and renewed by the Holy Spirit]; the old things [the previous moral and spiritual condition] have passed away. Behold, new things have come [because spiritual awakening brings a new life]. ¹⁸ But all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ [making us acceptable to Him] and gave us the ministry of reconciliation [so that by our example we might bring others to Him], ¹⁹ that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting people’s sins against them [but canceling them]. And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation [that is, restoration to favor with God]. ²⁰ So we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we [as Christ’s representatives] plead with you on behalf of Christ to be reconciled to God. 

If you are struggling with sin, get closer to Christ, not further away. Grab hold of Jesus love for you in spite of you. Yes, it is the opposite of what your flesh wants to do but you will start sense the forgiveness, mercy, and love of God.

The Love of Christ Controls Us Podcast