The Right Rule of Our Love to Christ
The right rule of our love to Christ is to love him as the Father loves him, by choosing him as our Saviour and Surety, and putting all things in his hand.
Ralph Erskine emphasizes the importance of loving Christ as the Father loves Him. Our love for Christ should mirror the Father's love by choosing Him as our Savior and Surety, just as God chose Him for that purpose. We are called to entrust all aspects of our lives to Christ, just as the Father entrusted all things into His hand, including our hearts, souls, plagues, corruptions, wants, work, and burdens. By surrendering everything to Christ, we demonstrate our love for Him and acknowledge His roles as Prophet, Priest, and King in our lives.
Text
See here the right rule of our love to Christ, namely to love him as the Father loves him. Wherein should our love to Christ resemble the Father's love? Why, the Father's love to the Son was evidenced in choosing him to be our Saviour and Surety: so should our love to Christ be manifested in making choice of him to be our Saviour and Surety; insomuch, that as God hath laid all our help upon him, so we should lay all our help where God hath laid it.
Again, the Father's love to the Son was evidenced in giving all things into his hand: thus should our love to Christ be evidenced in putting all things in his hand as the Father doth; and particularly, you may put your hearts in his hand, that he may keep them; put your souls in his hand, that he may save them; put your plagues in his hand, that he may heal them; put your corruptions in his hand, that he may weaken and subdue them.
Put your wants in his hand, that he may supply them; put your work in his hand, that he may work all your works in you, and for you; put your burdens in his hand, that he may bear them: put all things in his hand, and thus evidence your love to him, by putting honour upon him as a Prophet, to teach you; as a Priest, to pardon; and as a King, to conquer you by his grace, and crown you with his glory.
Sermon Outline
- The Right Rule of Our Love to Christ points: - Love Christ as the Father loves him - The Father's love is evidenced in choosing Christ as our Saviour and Surety - We should choose Christ as our Saviour and Surety
- Manifesting Our Love to Christ points: - Putting all things in Christ's hand - Putting our hearts, souls, plagues, corruptions, wants, work, and burdens in Christ's hand - Honouring Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King
Key Quotes
“Wherein should our love to Christ resemble the Father''s love? Why, the Father''s love to the Son was evidenced in choosing him to be our Saviour and Surety: so should our love to Christ be manifested in making choice of him to be our Saviour and Surety;” — Ralph Erskine
“Put your hearts in his hand, that he may keep them; put your souls in his hand, that he may save them; put your plagues in his hand, that he may heal them; put your corruptions in his hand, that he may weaken and subdue them.” — Ralph Erskine
“Put all things in his hand, and thus evidence your love to him, by putting honour upon him as a Prophet, to teach you; as a Priest, to pardon; and as a King, to conquer you by his grace, and crown you with his glory.” — Ralph Erskine
Application Points
- We should choose Christ as our Saviour and Surety, and trust him to save us and guide us in our spiritual lives.
- We should put all things in Christ's hand, including our hearts, souls, plagues, corruptions, wants, work, and burdens, and trust him to keep and guide us.
- We should honour Christ as Prophet, Priest, and King, and put our trust in him to teach us, pardon us, and conquer us by his grace.