"Do You Love Me?" Some Feeling Toward Christ

Look the question in the face which Christ asked of Peter, and try to answer it for yourself.  Look at it seriously.  Examine it carefully.  Weigh it well.  Can you honestly say that you love Christ?  It is no answer to tell me that you believe the truth of Christianity, and hold the articles of the Christian faith.  Such religion as this will never save your soul.  The devils believe in a certain way, and tremble. (James 2:19)  True, saving Christianity is not the mere believing a certain set of opinions, and holding a certain set of notions.  Its essence is knowing, trusting, and loving a certain living Person who died for us - even Christ the Lord.

It is no answer to tell me that you disapprove of a religion of feelings.  If you mean by that you dislike a religion consisting of nothing but feelings, we agree.  But if you mean to shut out feelings altogether, you can know little of Christianity.  The Bible teaches us plainly that a man may have good feelings without any true faith.  But it teaches us no less plainly that there can be no true faith without some feeling toward Christ.

It is vain to conceal that if you do not love Christ, your soul is in great danger.  You can have no saving faith now while you live.  You are unfit for heaven if you die.  He that lives without love to Christ can be sensible of no obligation to Him.  He that dies without love to Christ could never be happy in that heaven where Christ is all, and in all.  Awake to know the peril of your position.  Open your eyes.  Consider your ways, and be wise.  I can only warn you as a friend.  But I do it with all my heart and soul.  May God grant that this warning may not be in vain!