DISCOURSE: 1693
THE FATHER’S LOVE TO CHRIST, AND CHRIST’S TO US
John 15:9. As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love.
REASON could never suggest motives sufficient to counteract the passions: the law of God itself, with all its sanctions, could not change the heart. The Gospel alone can make sin odious, and holiness delightful. It effects this by revealing to us the love of Christ [Note: 2 Corinthians 5:14.]. Hence our Lord reminds us of his love in order to confirm our love to him.
I. The nature and extent of Christ’s love to us—
The comparison in the text denotes not equality, but resemblance [Note: Matthew 5:48.]. The love of Christ to us, like that of his Father to him, is,
1. Without beginning—
There never was a period when the Father first began to love his Son—
[He loved him before his entrance on his ministry [Note: Matthew 3:17.], before his existence in the world [Note: John 1:18.], before Isaiah’s time [Note: Isaiah 42:1.], from all eternity [Note: In this sense many commentators explain Proverbs 8:22-23; Proverbs 8:30 : and if that interpretation be admitted, the eternity of Christ’s love may be confirmed by ver. 9. But, however this passage be interpreted, the fact itself stands on the most unquestionable authority. John 17:24.]
There never was a period when Christ first began to love us—
[His love is first manifested when we believe in him. But our faith in him is the effect, not the cause, of his love to us. This is affirmed by the prophets [Note: Jeremiah 31:3.Ezekiel 16:6.], and by Christ himself [Note: John 15:16.]
2. Without measure—
The Father’s love to Christ was unbounded—
[He is one with Christ in nature, and therefore in affection [Note: John 10:30.]. He has shewn the greatness of his love to him, in the gifts bestowed upon him [Note: John 3:35.Colossians 1:19.], and in his constant co-operation with him [Note: John 5:19-20.]
Christ’s love to us is also boundless—
[It produces most astonishing acts of kindness towards us [Note: Ephesians 5:25.Revelation 1:5-6.]. Human affections fall far short of it [Note: Isaiah 49:15-16.]. It “passess all knowledge,” whether of men or angels.]
3. Without variation—
The Father’s love to Christ was unchangeable—
[His love seems to have been withdrawn for a season [Note: Matthew 27:46.]: he seemed not to answer his prayers [Note: Luke 22:42; Luke 22:44.]: but he heard him always [Note: John 11:42.], and loved him always. The apparent suspensions of his love were the necessary means of accomplishing the purposes of his love even towards Christ himself [Note: Hebrews 2:10.]
Christ’s love to us also is unchangeable—
[There are seasons when he seems to withdraw his love. But his chastisements are tokens of his love [Note: Hebrews 12:6.]. He hates sin indeed, and will correct his people till they put it away: but he will not withdraw his love from them [Note: Psalms 89:31-33.]. Wherever he fixes his love, he rests unalterably in it [Note: Zephaniah 3:17.]
4. Without end—
The Father’s love to Christ shall endure for ever—
[He has given him a pledge of this in his exaltation to heaven.]
Christ’s love to us shall also be everlasting—
[He knows no change of mind with respect to what He has bestowed [Note: Romans 11:29.]. Whomsoever he loves he continues to love [Note: John 13:1.]. This truth is a just ground of joy and confidence [Note: Romans 8:35; Romans 8:38-39.]
What returns can we ever make to Christ for such amazing love?
II.
The duty resulting from it—
This part of the text requires application rather than discussion—
It sets before us, not merely our privilege (which is, to continue in a sense of Christ’s love to us) but our duty;
1. To love Christ—
[This would have been our duty, though he had not so loved us. But the obligation to it is greatly increased by his love. Let him then he exceeding precious to us. Let us despise every thing in comparison of him [Note: Philippians 3:8.]
2. To continue in love to him—
[We are too apt to decline in our love [Note: Matthew 24:12.]. But declensions, however secret, are very offensive [Note: Revelation 2:4.]. They will, if continued in, disqualify us for heaven [Note: Luke 9:62.]: they will reduce us to a worse situation than ever [Note: 2 Peter 2:22.]. Let us therefore cleave to the Lord with full purpose of heart [Note: Acts 11:23.]
3. To abound in all acts and offices of love to him—
[In secret, let us contemplate, admire, and adore his excellencies: in public, let us confess, honour, and obey him [Note: Matthew 10:32. John 14:21.]
It commends to us that duty as resulting from the declaration that precedes it—
[The love of Christ towards us is the strongest of all motives to the love of him. Was Christ’s love to us so unmerited, unbounded, invariable, and lasting? and shall ours to him be weak and transient? Let it operate then suitably on all our hearts. Let us not rest satisfied with what we have attained [Note: Philippians 3:12-13.]. Let us meditate on his love as the means of increasing ours [Note: Ephesians 3:18-19.]