For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded
this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that
they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and
rose again on their behalf.
I am not a Greek scholar, but I think the word
“controls” may not be the most accurate word to use here. There are several other words used in it’s
place in other translations of the Bible.
Here are a few:
…constraineth,
compels, hold, ruled by, drives, guides, persuaded, impels, puts into action,
urges, controlling force, makes us…
My favorite word here is “compel”. It is incredible to see how we are changed
and pressed by the love of God. When I
am over and over seeing the love of God in action, I am compelled by the God
who loves me to share that love with others.
Look deeper in those same verses. It is Christ that completed the needed
sacrifice to make you and me right with God.
That makes us right with God. We
are changed by His grace and goodness.
Jesus’ death means that we no longer live for
ourselves but for others. Jesus lived
for others which is the overflow of His love.
Jesus not only died and rose from the dead for our benefit, but Jesus
was the gift of God is what changes everything.
Faith, our faith is built on the gift of God based in His love found in
the substitute that took our sin and our place of death.
God loves us.
God provided Jesus for us so we can live life no just for
ourselves. It is God’s love that keeps
us motivated and strong. Nothing changes
these facts, and there is more to come!
But in all these things we
overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38For I am convinced that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to
come, nor powers, 39nor height, nor depth, nor any other
created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in
Christ Jesus our Lord.
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