Introduction: The LOVE of Jesus changes you! If you’ve ever experienced His great agape love, you know how it has radically changed you. The man who was inspired to write this passage found in 2 Corinthians was transformed by the living and LOVING Christ, while on his way to persecute CHRISTians.

Consider the (4) ways the LOVE of God in Christ Jesus changes you:

See if it has you…

1. Warning people respectfully!

“11Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men.” (2Cor 5:11)

Once we discover who the God of the Bible is, then we a have holy respect and reverence for Him. That is why we want others to come to know Him as well. Do you really know Him? Do you want Him to be known? What will you do today?

2. Loving Jesus practically!

“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15And 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.” (2Cor 5:14,15) 

This is LOVE not LEGALISM! Some people’s CHRISTianity is “legalistic,” consisting of rules and regulations. Other’s CHRISTianity is motivated by the LOVE of Jesus and love for Jesus.

Which is yours? 

3. Changing bad habits daily!

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” (2Cor 5:17)

Our resurrected Lord is changing us daily…thoughts, actions, reactions, motives, etc.

4. Representing God faithfully!

“Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor 5:20,21)

What a privilege to represent our Lord Jesus by the power of the Holy Ghost! Often, we are the only Bible people are reading. What do they see? Hear?

5. Preparing to stand before Jesus accountably! 

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” (2Cor 5:10)

This is a rude awakening of the future, standing before Jesus Christ. What will He say?

Conclusion: Being loved and forgiven by the greatest LOVER in the world is life’s most important discovery. In turn, (He) changes us to fulfill His purpose for creating us.

What a joy it is to serve and LOVE our Lord!