“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:” (2Corinthians 5:14)
Here is one test of sincerity and submission to the Lordship of Jesus. The love of Christ. Was it just lip service that was given to the Lord? It’s soon exposed. Man cannot sustain righteous speech nor righteous deeds on his own strength. “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us.” (1John 2:19) Can this type of hypocrisy continue for a year or two? Many wise leaders in the church wait and watch for the fruit because even these are enthusiastic and animated in their words and actions at the beginning. But then they will begin to slowly depart from worship and service until their bad fruit is exposed.
Since the early church there have been these who infiltrate the congregation. They love the benefits of the Lord, but do not love Jesus. They cannot and do not submit to His Lordship. They begin to draw the saints away from Gospel Truths, maybe not even so much that they are maliciously trying to draw the saints away from Christ, but rather that they want to be justified of their own disbelieve and doubt of the Truth. They need and want companions who support the lies they believe. “Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment:” (Acts 15:24) There are such ones in our congregation. Knowing the Truth is vital to keep from being duped into doubt, unbelief and sin.
Paul wrote Timothy that in the last days there would even be those who come into the church who will try to draw others away from the Truth. “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth. Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as theirs also was.” (2Timothy 3:1-9) And as these heretics are evident, those who are faithful are also manifested. “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” (1Corinthians 11:19) So we will continue to have these heretics among us. Reading the Word of God, having fellowship with our Lord and obeying the Holy Spirit will keep us from falling into error.
It's the love of Christ and the love for Christ that keeps us. He knows those who are His and keeps them. “He that hath My commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth Me: and he that loveth Me shall be loved of My Father, and I will love him, and will manifest Myself to him.” (John 14:21) His love has drawn us. And our love for Him has believed and received Him. His love continues to be manifest to us as we follow Him. Every day is a discovery of His Goodness and love. We can begin to list them, beginning with our redemption, but the list is eternal, like He is eternal. It will never end because every moment of our lives is filled with His Goodness, in the good times, in the hard times, in times of rejoicing and sorrow. Paul writes the word “always” in his letter to the Corinthians. All grace is always overflowing in abundance always in our lives. “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:” (2Corinthians 9:8) And how can we not also overflow in abundance in every good work. It’s an outward expression of His love for us and our love for Him.
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