John Love
We are to distinguish between His love to them as God – the Second Person in the Godhead – and His love to them as God-man, having a human soul and body existing in personal union with His divine nature. Thus:
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The Lord Jesus as God-man, the Mediator, now in heaven, has a love of pity and compassion towards those of His elect who are yet lying in an unconverted state, besides that love which, as God, He had to them from eternity: “Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear My voice; and there shall be one fold, and one Shepherd” (John 10:16); “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all men unto Me” (John 12:32).
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As God-man, the Mediator, now in heaven, He has a love of complacency and delight in those of the elect that are born again and in their obedience, distinct from that complacency which, as God absolutely considered, He takes in them (Rev 2 and 3; Song 1:8-11; 2:2; 4:1,7-15; 6:4-13; 7:1-10; 8:5).
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As God-man, now in heaven, He has a love of sympathy towards His elect, regenerated people on earth, distinct from that love and compassion which, as God, the Second Person of the Godhead, He has for them: “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin” (Heb 4:15).
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The Lord Jesus Christ, now in heaven, has, besides the same love in His divine nature, a love of beneficence, kindness and desire towards His
1Taken from Memorials of John Love vol 2, p 470. Love was the noted minister of Anderston, Glasgow, during the early nineteenth century.
elect, regenerated people: “If any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev 3:20; also Song 2:1,2,10-15; 5:1; 4:8; 7:10-12; 8:5).