2 Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
These verses have a lot of deep thought. The word “control” has different possibilities. It can be to guard, occupy one’s attention, urge or compel, guide or direct. The phrase “love of Christ” can be taken in two different ways. As an objective genitive, it can be interpreted as our love for Christ. As a subjective genitive, it can mean Christ’s love for us. Often, both are possible and we should not force one or the other. When we put all of these ideas together, the love of God that has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit is best experience by a deepening relationship with Christ (see Ephesians 3:14-19). Christ’s love for us shown on the cross is what guides everything we do. It keeps us from doing certain things and gives us strength and conviction to do other things. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19). We should respond to Christ’s love for us through living in faithful obedience. We show that we love Christ by keeping his commands (John 14:15). This love becomes the road map to guide us each step we take.
The reason Paul can come to this conclusion is that he looks at the cross and sees Christ’s love for him. Christ died that we might have life. The key response to all of this is found in the last phrase of v. 14: “all have died.” To fully experience this love of Christ, we must die with Christ on our own cross (Romans 6:3-5). To experience the power of resurrection requires death. Christ died that we might have life. We must die to the old self so that we may have life to the fullest. This statement could be paraphrased as followers: “all must die in order to experience this love of Christ as God has desires.” Why is this the case? Because we must set aside our selfishness and the control of this fleshly world. Our focus must be on God’s ultimate purposes for us which are only found through total commitment to Christ.
This idea becomes even clearer in v. 15. First, Christ died for all, not just some group of the elect. As John 3:16 reminds us, God so loved the whole world that he gave his Son. This is a universal invitation that invites any who will come and receive the gift. Sadly, many will reject it. Second, the key to receiving the promises of this gift is to no longer live for self. There must be total consecration. Entire sanctification is the only way to participate in the full transformation promised in the gospel. The life of self must be replaced by the life for Christ. This is Paul’s key message and is fully consistent with what Jesus taught as recorded in the gospels. The power behind this transformation is Jesus’ own resurrection. His resurrection shows his power over sin and death. Our greatest enemies were conquered with the empty tomb. Paul’s words in this passage echo his ideas in Romans 6:1-13 and other places.
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