The Love of Christ Contrains Me

THEREFORE WE MAKE IT OUR AIM, whether present or absent, to be well pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body. according to what he has done, whether good or bad 11 knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.12 for we do not  comment ourselves to you, but  give you opportunity to boast on our behalf, that you may have an answer for those who boast in appearance and not in heart.13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you.14 For the Love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 And He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselve, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthian5:9-25 (NKJV).

Days has gone past In a nutshell that is the Christian walk. Not to experience of Salvation, but the fruit of it.That the direction of every true convert to Christianity, and is essential to maintain victory over the sin that once held as captive.

Ask yourself this question: Does this passage describe the effect that Jesus has had on you? 

A profession of faith is not enough to save us. It's not enough to be convinced that Jesus was a historical figure. Something must happen inside us so that we become a confession of Christ to a world that is already condemned.

How does that happen? How are we to live our lives as a confession of Christ? From our main text, I believe that there were two main factors that guided and motivate Paul along his race. One is found in verse 11: " knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord.." you will not find that kind of motivation preached about in the most churches. That word for "terror" is Greek word Phobos in a native tongue "pulbos." Its where we get this word. Phobia.

He'll is real. And it is meant for the sinner. The problem for mankind is that "All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God." God's glory is perfection. His justice demand that He can only associate Himself with that which is holy. But praise God that mercy triumphs over judgment. Mercy doesn't dissolve judgment or take it away, in the sense of eradicating it entirely from the core of who God is. God is still just. Read (Gen. 19:27-29). But mercy is the way by which we can become holy, because it's through Christ's holiness that we are brought near to God. Jesus' sacrifice was a holy sacrifice. Ephesians2:13, "But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ." Let us read again. Did you contrain Him prayer? How would you contrain the Lord. Read Luke 24: 13, 27, 25, 32. In verse 29 But they contrained him, saying, abide with us; for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. But they didn't know Him the event happen in Jerusalem. 

There is a balance found in true Christianity that include both His justice and His mercy. But the grace message of today will you that the sacrifice of Jesus neutralised the justice side of God. So, the terror of the Lord was one key component to Paul's confessional Christianity.

The next thing he mentions is equally as important.  In verse 14 "For the Love of Christ constrain us" The core of this word is to hedge or hem in. To be overtaken by somehing that you have a choice but to move with it and its current. You are at its mercy. "Constraineth" is used only 12 times in the bible, but it is used in a variety of situations. It is often used when  talking about people being overcome with diverse diseases. Their bodies had no choice but to respond in certain ways to the infection controlling their body. They were constrain by disease.

A good illustration of this is toothpaste. As pressure is applied to the tube, it Contrains the toothpaste to exit the only way it can.their bodies had no choice for the toothpaste. It has to come out through that hole at the top. Did you contrain Him in prayer? Two or three you are in our midst. Believe what you speak He want to listen to us.

Paul tells us here in verse 14 what it was that gave him no Choice, what forced him to act the way he did in the Narrow Road. And notice how it is stated. It is the Love of Christ,  not his for Christ that has the constraining power over his life.

Osward Chambers wrote, ""(Paul) was overpowered, subdued, and held as in a vise by 'the love of Christ.' We tend so often to be controlled simply by our own experience. One thing that gripped and held Paul, to the exclusion of everything else, was the love of Christ."

This is what will combat the extremely dangerous false grace teaching tha is pervasive in our day. We need to be reminded that the grace of God is not a license to sin. If anything, the grace of God has given us license to perform righteous works for Him! It gives us license to say no to sin! But yes to Jesus. To live soberly and godly in this present age!  We are able now to be to righteousness instead of slaves to sin! Hallelujah

This is extremely important in our day and age. It's not enough to have a profession, as we already mentioned. And it's not enough to do thing in the name of Jesus. Jesus Himself said that there would be many in the last day who had done many mighty miracle in His name, and yet, He never knew them. There was no intimacy with Him. They had no love relationship with Him. They were claiming to do things in His name as if they were married to Him. But Jesus tells them that their actions weren't founded on love. 'There was no , "we love Him, because He first loved us." That element of their Christ walk was not there. The love of Christ did not constrain them. I was blessed when my Pastor preached this.. she said contrain Him in your prayer.