Living for Christ: What does it mean?
And he died for all so that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised. 2 Corinthians 5.15.
Connection
Many people complain that the word “love” has so many meanings that it has become almost useless as a term. The same can be said about the word “life.” People think of a thousand things when they hear or use the term.
The New Testament likes the term “life” and the corresponding verb “to live.” It uses many adjectives and phrases to describe the life that is acceptable to God and the life that is unacceptable. It also describes the life that God offers.
Today we will look at one of these phrases. The New Testament offers many ways to describe the life of a follower of Christ. One of these is “living for Christ.”
Context
The apostle Paul wrote several letters to the Christians in the city of Corinth. The letter we call 2 Corinthians was actually the third or fourth. In it, the apostle defends the nature of his role. He talks about the theme of his preaching, reconciliation. The death of Jesus changes everything, including giving us a new direction in life: living for Christ.
Text
What does it mean to live for Christ?
(1) It means purpose in life (see, for example, vv. 5, 9): living to please Christ in all things, glorifying him through our actions and words, living in expectation of his return and life with him in eternity. Paul wrote: “Christ will be exalted in my body, whether I live or die. For to me, living is Christ and dying is gain” Philippians 1.20-21.
(2) It means dedication to Christ: living for his sake that becomes ours; living taking on his work everywhere, of saving souls eternally.
When concluding his teaching on the resurrection, Paul wrote: “So my dear brothers and sisters, stand strong. Do not let anything move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your work in the Lord is never wasted” 1 Corinthians 15.58. And Proverbs 3.18 states: “[Wisdom] is like a tree of life to those who grasp onto her, and everyone who takes hold of her will be blessed.”
(3) It means submission to Christ’s will: living to do what our Lord and Master commands, and not to do our own will or anyone else’s; no longer living in rebellion or in the devil’s lies. Peter wrote to the disciple: “Strengthen yourselves so that you will live your lives here on earth doing what God wants, not the evil things that people want to do” 1 Peter 4.2 ERV.
(4) It means exclusiveness in dependence on Christ: living by trusting in his death; knowing his word and his commandments in depth; speaking only his words; acting only according to his guidance. Paul said: “Christ is everything” Colossians 3.11.
(5) It means building up the Body of Christ: living to make other people his disciples, so that everyone may enter into Christ and make the same commitment to live for Christ; “teaching them to obey everything that” Jesus commanded us, Mateus 28.20.
(6) It means imitating Christ: living to reproduce in my life the holiness, purity, love, clarity, and joy that he had as a man on earth; living daily by carrying our cross. Every Christian “should walk just as he walked” 1 John 2.6.
(7) It means living by Christ’s sacrifice: living by knowing that we have nothing to offer in terms of merit, living in gratitude for his death, living with the same generosity and detachment as he did.
Paul wrote to congregations that were abandoning the merit of the cross: “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” Galatians 2.20 ESV.
Application
Let us learn the price of living for Christ, and also the great reward that will be given to those who live for him.
Let us make the decision to live for Christ. Those who put off making a decision, thinking of doing it another day, have already made the decision.
Let us rejoice for the opportunity to live for Christ.
Appeal
Have you decided to live for Christ? If not, you can decide today, obey his gospel and begin this life now.
If you have already decided to live for Christ, live this life fully, completely, in a more serious way.
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