clcgh.org Building The Capacity Of Christian Leaders, Equipping The Saints For The Work Of Ministry, Redirecting Straying Christians To The Sound Knowledge Of Christ
Some people claim that they were once Christians, bishops or evangelists, but today they are no longer disciples of Christ Jesus. In other words, they have been separated from the love of Christ.
These so-called Christians were easily deceived and eventually removed from God after listening to unbelievers who criticise the Bible, insult pastors and mock Christ Jesus and the Christian faith.
It appears that most of them were false Christians, mere religious folks or people who were never genuinely converted, born again or regenerated in Christ. They just attended church meetings for breakthroughs.
A true believer in Christ is not an ordinary person; some supernatural things took place in his life the moment he was born again after believing in Jesus Christ and repenting of his sins. He was reconciled to God, married to Christ or wedded to Christ.
This happens as the believer receives the Holy Spirit and the love of God in his heart, making his faith strong in Christ and sealing him for the day of redemption. Already he had the word of faith in his heart by which he confessed the lordship of Jesus Christ with his mouth (Romans 10:8-10).
Thus, true believers may be tempted to separate from the love of Christ or reject Jesus. Some may be led astray or backslide, but they will not utterly fall. Often, they are returned, disciplined and maintained.
Paul, the apostle, an earliest Christian sheds light on these truths in most of his writings. In 1 Corinthians 6:17, he writes: “But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him.”
Again, he writes in another book: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Considering these and other spiritual experiences in his life, Paul once again wonders who, what and how true disciples of Christ Jesus could be separated from His love.
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?” (Romans 8:35).
The apostle answers the question himself in verses 38-39, saying, “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Now, someone may wonder what the love of Christ is all about? Christ’s love is His willingness to freely offer Himself to shed His blood for the atonement of our sins, thereby reconciling us to God the Father and setting us free from eternal damnation.
The earliest believers understood the deepest love God had for them, and how they themselves deeply loved Him. It is, therefore, not surprising that true Christians are resilient and endure persecutions. They do not fear to die for their faith in Christ Jesus.
Historically, James, Stephen, the 12 foundational apostles including Paul, and other believers after them including Bishop Polycarp who were burnt at the stakes died for their faith in Christ are examples.
Today, most Christians in Muslim dominated countries endure persecutions including death for their faith in Christ, demonstrating that it is difficult for true born again Christians to be separated from the love of Christ.
By James Quansah
