1.27-29 Of the Example of Christ's Love

Section 1.27. Of the Example of Christ's Love.

The note of comparison (even as) requires no equality as if it were possible for an husband in that measure to love his wife, as Christ loved his church; (for Christ in excellency and greatness exceeds man, so in love and tenderness). But it notes an equity and like quality.

An equity, because there is as great reason that husbands by virtue of their place should love their wives, as that Christ by virtue of his place should love the church.

A like quality, because the love which Christ bears to the church is every way without exception: and a love which turns to the good and benefit of the church. Hence note two points.

1. Husbands must come as near as they can to Christ in loving their wives. In which respect, because they can never love so much as Christ did, they must never think they have loved enough.

2. Though their love in measure cannot equal Christ's love, yet in the manner thereof it must be like Christ's, a preventing, true, free, pure, exceeding, constant love.[5]

The love of Christ to the church is amplified,

1. By an effect thereof, in these words, He gave himself for it.

2. By the end of that effect, largely set down, Eph 5:26-27.

The effect is noted partly as a confirmation of the truth and declaration of the measure of Christ's love.

The act (he gave) shows that his love was indeed and truth: not only in show and pretence.

The object (himself) shows that he loved his church more than his own life. A greater evidence of love could not be given: for greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friend. [John 15:13]

The end of Christ's love (set forth Eph 5:26-27) is noted to show that he so loved his church for her good and happiness, rather than for any advantage to himself.

As this example of Christ's love to his church is set before husbands: so it may and ought also to be applied to all Christians: and that in a double respect.

1. As a motive to stir them up to love both Christ himself and also their brothers.

2. As a pattern to teach them how to love.

A motive it is to love Christ, because love deserves love: especially such a love, of such a person as the love of Christ is. Yea, our love of Christ is an evidence that we are loved of Christ, as smoke is a sign of fire. Wherefore both in thankfulness to Christ, for his love to us, and for assurance to our own souls of Christ's love to us, we ought in all things that we can to testify our love to Christ.

 A motive is also to love our brothers, because Christ being in heaven, our goodness extendeth not to him: [Ps 16:2] but our brothers on earth stand in his stead, and the love we show to them, we show to him; and he accepts it as done to him: Ye fed me, ye visited me, [Matt 25:35,40] says Christ to them that fed and visited his brothers. This love also, even the love of our brothers, [1 John 4:20] is an evidence that we are loved of God. Wherefore if Christ so loved us, we ought also to love one another. [1 John 4:11]

How the love of Christ is a pattern, I will afterward show. [see Section 4.61, etc.]

Section 1.28. Of Christ's Giving Himself.

Eph 5:25.—And gave himself for it.

Christ Himself, and All That He Did and Suffered, are Ours

This fruit and effect of Christ's love extends itself to all the things that Christ did or suffered for our redemption: as, that he descended from heaven, took upon himself our nature, and became a man; that he subjected himself to the law, and perfectly fulfilled it; that he made himself subject to many temptations of the devil and his instruments; that he took upon him our infirmities; that he became a King to govern us, a Prophet to instruct us, a Priest to make an atonement for us: that he subjected himself to death, the cursed death of the cross, and so made himself an oblation and sacrifice for our sins; that he was buried; that he rose again; that he ascended into heaven, and there sits at God's right hand to make intercession for us. [Rom 8:34] For after that Christ had taken upon him to be our head and Savior, he wholly set himself apart for our use, and our benefit: so as his person, his offices, his actions, his sufferings, his humiliation, his exaltation, the dignity, the purity, the efficacy of all is the church's, and to her good do they all tend. This in general is the extent of this fruit of Christ's love, he gave himself for it.

 More particularly, we may note these three points:

1. The action, what he did, (he gave).

2. The object, what he gave, (himself).

3. The end, why he gave himself, (for it) for the church's good.

The action having relation to the object, most especially points at the death of Christ. The Greek word is a compound word, and signifies to give up. It implies two things:

1. That Christ willingly died: the simple word gave intimates so much.

2. That his death was an oblation: that is, a price of redemption, or a satisfaction: the compound word gave up intimates so much.

Section 1.29. Of the Willingness of Christ to Die.

That Christ willingly died is evident by the circumstances noted about his death: when Peter counseled him to spare himself, and not to go to Jerusalem (where he was to be put to death) [Matt 16:22-23] he called him Satan, and said, he was an offence to him: when Judas went out to betray him, [John 13:27] he said unto him, That thou doest, do quickly. [John 18:2] When Judas was gone out to get company to apprehend him, he went to the place where he was wont, so as Judas might readily find him; yea, he met them in the midway that came to take him; and he asked them whom they sought, though he knew whom they sought: and when they said, Jesus of Nazareth, he answered, I am he: When they came to him, he drove them backward with a word of his mouth, and yet would not escape from them: [Matt 26:53] He could have prayed to the Father to have had more than twelve legions of angels for his safeguard against those that apprehended him, but would not: [Matt 27:42] when by his adversaries he was provoked to have come down from the cross, and could have done so, he would not. [Mark 15:39] At the instant of giving up the ghost, he cried with a loud voice: which showed that his life was not then spent, he might have retained it longer if he would: and thereupon the Centurion gathered that he was the Son of God. [John 2:19, Matt 28:6] When he was actually dead, and laid in a grave, he rose again. These and other like circumstances verify that which Christ said of himself, [John 10:18] No man taketh my life from me, but I lay it down of myself. It was therefore no necessity that compelled him to die, but his voluntary obedience.

Christ is [Acts 3:15] the Lord, Prince and Author of life, and has an absolute power as over the life of others, so over his own life.

Thus then we see that his sacrifice was a voluntary and free gift: the cause thereof was his own will and good pleasure.

Use 1. Exceedingly does this commend the love of Christ: and assures us that it is the more acceptable to God, who loveth a cheerful giver. [2 Cor 9:7]

Use 2. Let us in imitation of our head, do the things whereunto we are called willingly and cheerfully, though they seem never so disgraceful to the world, or grievous to our weak flesh.