2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
Oftentimes, when the word constraint is used upon someone, is not always a good thing. Because to constrain someone oftentimes refers to being under the constraint of others and it means that they are under their will, But most importantly it means that they are under their power, and our subject unto their dominion. And this is because they have walked contrary against their will and their law, and they are now being placed under the power of another. But as we can see in second Corinthians chapter 5, the apostle Paul speaks from the eyes of a Son who knows and has learned the true selfless love of Christ. Paul gives us the ensample of the Lord who had the power to die for all, but He is the only One that could die for all. And this selflessness is being given unto us for an ensample of how selfless His Love truly is.
Rom 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
Rom 8:30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Rom 8:31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Rom 8:32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?
And so, Paul teaches the Saints that he himself is under the Excellency of this power, and that as he mentions in 2nd Corinthians chapter 4, that it is his desire that the ‘excellency of the power be of God and not of us’. And that we have “this treasure in earthen vessels,” this treasure is the living word of the living God operating within us. But it is also our maturing and “abounding” in the selfless love of Christ taught unto us by the word of God. And this is the power that Paul speaks of, and this is the power that Paul desires to be ‘constrained’ by when he says, “for the love of Christ constraineth us.” And the man today whether he knows it or not, is under the power and constraint of this world, we are taught this in Ephesians chapter 2, that we “walked according to the course of this world,” and were subject unto “the power of the air.” We are also taught in Romans chapter 12:2 About being under the conformity to this world. We are also taught In Philippians chapter 2:15 about being “in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation.”
Eph 3:16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
Eph 3:17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
Eph 3:18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
Moreover, to “know the love of Christ,” we must first follow the design by God given unto us, as we see in the verses above, we are to be strengthened by the living word of God within our inner man. It is by these words of Christ that we are taught His selfless love, and this is where our bowels and mercies ought to be rooted and grounded in love. We ought to be ‘able to comprehend with all the Saints what is the breadth, and the length, and the depth, and the height of the selfless love of Christ.’ And Paul does not want us to only just know this type of selflessness, but that we walk in it, but not just only walk in this type of love, but that we abound in it, but not just only abound in this type of selflessness but that we too be ‘constrained’ under its power. And that we would desire the “exceeding greatness” of this power to us, and that we too become subject under its power, and be ‘constrained’ by this power of His love to us. We are taught this “great love” of our Father also, and to be constrained under its power. And just as we are taught in Romans 12:21, we could be “overcome” of evil if we allow ourselves to be subject unto it’s power, but we are taught the education in selfless love given unto us in Romans chapter 12 about the selfless love of Christ and that we now have learned how to no longer be under the power of evil by Christ’s selfless love.
Eph 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,
Eph 3:19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
Eph 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
Furthermore, not only does the power of Christ’s selfless love has the “power” to bring us under subjection, and under its dominion, but as we can see, it can also make the power of evil non-existent in the life of the believer as well. The natural man knows how to operate upon the evil of this world, and his idea of ‘good and evil’ is patterned after his flesh, and his carnal mind. We are taught the love of Christ by Paul, who once persecuted the church as Saul, and he had a ‘love’ for his religion, he says, “concerning zeal, persecuting the church.” He loved his religion and was zealous toward what he thought was gain unto him. But not only did he love his religion, he despised and ‘abhorred’ our Lord, and those who served Him. And we have the power to be able to “abhor” that which is evil, we have the power to be able to abstain from “all appearance of evil,” and be “simple concerning evil.” But we are taught in 2nd Thessalonians 3:3, that the Word of the Lord will ‘keep us from evil,’ Our Father desires that we be not “lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God,” and that we too love with His “great love,” and desire to be under this power, but for this to take place; we must first “let love be without dissimulation” of His love, we must ‘simulate’ His love to be “able” to “be” constrained by His Selfless love.
Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.
Rom 12:10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;
Rom 12:21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.
Rod Jones
SUPPLY OF GRACE 
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