Topical Bible: Love to Christ: Increase of, to be Prayed For

Bible > Topical > Love to Christ

◄ Love to Christ: Increase of, to be Prayed For ►

Jump to: Torrey's • Library • Subtopics • Terms

Topical Encyclopedia

The love of a believer for Christ is a central theme in Christian theology and practice, reflecting the profound relationship between the Savior and His followers. This love is not static but is expected to grow and deepen over time. The increase of love to Christ is both a divine work and a human responsibility, and Scripture encourages believers to pray for this growth.

Biblical Foundation

The call to love Christ is rooted in the Great Commandment, where Jesus emphasizes the importance of loving God with all one's heart, soul, and mind (Matthew 22:37). This love is to be fervent and all-encompassing, reflecting the believer's devotion and commitment to Christ.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus directly links love for Him with obedience to His commandments: "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments" (John 14:15). This connection underscores that love for Christ is not merely an emotional experience but is demonstrated through faithful living and adherence to His teachings.

Praying for Increased Love

The Apostle Paul, in his epistles, often prays for the spiritual growth of believers, including an increase in love. In Philippians 1:9, he writes, "And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight" . Here, Paul highlights that love should not only grow in quantity but also in quality, characterized by discernment and understanding.

Similarly, in Ephesians 3:17-19, Paul prays that believers may be "rooted and grounded in love" and "have power, together with all the saints, to comprehend the length and width and height and depth of His love, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge" . This prayer reflects the desire for believers to experience the fullness of Christ's love, which in turn fuels their love for Him.

The Role of the Holy Spirit

The increase of love for Christ is facilitated by the Holy Spirit, who dwells within believers. Romans 5:5 states, "And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us" . The Spirit's work is essential in cultivating a deeper love for Christ, as He illuminates the believer's heart and mind to the truths of the Gospel and the beauty of Christ.

Practical Implications

Believers are encouraged to actively seek an increase in their love for Christ through prayer, meditation on Scripture, and participation in the sacraments. Engaging in these spiritual disciplines fosters a closer relationship with Christ and aligns the believer's heart with His will.

Moreover, the community of faith plays a vital role in nurturing love for Christ. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts believers to "consider how to spur one another on to love and good deeds" and to "not neglect meeting together" . Fellowship with other believers provides encouragement and accountability, helping individuals grow in their love for Christ.

Conclusion

The increase of love to Christ is a dynamic and ongoing process that requires intentional prayer and reliance on the Holy Spirit. As believers seek to grow in their love for the Savior, they are drawn into a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him, reflecting His love to the world.

Torrey's Topical Textbook

Philippians 1:9
And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Library

Love and Discernment.
... Constant increase, development, progress, extension, expansion must mark it at every
step ... full of profound spiritual wisdom because love to Christ has given ...
/.../thomas/the prayers of st paul/ix love and discernment.htm

The Beginning, Increase, and End of the Divine Life
... Our later end shall greatly increase; we shall not always be so distrustful ... and depths,
and lengths, and breadths, and know the love of Christ which passeth ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 6 1860/the beginning increase and end.htm

An Exhortation to Love God
... To persuade Christians to put more oil to the lamp, and increase the flame of their
love, let me propose these four ... The disciples love to Christ at first ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a divine cordial/an exhortation to love god.htm

Twenty-Fifth Day. Holy and Blameless.
... the Spirit can so make us partakers of the life of Christ, that we ... And that it is
the Lord Himself who makes us to increase and abound in love, to the ...
/.../murray/holy in christ/twenty-fifth day holy and blameless.htm

Grace and Holiness.
... noticeable""Increase and abound in love." The "increase" has to ... us of the presence
of the Lord Jesus Christ. ... all is, summed up in the words Love and Holiness ...
//christianbookshelf.org/thomas/the prayers of st paul/i grace and holiness.htm

The Intimacy of Human Hearts in Christ
... Fresh springs that never cease, But still increase." [7 ... we know that a common faith
and common love do subsist ... which is possible "in the heart of Jesus Christ.". ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/moule/philippian studies/chapter ii the intimacy of.htm

The Righteousness of Christ, an Everlasting Righteousness
... at all." To hear of a Christ dying for sinners, will only increase your damnation ...
Hence it is, that the Apostle, speaking of Christ, says, "Who love me, and ...
/.../selected sermons of george whitefield/the righteousness of christ an.htm

Joy
... may give increase of grace, when not increase of joy ... itself in the pure and pleasant
fountain of God's love! ... to see the orient brightness of Christ's face, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/a body of divinity/8 joy.htm

Love Worketh no Ill to his Neighbor; Therefore Love is the ...
... From the nature of mind, we see that it may be so with all the saints in glory,
that their love will increase to all ... The love of Christ so constrained him ...
/.../finney/lectures to professing christians/love worketh no ill to.htm

A Warning against Hypocrisy
... Those whose hearts are filled with the love of Christ ... to do large things in behalf
of the cause of Christ. ... been endangered if, in the rapid increase of converts ...
/.../white/the acts of the apostles/lesson 7 a warning against.htm