The Love of Christ, How Known by Christians
R. Hall, M. A. Ephesians 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge, that you might be filled with all the fullness of God. First, we may offer a few considerations tending to illustrate the "love of Christ"; and, in the second place, we may consider what is the nature of that experimental knowledge of this love for which the apostle prays. I. With respect to "the love of Christ," IT IS EXHIBITED IN ACTIONS IN WHAT CHRIST HAS DONE FOR THOSE WHO ARE THE OBJECTS OF HIS LOVE; for those who believe in His name. It may be seen — 1. In the impediments which it overcame; it was a love victorious over all that opposed it. 2. Besides the impediments to be overcome, there were sacrifices to be made. 3. The greatness of "the love of Christ" appears also in the benefits which He bestows. These are such as would never have entered into the conception of created minds. 4. This love, in its duration, extends from eternity to eternity. "I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee." 5. This love, further, exists in spite of many things on our part calculated to alienate it from us. II. WHAT IS IT SO TO KNOW THE LOVE OF GOD IN CHRIST AS THE SAINTS KNOW IT? Were it to be known merely as a theory, merely as a doctrine of revelation, it might soon be apprehended; and this, it is to be feared, is the only way in which many are content to know it. The world will be overcome by this love; the Cross of Christ will crucify the world to us, and us to the world. And hence, if we "know the love of Christ," we shall glorify Him in these two principal ways — 1. We shall obey Him; we shall bind His laws to our hearts. 2. We shall show forth His praise, desire that His true servants may increase, that His kingdom may come, and His will be done, in all the world. (R. Hall, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. WEB: and to know Christ's love which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.