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THE KNOWLEDGE OF CHRIST'S LOVE
by Spurgeon-
It is the distinguishing mark of God's people that they know the
love of Christ. Without exception, all those who have passed
from death unto life, whatever they may not know, have learned
this. And without exception, all those who are not saved,
whatever they may know besides this, know nothing of this.
For to know the love of Christ, to taste its sweetness, to realize
it personally, experimentally, and vitally, as shed abroad in our
hearts by the Holy Spirit, is the privilege of the child of God
alone. This is the secure enclosure into which the stranger
cannot enter. This is the garden of the Lord, so well protected
by walls and hedges that no wild boar of the woods can enter.
Only the redeemed of the Lord shall walk here.
They, and only they, may pluck the fruits and content
themselves with the delights thereof.
How important, then, become the questions--
"Do I know the love of Christ? Have I felt it? Do I understand
it? Is it shed abroad in my heart? Do I know that Jesus loves
me? Is my heart quickened and animated and warmed and
attracted towards Him through the great truth that it recognizes
and rejoices in, that Christ has really loved me and chosen me
and set His heart upon me?"
But while it is true that every child of God knows the love of
Christ, it is equally true that all the children of God do not
know this love to the same extent.
There are in Christ's family, babes, young men, strong men, and
fathers. And as they grow and progress in all other matters, so
they most certainly make advances here. Indeed, an increase of
love, a more perfect apprehension of Christ's love, is one of the
best and most infallible gauges whereby we may test ourselves
whether we have grown in grace or not. If we have grown in
grace, it is absolutely certain that we shall have advanced
in our knowledge and reciprocation of the love of
Christ.
Many have believed in Jesus and know a little of His love; but,
O! it is little indeed they know, in comparison with some others
who have been brought into the inner chamber and made to
drink of the spiced wine of Christ's pomegranate. Some have
begun to climb the mountain, and the view which lies at their
feet is lovely and fair, but the landscape is not such as would
greet their eyes if they could but stand where advanced saints
are standing and could look to the east and to the west, to the
north and to the south, and see all the lengths, and breadths,
and depths, and heights of the love of Christ which passes
knowledge.
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