What does the Bible say about the love of Christ?

The Bible emphasizes that true love for Christ must surpass all other affections and be rooted in an understanding of His transcendent worth. Scripture teaches that Christ must hold the chief place in our hearts and affections, as evidenced by Philippians 3:8, where Paul declares that he considers everything a loss for the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus. This love is not superficial; it is a profound affection that penetrates the soul. True believers recognize the danger of allowing created things to become objects of their most ardent affections, as it leads to idolatry, where God alone rightfully deserves our devotion. Moreover, our esteem for Christ rises in proportion to our knowledge of Him. A greater understanding of His character, works, and promises compels us to love Him more dearly and prioritize Him above all earthly comforts and pleasures. As seen in Psalm 42:1, the longing for God should be as deep and relentless as the deer's thirst for water. In contrast to this, any affection devoted to lesser things is ultimately degrading to the soul, for it distracts us from the only true source of fulfillment and joy, which is found in Christ alone.

How do we know Christ is precious to us?

Christ is precious to us when He occupies the foremost place in our hearts and motivates our devotion and actions. Knowing Christ as precious is evidenced by how we prioritize Him in our lives. If Christ holds supreme importance in our affections, we will not only love Him wholeheartedly but also demonstrate that love through our actions and choices. Believers are called to reflect on their priorities and assess whether Jesus is indeed at the center of those priorities. A heart captivated by Christ finds its deepest joy in Him rather than in the fleeting pleasures of this world. Additionally, our desire to serve, obey, and rejoice in Christ, irrespective of external circumstances, signifies His preciousness to us. As we experience the truth of Lamentations 3:24, 'The Lord is my portion,' it affirms that our fulfillment and joy ultimately come from our relationship with Him, not from transient worldly gains. If Christ is genuinely precious to us, we will willingly sacrifice our talents, abilities, and comfortable circumstances in pursuit of honoring Him.

Why is knowing Christ essential for Christians?

Knowing Christ is essential for Christians because it deepens our love and commitment to Him, ultimately defining our spiritual life. The essence of Christian faith is rooted in knowing Christ personally and experientially. This knowledge forms the foundation upon which our relationship with Him is built. As 2 Peter 3:18 encourages us to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, it highlights the integral link between knowledge and love for Christ. A growing understanding of His attributes and works inspires a deeper appreciation and affection for Him. Moreover, knowledge of Christ is transformative; it impacts not only our affections but also our practices and witness in the world. If we lack a true understanding of who Christ is, our love may become superficial, rather than a life-altering, heart-consuming reality. This relationship compels us to live sacrificially, reflect His character, and share His gospel, demonstrating to a watching world the surpassing worth of knowing Him as Lord and Savior. In Philippians 3:10, Paul expresses the importance of knowing Him intimately, emphasizing that this knowledge is not just academic but a profound engagement that shapes our entire being.

Supremely precious - John Fawcett | Full Transcript & Audio

Yes, He is very precious to you
who believe. If Christ is truly precious to
us, we shall prefer Him above every other object. He will have the chief place
in our affections. The love which a Christian has
to his Savior penetrates and possesses his heart. This distinguishes
it from the pretended love of hypocrites, which is only in
word or in some external actions. While their hearts are full of
sinful self-love, so that it may be said of them, this people
honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. We may possibly delight in some
objects of an inferior nature as they contribute to our health,
our ease, or our comfort. Our homes, our food, and our
other temporal enjoyments are dear to us because they minister
to our comfort and convenience in the present life. But true
love for Christ does not allow any other object to hold the
chief place in the heart. This chief place is for Jesus,
whom we ought to love with supreme ardor. The choicest affections
of our souls ought to be supremely fixed upon Him. As it is impossible
for any man to love an unknown object, so it cannot be expected
that Christ should be supremely precious unto us, unless we know
Him to be excellent and desirable, beyond whatever may be compared
with Him. We shall not esteem Him above
all things, if we have not elevated views of His transcendent worth. Our esteem of Him rises in proportion
to the knowledge we have of Him. Godly men, therefore, ardently
desire to increase in the knowledge of Him, that their affections
may be more intensely fixed upon Him. That love, which has but
created things for its object, is degrading to the soul. It
is a cleaving to that which can neither give happiness to our
souls nor repose to our minds. For to love any object ardently
is to seek our felicity in it, and to expect that it will answer
our desires. It is to call upon it to fill
that deep void which we feel in ourselves, and to imagine
that it is capable of giving us the satisfaction we seek. It is to regard it as the resource
of all our needs, the remedy of all the troubles which oppress
us, and the source of all our happiness. Now, as it is God
alone in whom we can find all these advantages, it is a debasing
of the soul. It is idolatry to seek them in
created objects. I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,
for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish
that I may gain Christ." Philippians 3 verse 8. If Christ is truly precious to
us, we shall be induced to devote our souls and our bodies, our
talents, our abilities, and our faculties, as a living sacrifice
to Him. To contemplate His adorable perfections
will be our highest joy. We shall be ready to obey Him,
in opposition to all the threats and the solicitations of men.
We shall rely upon Him, though all outward appearances seem
to be against us. We shall rejoice in Him, though
we have nothing else to comfort us. If we enjoy health and plenty,
friends and reputation, the Lord is still the object of our earnest
desires and our supreme delight. Whom have I in heaven but you?
There is nothing upon earth that I desire besides you. As the deer pants for the water
brooks, so longs my soul after you, O God. My soul thirsts for
God, for the living God. This Puritan devotional has been
brought to you by Grace Gems, a treasury of ageless Sovereign
Grace writings. Please visit our website at www.gracegems.org,
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Supremely precious

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the love of Christ?

How do we know Christ is precious to us?

Why is knowing Christ essential for Christians?

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Supremely precious

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about the love of Christ?

How do we know Christ is precious to us?

Why is knowing Christ essential for Christians?

Sermon Transcript

Comments

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