On the one hand, we must value infinitely and joyfully assert our individual part in the redeeming love of the Son of God; but we must equally admit the sovereign rights of the Church in the Redeemer’s passion. Our souls bow down before the glory of the love with which He has from eternity sought her for His own. There is in some Christians an absorption in the work of grace within their own hearts, an individualistic salvation-seeking that, like all selfishness, defeats its end; for it narrows and impoverishes the inner life thus sedulously cherished. The Church does not exist simply for the benefit of individual souls; it is an eternal institution, with an affiance to Christ, a calling and destiny of its own; within that universal sphere our personal destiny holds its particular place. It is “the Christ” who stands, throughout this context (vv. 23-29), over against “the Church” as her Lover and Husband; whereas in the context of Galatians ii. 20 we read “Christ”--the bare personal name--repeated again and again without the distinguishing article. _Christ_ is the Person whom the soul knows and loves, with whom it holds communion in the Spirit. _The Christ_ is the same regarded in the wide scope of His nature and office,--the Christ of humanity and of the ages. “The Christ” of this epistle expands the Saviour’s title to its boundless significance, and gives breadth and length to that which in “Christ” is gathered up into a single point.[141] This Christ “gave Himself up for the Church,”--yielded Himself to the death which the sins of His people merited and brought upon Him. Under the same verb, the apostle says in Romans iv. 25: He “_was delivered_ because of our trespasses, and raised up because of our justification”--the sacrifice being there regarded on its passive side. Here, as in Galatians ii. 20, the act is made His own,--a voluntary surrender. “No man taketh my life from me,” He said (John x. 18). In His case alone amongst the sons of men, death was neither natural nor inevitable. His surrender of life was an absolute sacrifice. He “laid down His life for His friends,” as no other friend of man could do--the One who died for all. The love measured by this sacrifice is proportionately great.