The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1918-12-19
The Dimensions ofCbrvt'}L Love
! sermon by Frank A. Andrews,
of the Christian Church. }

"a sermon by Frank A. Andrews,
of the Christian church,
THAT Christ may dwell in your
hearts through faith, to the end that
ye, being rooted and grounded in
love, may be strong to apprehend
with all the saints what is the
breadth and length and height and
depth, and to know the love of Christ
which passeth knowledge, that ye
may be filled unto all the fulness of
God.-Eph. 3: 1913.
A study of this text in connection
with the context shows that it is a
part of prayer of the apostle Paul
on behalf of the Christians at
Ephesus. 1t presents first the con-
ditions necessary to an understand
ing Of the dimensions of the love of
christ and then the result of such an
understanding. This great love
passeth knowledge, but if we are
strong to apprehend it, or as we
would say today, if we tfy hard to
Understand it and have already such
a knowledge of the life of Christ and
such faith in Him that his life is
a vivid reality to us, then will our
efforts be rewarded in a remarka BILE
way.
|. The Breadth of Christ's Love.
! think Paul here had in mind the
scope of Christ's love oyer the world
in which we live. The love of Christ
is universal. 1t extends over the
whole wide world 1t comprehends
III nations, men Of every tongue, and
of every race. The Jews believed
that God loved them but not other
people. All others were to them
Ientiles and dogs. They thought
that God had no more love or con-
sideration than they had for Gentiles
The Jews boasted that they were
Gods chosen people. He was their
God. Instead of spreading abroad
the knowledge of God, the mission
for which He had called them, they
kept this knowledge to themselves
thinking Others were unworthy to
receive it. Yes, the Jews were
narrow. But so are we. We often
talk with contempt of the Dagoes
and Slavs, Greasers and Japs and
Niggers, as If we were very much
superior to them. We assume that
God must be aware of our superior
merit and is therefore, especially
concerned as to our welfare and
salvation. We are His people pre-
eminently. But in what does our
superiority consist? 1t is righteous
ness, mot racial descent, nor military
poweH that exalteth nation. If
we do not carry the gospel of
salvation to these others whom Jesus
loves, and try to help them in pro-
portion to our ability and oppor-
tunity, perhaps God will cast us off
and use another people whom we
despise, to their exaultation and our
shame.
ii. The Length of Christ's Love.
How long has Christ loved? How
long will he continue to love us?
God so loved the world that he
gave his only begotten son, that who
soever belitveth in him should not
perish, but have eternal life." Jesus,
the son of God, showed his love by
his words and deeds. He went
about doing good" Even under
abuse and injustice he showed no
resentment. AS he died upon the
cross he prayed for those who were
subjecting him to a cruel death. He
never has ceased to love us. How
could he possibly have done more to
assure us of his love than he did 4?
But his death did not end his
ministry for us. He is now lovingly
watching over us and interceding for
us by the throne of God, (Heb. Z:
25;S:1.)
Sometimes, when the clouds hide
the sun for days at time, we say the
sun isn't shining. Yet, we know the
sun is shining all the time. So