Can you Comprehend Christ's Love

[0:00] I will turn back to read in the gospel Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 3. Paul's letter to the Ephesians chapter 3 and we'll read again at verse 16.

[0:21] That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his spirit in your inner being. So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

[0:33] That you being rooted and grounded in love may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth.

[0:45] And to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Last evening if you were in the service in Borough, Roddy John was preaching on Ephesians chapter 2.

[1:07] And he took us into chapter 1 and chapter 2 and showed us the purpose for which Paul was writing to the people in Ephesus. And indeed bringing God's word even to ourselves today.

[1:19] That we might comprehend the salvation that we have in Christ Jesus. As he goes on to say here in chapter 3 in this prayer that he gives towards the end of the chapter.

[1:32] That we might grasp or see the love of Christ. As he says that we might comprehend with all the saints the breadth and length and height and depth of the love of Christ.

[1:50] Can we comprehend it? Have you ever sat down and looked into this and thought to yourself, Well just what kind of love has Christ had for me?

[2:02] That he would go to the cross to die for a sinner such as I am. It's an amazing love. Such a great love. And can we really comprehend the breadth, the length, the height, the depth.

[2:18] Well what we see as we look here in Ephesians chapter 3 is that Paul isn't just bringing to us a word in a moment. But reminding us of the whole of God's word.

[2:30] How many love songs have you listened to in your life? So many have been written. Many different languages. Many different cultures.

[2:41] Many different places. By many different people. It's probably impossible to number the amount of love songs. There are all kinds of love songs.

[2:53] Love for people. Love for places. About losing love. Finding love. Missing a loved one. Wishing for love.

[3:04] You hear it all the time. All you have to do is listen to the radio. To the Durocken on Friday night. And you'll hear songs written over many years about people. Maybe in far off places.

[3:14] Away from home. Remembering a place they loved. Or a person they loved. It's unending. But it's a different kind of love. To the love that we have here in Ephesians.

[3:27] It's not an unending love. Or an undying love. Because our human love in that sense. Will come to an end. But to grasp and to comprehend the love of Christ.

[3:42] Is to see a love that never ends. It has no beginning. It has no end. And as you look at the word of God.

[3:53] What you find is a salvation song. The whole of God's word. Is singing out to us. Crying out to us about the love of God the Father.

[4:06] The love of God who gave his son. The love foreshadowed in the Old Testament. Through all the sacrifices that the people had to offer. Sacrifices made for their sins.

[4:18] The love that we see in the New Testament. As God sends his son into the world. For sinners such as we are. The love song that we were singing in Psalm 13 together.

[4:32] That love that so often has questions. When you love someone. It can often bring you to a place. Where you are asking questions. Are you angry with me?

[4:43] Why aren't you talking to me? And in the same way. We see the love that we show towards God. Has that kind of sense. In Psalm 13. The psalmist is saying.

[4:54] How long will you forget me Lord? Will you forget always? How long will you hide your face? And turn from me your gaze?

[5:06] The psalmist is asking questions of God. But has God forgotten? Has God stopped loving? No. Because we come to verse 5 in that psalm.

[5:19] And we sing. But still I trust your constant love. You save and set me free. With joy I will extol the Lord who has been good for me.

[5:32] You see that's what our hearts are like. We feel as if God has left us. But so often the problem is the reverse. That we have drifted away from God.

[5:44] So it's not why have you forgotten me Lord? We should be saying. But Lord help me because I have forgotten you. And it's so easy to forget the Lord in our own difficulties.

[5:57] And that's what was happening perhaps in Ephesus. The people in Ephesus were facing up to all kinds of challenges. All kinds of persecution. But Paul is calling them back to see the love of God in Christ Jesus.

[6:15] To comprehend with all the saints. Just how great this love is. The breadth, the length, the height, the depth. As we approach a communion weekend.

[6:29] Do we comprehend this love ourselves? We can often come and approach a communion weekend. Maybe in two different ways. You can come here this evening with a mindset that says.

[6:44] What a filthy, wretched sinner I am. How could Jesus ever love a sinner such as I am?

[6:55] How could I possibly come to sit at the Lord's table? He can see my heart. He knows all my sins.

[7:07] It would be foolish of me. I would be a hypocrite to go to the Lord's table. You know Christians come like that. And Christians should come feeling like that.

[7:19] Because we are all to examine ourselves. Today is a day of examination and preparation to come to the Lord's table. Can any of us here this evening look in our hearts and say.

[7:33] There is a clean heart. There is a heart that is pure before the Lord. I am ready. I am right. To come to the Lord's table. We cannot.

[7:44] Because as we examine ourselves. We see sin within. And we can come with that feeling.

[7:55] Whether we have been a Christian for a long time. Or whether we are new to the whole of the church. Or the Bible. Whether it is completely new to us. As we hear the word of God.

[8:05] We can so easily feel. I am just a wretched sinner. But how does God want us to come?

[8:17] And how is Paul instructing us to come to the Lord? Well he says to us here. Paul himself the apostle.

[8:30] He says that he himself is the least of all the saints. He says in another place. He is the chief of sinners.

[8:43] The wretched man. He sees his own heart. He knows his sin. But he still prays.

[8:54] That the people of Ephesus. That ourselves here this evening. That he in his own heart. Would come to comprehend. With all the saints.

[9:05] What is the breadth. And length. And height. And depth. Of this love. Of Christ. That surpasses. Knowledge. There is no love.

[9:19] That compares. To this love. And it is a love. That isn't just spoken about. It is a love. That is demonstrated.

[9:31] Christ. Demonstrated his love. For sinners. By going. By going. To the cross. How deep. His love.

[9:44] That is what Paul. Is praying. And that should be our prayer. This evening as well. That we would come. With all the saints.

[9:55] All of us together. Would come. To comprehend. To see. This love. That Christ has shown. For sinners. For sinners. Such as we are.

[10:07] And then. As we examine. Our hearts. We won't come. Saying. My heart. Is clean. Because of what I have done. But we could come.

[10:19] To say. We love. Because he first. Loved us. I want us. To think about.

[10:31] The love. Of Christ. The love. That Paul. Speaks about. Here in Ephesians. But looking at it. From other parts. Of the scriptures. As well. I'm just.

[10:42] Turning. To three different. Texts. That remind us. Of this great love. The love. That Paul. Is praying.

[10:52] That we will. Grasp. The length. The breadth. The height. The depth. As I said before. It's not confined. To one part. Of scripture. It's throughout.

[11:03] Scripture. And there are so many. Parts. We could turn to. And say. Here we see. The love. Of God. Because you see it. Right throughout. The word. Of God. I want us.

[11:16] To think of. Three verses. Or three different. Parts. Of scripture. And the first thing. I want to think about. Is second Corinthians. Eight. Verse nine. For you know.

[11:27] The grace. Of our Lord. Jesus Christ. That though. He was rich. Yet. For your sakes. He became poor. So that you. Through his poverty. Might become rich.

[11:41] How the Lord. Jesus. Demonstrates. His love. For us. You see there. The breadth. And length. The height. And depth.

[11:51] Of his love. Though. He was rich. Yet. For your sakes. For your sake. And mine. He became poor.

[12:04] So that you. Through his poverty. Might. Become rich. What do you. Automatically. Think of. When you read.

[12:14] These words. Though. He was. Rich. Rich. We have. This tendency. To think of. Rich. And money. We are rich.

[12:25] If we have. A lot of money. But is that. True. Of the Lord. Jesus Christ. Did he. Leave behind. Some kind of.

[12:37] Financial security. Some kind of. Financial wealth. And to come into this world. To be a poor beggar. So that through his. Poverty. We might somehow.

[12:48] Come into great riches. Great wealth. Ourselves. Well. That's not. The kind of riches. That we're being told. About here. Many people.

[13:00] When they take marriage. Vows. Part of the vows. Says. That we will stay together. For richer. Or for poorer. There's a commitment there. But how many marriages.

[13:11] Break down. When financial hardship. Comes. How many. Marriages break down. When a windfall. Comes. We come to think. I can do better. I can get somebody better.

[13:26] But that's not. The kind of love. That the Lord. Jesus has shown. For us. His love. Runs. Deeper. Consider.

[13:36] What Jesus. Left. Behind. The height. And depth. The length. And breadth. Of his love. For us.

[13:48] Who is. This Jesus. You know. Some people. Saw Jesus. As he came into the world. And said. Is that not. The carpenter's son.

[14:00] Can't be anything. Special. About him. There's going to be. No great wealth. With him. He's merely. A carpenter's son. Nothing special. Others.

[14:13] Saw him. On the cross. And mocked him. If. You are. The son. Of God. They cried. Come down. Save yourself. If.

[14:25] You are. The son. Of God. They didn't believe. He was. Who is. This man. Who is.

[14:36] This Jesus. What is. The length. And breadth. And height. And depth. Of his love. Well. The Bible. Makes it. Clear. To us. Who is.

[14:49] This man. Well. He was. He was. In the beginning. He was. With God. He was. God. All things.

[15:01] Were made. By him. We read. That. In the gospel. Of John. In Colossians. One. Verse. Sixteen. We read. That. All things. Were made. Through him.

[15:12] And for him. Everything. The whole. Of creation. He was.

[15:22] Rich. But Paul. Says. In Philippians. He did not. Count. Equality. With God. A thing.

[15:33] To be. Grasped. But. Made. Himself. Nothing. Going. To the cross. Going.

[15:43] To lay. Down. His life. To die. As it says. Even. Death. On the cross. The most. Humiliating.

[15:54] Death. The death. We serve. For criminals. For murderers. Who is. This. Jesus. He came.

[16:07] From that. Perfect. Relationship. With his. Father. To the point. Where he would say. My God. My God. Why have you.

[16:18] Forsaken me. He came. As it said. Elsewhere. From glory. To Golgotha. To the place.

[16:31] Of the skull. To be one. Who would be. Served. Or should be. Served. He became. A servant. He was rich.

[16:46] Yet. For your. Sake. He became. Poor. He gave. Himself. He emptied. Himself. Why? So.

[16:58] Through. His. Poverty. You might. Become. Rich. Rich. Rich. Not in wealth. But in the glory.

[17:12] That belongs to him. That we might be. Children. Of God. That we might share. In the inheritance.

[17:22] That is his. That we might have a part. In the kingdom. Of God. That we might have hope.

[17:32] For this life. And for eternity. That is the length. And breadth. The height. And depth. Of the love.

[17:43] Of Christ. He was rich. But for your sake. Became poor. So through his poverty. We might become rich.

[17:53] The second text. I want us to think about. Is from Romans 5. Verse 8. Again. This was referenced.

[18:04] Last evening as well. Romans 5. Verse 8. How important it is. To see our own salvation. In Christ there. And Romans 5. Verse 8.

[18:14] It says. But God demonstrates. His own love for us. In this. While we were still sinners. Christ died. For us. While we were still sinners.

[18:31] Christ died. For us. And again. This was referenced. Last evening. To in Ephesians. Chapter 2.

[18:42] Where were we. When Christ came for us. Where were you. Dead. In your trespasses.

[18:52] And sins. No thought. Of God. No desire. For God. Dead.

[19:03] In trespasses. And sins. But while. We were still sinners. Christ died.

[19:14] For us. What kind of love. Love. Is that. The Lord Jesus. Did not come into the world. To meet.

[19:25] With friends. He came to die. For his enemies. When we were. Angry.

[19:36] Against God. When we raged. Against God. When we mocked. The people. Of God. When we mocked.

[19:47] The things. Of God. The love of God. Is still there. To be seen. That while. We were sinners. Christ died. For us. For us. You may lay down.

[20:03] Your life. For a friend. But would you lay down. Your life. For an enemy. While we were still sinners.

[20:15] Christ died. For us. Love. So amazing. Love. So divine. What were we.

[20:30] Or what are we. When we're sinners. He came for people. Who rejected him. He came for people.

[20:41] Who were confident. In their own. Self. Righteousness. He came to die. For people. Who made idols. And false images. In the place.

[20:53] Of the living God. He came. He came. He came to nations. Who have turned. From the word of God. From the truth. And turned to a lie. And yet.

[21:04] He still came. While we were sinners. Christ died. For us. And consider.

[21:14] What he has come. To save. Sinners. From. As we. Comprehend. The love. Of Christ. The length.

[21:25] The breadth. The height. And depth. For that love. To mean even more. We have to see. What he is saving us. From. I'm sure many of you.

[21:38] Have maybe read. Or heard. Of the sermon. By Jonathan Edwards. Sinners. In the hands. Of an angry. God. If you've never.

[21:50] Read it. Go and read it. Because it gives. Such a great. Description. Of what. We are saved. From. It gives.

[22:03] A picture. Of hell. In all. Its fury. And it gives. A picture. Of how blind. We are. To what hell.

[22:13] Really is. In one part. Of the sermon. He speaks. About. The unconverted. Walking. On a floor. Above hell.

[22:23] That is rotten. But you don't. Know it. And what you're. Walking on. Cannot take. Your weight. But you don't.

[22:35] See it. Until it's. Too late. It's. But he keeps. Going on. About this. God. Whose grasp.

[22:46] Is on. The sinner. And while. There is. That grasp. The sinner. Has hope. While. We are on.

[22:57] Mercy's. Ground. There is. Hope. And God. Is speaking. To us. And Jonathan Edwards. Goes on. To describe. The way.

[23:07] Is opened up. To Christ. And Christ. Is calling. Us in. Why. Will you die.

[23:19] Come. And be saved. Do you. Comprehend. The love. Of Christ. That invites. You.

[23:29] To himself. To come. And see. What he is. Saving us. From. Not just. What he is. Saving us. To. We look.

[23:40] Forward. To glory. We look. Forward. To heaven. We look. Forward. To that. Beautiful. Place. That is. So hard. To describe.

[23:54] But are you. Afraid. Of the alternative. He has. Come. To save us. From. Our sins.

[24:05] And our sins. Deserve. The just. Punishment. Of death. But while. We were sinners.

[24:17] Christ died. For us. Do you see yourself. As a sinner. Today. I'm sure. You probably do.

[24:29] We all. Have to see. Our sin. The sin. Of our hearts. We are more. We are more. We are more. Christ. Do you see.

[24:40] The way. He came. To give. His life. To shed. His blood. That our sins. Might be cleansed.

[24:53] There's a great line. In Christianity. Explored. Course. Sure. Many of you. Have heard it. But it keeps. Coming back to me. We are more.

[25:03] Sinful. Than we ever. Realized. But we're more. Loved. Than we ever. Dreamed. We are more.

[25:15] Sinful. Than we ever. Realized. And the closer. You come. To Christ. The more. You see. Your sin. The more.

[25:27] You see. That you're. Even more. Sinful. Than you ever. Realized. We're unworthy. To come. Into his presence. But the closer.

[25:41] You come. The more. You see. That you are. More loved. Than you ever. Dreamed. That he could.

[25:51] Love. A sinner. Such as me. You are. More loved. Than you ever. Dreamed.

[26:03] That is. The love. We see. When we come. To look. At the Lord. Jesus. But while. We were. Sinners. Christ. Died.

[26:14] For us. Third. And final. Text. I want us. To think. About. As we. Comprehend. This love. Is to think.

[26:24] Of John. 10. Verse. 10. And 11. The thief. Comes. Only to steal. And kill. And destroy. I have come.

[26:35] That they may. Have life. And have it. To the full. I am. The good shepherd. The good shepherd. Lays down.

[26:45] His life. For the sheep. The ultimate. Expression. Of the love. Of Christ. He died.

[26:58] For sinners. He laid down. His life. For the sheep. He came. To give. His life. That you would.

[27:10] Have life. And have life. To the full. To the full. To the full. To the full. To the full. To the full. We see so many. Expressions.

[27:21] In the world. Today. About living. Life. To the full. But so many. Of the expressions. Of living life. To the full. Are chasing. Your own.

[27:31] Dreams. Don't be held back. By anyone. They say. Do what you want. Live life. To the full.

[27:41] But it's still empty. You're still chasing. You're still looking. For something.

[27:54] There is always. Something missing. Without Christ. To live life. To the full. Is to know.

[28:05] The shepherd. Of the sheep. Is to put your trust. In this great shepherd. Who lay down. His life. For his sheep.

[28:19] You see. The holiness. Of God. Who hates. All sin. And who will not. Let sin.

[28:30] Go unpunished. And yet. We are sinners. To the core. So how. Could we possibly. Come before. This holy God.

[28:43] A sinner. In the hands. Of an angry God. How could we possibly. Come to him. Do we have. Our own righteousness.

[28:55] Do we have. Our own works. Is there anything. We can bring to him. And say. Lord. Here is why. I deserve. Life. With you.

[29:06] Nothing. We have. Nothing. Nothing. In my hands.

[29:17] I bring. Only. To the cross. I cling. Her righteousness. Is filthy rags.

[29:28] But we come. Through the righteousness. Of Christ. How do we know. That righteousness.

[29:39] For ourselves. It is given. To us. Through faith. If you believe.

[29:50] In the son. Of God. You are made. Righteous. Jesus. He takes. Your sin. And banishes.

[30:01] Them. They are put away. They are gone. They are forgotten. As far as east. Is from the west. So far. As he removed.

[30:13] Them. And we come. In the righteousness. Of Christ. What love. God has shown.

[30:24] To us. That he gave. His son. You know. The great text. John 3. 16. For God. So loved.

[30:34] The world. That he gave. His one. And only son. That whoever. Believes. In him. Shall not perish. But have. Eternal life. You can repeat.

[30:45] These words. You know them. Do you know. The love. That is spoken of. Do you know.

[30:58] The son. That he speaks of. Do you know. That he died. For sinners. Do you know. That he died.

[31:08] For you. Whoever. Believes. In him. Will not perish. But have. Everlasting life. That is how deep.

[31:24] That is how high. That is how great. This love is. Do you know.

[31:35] This love. For yourself. C.S. Lewis. Once said. On the whole. God's love.

[31:47] For us. Is a much safer. Subject. To think about. Than our love. For him. To think about. For him. So as you.

[31:59] Examine yourself. Today. As you look. In your heart. As you see. Your sin. Don't stop there.

[32:15] Think of the love. Of God. Because that is. A much safer. Subject. To think about. Much more secure.

[32:28] Our love. For God. It blows. Hot and cold. There are times. Where we feel. Closer. Times. Where like the psalmist.

[32:39] We ask questions. The love of God. Doesn't change. And as you look. To the cross. As you see.

[32:51] What Christ Jesus. Has done for us. There you see. The breadth. The length. The height. And depth.

[33:02] Of the love. Of Christ. Doesn't it. Surpass. Knowledge. Isn't it. So hard. To comprehend.

[33:15] That he would love me. A wretched sinner. The hymn writer says. How deep. The father's love for us.

[33:26] How vast. Beyond all measure. That he should give. His only son. To make. A wretch. His treasure.

[33:37] Paul himself. He speaks. Of that wretched man. The least. Of all the saints.

[33:49] What a wonderful prayer. What a wonderful song. Of the love. Of Christ. Christ. And may we.

[33:59] Together. All the saints. Be able. To comprehend. The breadth. And length. The height. And depth.

[34:10] And to know. The love. Of Christ. That surpasses. Knowledge. That you may be. Filled. With all the fullness.

[34:22] Of God. We examine. Ourselves. But we empty ourselves.

[34:38] All the sin. That we see. We can see. You have taken it. Away. And may we be filled.

[34:51] With the fullness. Of God. And comprehend. The greatness. Of his love. Let us pray.

[35:06] Our father in heaven. Your love. Is a love. That so often. We cannot. Comprehend. And yet. The more we see.

[35:16] Of Christ. The more we see. How sinful. We are. That we would. But help us. That we would come. Even closer. To see. In Christ. Just how much.

[35:27] We are loved. And that we would see. Not. Our own sins. Not our own righteousness. Which is like filthy rags. But what Christ.

[35:38] Has done. For sinners. Such as we are. We thank you. For that great love. That you as the father. Has shown to us. As your children.

[35:48] Behold. What manner of love. Has been bestowed on us. That we might be called. The children of God. And help us.

[35:59] As we. See this love. To do as you command. Of us. And to remember. That as Christ. Has given all for me.

[36:11] So the command is. That I give my life. To Christ. Christ. Lord. Lead us. To that rock. That we might find. Refuge.

[36:21] That we might find. Strength. That we might find. Strength. With all the sins. To comprehend. The breadth. And length.

[36:32] And height. And depth. Of your love. For us. For we ask it. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen.

[36:42] Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. Amen. We are going to. Conclude by singing. God's praise. In Psalm 17. In Scottish Psalter version.

[36:59] Psalm 17. Scottish Psalter version. In verse 6. I called.

[37:11] Let us.

[37:39] me round as deadly force. We'll sing these three verses to God's praise. Amen. Amen.

[38:39] Amen. Amen.

[39:39] Now may grace, mercy and peace from God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit rest upon and abide with you all now and forevermore.

[39:50] Amen.