Christ's Love is Deep

It rescues us no matter where we are.

Deep means mysterious, wise, bottomless, profound, unfathomable, immeasurable, incomprehensible, explainable

Scripture Passage:  Ephesians 3:17-19

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3:17-19

Our pastor told us about a place called Challenger Deep.  The Mariana Trench is a place within the Challenger Deep area which measures 6.85625 miles deep.  It is known as the deepest part of the ocean and the deepest location on Earth. 

Try to imagine the depth of almost 7 miles down.  That is a mighty deep pit.

Do you ever feel like you are in a deep pit, a pit so deep that you can't possibly climb out - a pit so deep that you feel there is no way God can reach you.  Friend, there is no pit so deep that God's love is not deeper still.

Where can I go from Your Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend to heaven, You are there;
If I make my bed in Sheol, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the dawn,
If I dwell in the remotest part of the sea,
Even there Your hand will lead me,
And Your right hand will lay hold of me. - Psalm 139:7-10

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No matter how deep we fall or how low we feel, God's love can reach us there.

He sent from on high, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters. - Psalm 18:16

The eternal God is a dwelling place,
And underneath are the everlasting arms;
And He drove out the enemy from before you,
And said, ‘Destroy!’ - Deuteronomy 33:27

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The arms of God are under you!

We have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him. - 1 John 4:16

Is this verse (1 John 4:16) real for you?

Believing the depth of God's love for me is key to my growing into a loving person.  Pray that God will deepen our love for others.

1.  We are deeply loved.  I am deeply loved.  YOU are deeply loved.

2.  We are to love deeply.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma. - Ephesians 5:1-2

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*Follow the example of God.

There is no day that God's love for you is diminished or gone.

*Walk in love.  Love should be a lifestyle, not a feeling.  It is a commitment.

*We are to love just as Christ loved us.  How does He love us?  He loves us deeply.

How deeply does He love us?  He gave Himself up for us.  This is no wimpy love.  It is a deep love.

We know the depth of someone's love by what it costs them.  - John Piper

Jesus lived for us but He also died for us.  His love for us cost Him deeply.

We know the depth of someone's love for us by how little we deserve it. - John Piper

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

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The more undeserving we are of the love we receive, the deeper the love.

We know the depth of someone's love for us by the greatness of the benefits we receive from being loved. - John Piper

For this reason I say to you, her sins, which are many, have been forgiven, for she loved much; but he who is forgiven little, loves little. - Luke 7:47

We know the depth of someone's love for us by the freedom with which they love us. - John Piper

No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father. - John 10:18

Greater love has no one than this, that one lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13

Chris Tomlin sings a song about the amazing love of  God.

If you have no church background, God loves you.
If you did not grow up in a Christian home, God loves you.
If you have lived a Godless life, God loves you.

When we realize the depth of our sin, we realize the depth of God's love.  There is no place for hate in the heart of the child of God.

And hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. - Romans 5:5

Love does not envy.  It isn't possible to be envious of someone you deeply love.

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:31-32

 When we forgive deeply, we love deeply.

For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died and rose again on their behalf. - 2 Corinthians 5:14-15

Enjoy another song about the deep love of God. (I chose an oldie by the Statler Brothers)

Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creationwill be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. - Romans 8:39

In your love, you kept me from the pit of destruction.  You have put all my sins behind Your back. - Isaiah 38:17

For great is Your love toward me.  You have delivered me from the depths. - Psalm 86:13

You'll find all my posts about this Bible study series here.

Christ's Love is High (Christ's Love Series)

Christ's love is high.  It's better than we can imagine. High means lofty, towering, glorified, exalted, heroic, worthy, and majestic.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, and I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3: 17-19 (NIV)

These are my Bible study notes from sermons preached by my pastor.

Image Credit:  Pexels - CCO Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

Your lovingkindness, O Lord, extends to the heavens,

Your faithfulness reaches to the skies. - Psalm 36:5

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For Your lovingkindness  is great above the heavens,

And Your truth reaches to the skies - Psalm 108:4

Is God's love too high for me to reach?  NO.  God loves you but you must receive Him.  You must know Him in your heart.

Christ's Love is High

The high love of God is so high that:

1.  It raises us to life.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.  Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.  But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved). - Ephesians 2:1-5

We are alive and raised.

We were in the low position, dead and headed for Hell, but Jesus raised us to life.  When we are not spiritually alive, we are dead to God and unable to communicate effectively with God.

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. - Romans 3:23

We are born into sin.  No one has to teach us how to do bad things.  We do those things naturally.  We all deserve judgement.   The wages of sin is death but God sent Jesus.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus, our Lord.  - Romans 6:23

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,  even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:4-6

What does this mean?

When we come alive in Christ, we begin to understand the scriptures better.

 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. - Romans 8:11

We now have the energy and power to do the right things.  We are convicted by the Holy Spirit when we don't.

For since by a man came death, by a man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first fruits, after that those who are Christ’s at His coming. - 1 Corinthians 15:21-23

We never die spiritually.

2.  He seats us to rest.

And raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:6

By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.  Every priest stands daily ministering and offering time after time the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins; but He, having offered one sacrifice for sins for all time, sat down at the right hand of God. - Hebrews 10:10-12

As high as God's love is, Satan tries to pile up my sins high, but God seats us to rest.

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. - Ephesians 2:8-9

Learn to rest in the high love of a forgiving and loving God.

And what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.  And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. - Ephesians 1:19-23

God is a judge over the entire world.  Why haven't you personally accepted the high love of God?

3.  He unites us to Christ. 

So that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. - Ephesians 2:7

We are hidden with Christ. - Colossians, Chapter 3.

For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ also does the church, because we are members of His body. For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the church. - Ephesians 5:29-32

God shows us a picture of marriage.  When we accept the high love of God, we are untied with Him.  Believers (those who have accepted Christ) are called the "bride of Christ."  Nothing can take us away from our bridegroom.  We are in a covenant relationship with Him.

Psalm 45 is called "The Royal Wedding Psalm."  Read the entire chapter here.

Forget your pain, your shame, etc.  Go to the King who loves you!

His love is so high that you don't have to hang your head down low.

Christ's love is wide, long, and high.  Go to Him.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
So great is His lovingkindness toward those who fear Him. - Psalm 103:11

But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. - Psalm 13:5 

But as for me, I shall sing of Your strength;
Yes, I shall joyfully sing of Your lovingkindness in the morning,
For You have been my stronghold
And a refuge in the day of my distress. - Psalm 59:16

You'll find all my posts about this Bible study series here.

Christ's Love is Long (Christ's Love Series)

This is the second installment in my pastor's series titled "Christ Love."  You can find the first one here.

The scripture passage is Ephesians 3:17-19.

So that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know that the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to the fullness of God. - Ephesians 3:17-19

Image Credit:  Tim Mossholder - Public Domain Image - via Pixabay

Christ's Love is Long

It goes on forever. 

Long means endless, patient, everlasting, permanent, full-length, outstretched, and infinite.

We usually measure length with distance and time.  How do we measure the length of the love of Jesus Christ?

The Lord appeared to him from afar, saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness." - Jeremiah 31:3

When we think of the love of Jesus, we should think, past tense, present tense, and future tense.

God always was so love has always existed, even before time began on Earth as we know it.  In eternity past, God was.

In eternity past, Jesus was.

In eternity past, love was.

Just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. - Ephesians 1:4

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Now Father, glorify Me together with Yourself, with the glory which I had with you before the world was. - John 17:5

For He was foreknown before the foundation of the world, but has appeared in these last times for the sake of you. - 1 Peter 1:20

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. - John 17:24

God does not change.  His love does not change. 

Of old You founded the Earth,
And the Heavens are the work of Your hands.
Even they will perish, but You endure;
And all of the will wear out like a garment;
Like clothing, you will change them and they will be changed.
But You are the same,
And Your years will not come to an end. - Psalm 102:25-27

 Jesus loves everyone.

There is not a person or a home that Jesus will not go to.

He was the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. - Hebrews 13:8

Christ's love is not conditional.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

Christ's love is not based on height, weight, race, etc.

Christ's love runs all the way through eternity future.

See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us that we would be called children of God; and such we are.  For this reason, the world does not know us, because it did not know Him.  Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be.  We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. - 1 John 3:1-2

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.

And He who sits on the throne said, "Behold, I am making all things new."   And He said, "Write, for these words are faithful and true."

His Word is trustworthy and true.

1.  Christ loves me without conditions.  His love for me is endless.  It does not fail.

2.  Christ's love is so long that I can't outrun it.  You can never be so far away that Jesus' love cannot reach you.  His love is always behind you, beside you, and ahead of you.

Consider the story of the prodigal son.  If you've never read it or you are not familiar with it, you can read the whole story in Luke 15:11-32 here.

3.  Christ's love changes me.  The more we dwell on His love, we become selfless.  We learn to love others unconditionally because His love for us is unconditional.  We begin to sacrifice .  We give.  We share.

When we realize Christ's love for us, we can't stop loving others.

For the Lord is good and His love endures forever.  His faithfulness continues for all generations. - Psalm 100:5

Give thanks to the Lord for He is good.  His love endures forever. - Psalm 136:1

Because of the Lord's great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning.  Great is Your Faithfulness. - Lamentations 3:22-23

You'll find all my posts about this Bible stud series here.

God's Love is Wide (Christ's Love Series - Measuring the Dimensions of God's Love)

Image Credit:  Public Domain via Freely Photos

Featured Scripture Passage:  Ephesians 3:17-19

The following are my notes taken during my pastor's sermon titled, "God's Love is Wide."  

 Wide - Long - High - Deep:  This is how far love goes.

It's something we can experience and believe, but we'll never fully understand.  Why would God send His perfect Son to take our place, to pay our debt?  How can we explain that kind of love?  It spans all of time.  It stretches across continents, cultures, and generations.  This is strong love.  This is true love.  This is Christ's love.

God's Love is Wide

It's for everyone.

Wide means vast, extensive, inclusive, far-reaching, sweeping, spacious, and fully open.

 . . . so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to the fullness of God - Ephesians 3:17-19

The Lord appeared to him from afar saying, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness. - Jeremiah 31:3

But God demonstrates His own love toward us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. - Romans 5:8

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Christ died for us.  Personalize this verse:  But God demonstrates His own love toward ME in that while "I" was still a sinner, Jesus died for ME.

*Christ's love is so wide that it is for everybody.  God never made a person He doesn't love.

For God so loved the WORLD, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. - John 3:16.

 God loves every single one of billions and billions.

*Christ's love is to be expressed.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you that you also love one another. - John 13:34

If God's love is so vast, why is my love so small?

This is not referring to a soft love that loves sinfulness as in sinful lifestyles but a "hard love."  Love them because God loves them. 

*God's love is to be experienced.

Know His love for yourself.  Have you experienced God's love?

God doesn't send people to Hell.  People choose this destination when they reject the love of Jesus.

Will you accept Jesus' love for you?  Learn more here.

The Lord loves righteousness and justice.  The Earth is full of His unfailing love. - Psalm 33:5

Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  Love never fails. - 1 Corinthians 13:7-8

How priceless is Your unfailing love, O God!  People take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.  Psalm 36:7

You'll find all my posts about this Bible study series here.