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I. CONSIDER THE LOVE OF CHRIST. Shown in:

1. Advent. Relinquishment of heavenly glory. The highest place above exchanged for one of the lowest on earth.

2. Assumption of human nature. A vast condescension. A most striking proof of love.

3. Life. Miracles, acts of kindness, words, spirit.

4. Death. A transcendent proof.

(1) Death for enemies.

(2) Death at the hands of those he came to save.

(3) Most painful death,

(a) physically,

(b) mentally, and

(c) spiritually. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?

(4) A death the object of which was the redemption, purification, exaltation, and eternal happiness of men.

5. Intercession. "He ever liveth to make intercession" (Hebrews 7:25).

II. CONSIDER THE EFFECT OF THE LOVE OF CHRIST. It constrained the apostle - "compressed with irresistible power all his energies into one channel." "Constraineth" - its influence was continuous. Its power was not soon spent; rather that power increased as the love of Christ was increasingly realized.

1. Negatively. Not to live to himself (ver. 15). There was now a greater power operating upon him than the mighty power of self.

2. Positively. To live to Christ (ver. 15). The love of Christ overmastered him. He felt that through it he had been purchased with a great price, and therefore sought to glorify Christ in his body and spirit which were peculiarly his.

(1) By a blameless life.

(2) By seeking to show forth Christ in his character, spirit, acts, etc.

(3) By submitting his will to Christ's in all things.

(4) By cherishing a deep love for Christ.

(5) By seeking to extend the kingdom and to increase the glory of Christ.

(6) By being wholly devoted to Christ. He was wont to speak of himself as the "slave of Christ." - H.

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KJV: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

WEB: For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died.