Ephesians 6:24 Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. I. THE CHARACTERS DESCRIBED. 1. The object of their love "The Lord Jesus Christ." (1) Lord, Said to be "Lord of all." (2) Jesus. This signifies "Saviour," and it was given to Him on account of His mission and work. (3) Christ. Signifies "Anointed." The anointed Saviour. The Christ predicted, promised, expected, at length revealed. 2. The nature of their love - "Love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity." Here is the affection and the kind of affection. Now, love to Christ - (1) Is always the result of faith in His love to us. (2) Love to Christ is always an evident emotion. (3) Is sincere. It may be rendered "uncorrupted," without alloy.It means real, in opposition to pretended love - intense, in opposition to languid - constant, in opposition to vacillating. II. THE AFFECTIONATE PRAYER EXPRESSED. 1. All the saints of the Lord Jesus require this grace. None independent of it. 2. The grace is provided for all the disciples of Jesus. "Out of His fulness have we all," etc. 3. We should seek sincerely in prayer that all may possess it. And that for the following reasons: - (1) All who love, etc., are loved of God and chosen of Him. (2) They are all our brethren and sisters in Christ. (3) We are in circumstances of common need and dependence. (4) We have all one Spirit. (5) We are destined to one common inheritance. Application: 1. We see the true nature of apostolical Christianity. A religion of love. 2. We perceive the unhappy influences of sectarianism. (J. Burns, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: Grace be with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen. WEB: Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ with incorruptible love. Amen. |
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