Saturday, 15 August 2015
…and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. 2 Corinthians 5:15
This is a further explanation of the words, “For the love of Christ compels us…” As Jesus Christ “died for all,” he now explains “that those who live should no longer live for themselves.”
Jesus Christ “died for all” potentially, but He actually only died for the elect. Those who have received Jesus Christ are the elect according to God’s foreknowledge. In other words, God knew that they would receive Him and therefore Jesus has saved them. While they live, they “should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
This explains why the apostles didn’t go out making a lot of money off sharing the gospel. It explains why they were willing to suffer persecution and hardship. It explains why they were willing to give all for the sake of Christ. Paul is saying that all believers should have a like-attitude. We may have a job and a family, but we are to put Christ above all else. He isn’t asking us to give up everything we have, but to live our lives in the proper, Christ-centered, perspective.
He gives this same sentiment elsewhere in his writings several times. One example is found in Romans 6 –
“Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:8-11
The apostle Peter also shared this same sentiment –
“Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin, 2 that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.” 1 Peter 4:1, 2
Life application: Christ died and rose for us so that we could truly live. Therefore, let us truly live for Him!
Heavenly Father, I know that Christ the Lord died for me… even me. I am alive because of His death. How then can I not live for Him? All that I have should be an offering of gratitude to Your precious Son for having lifted me out of the pit of death. He placed me among the living. O God, as He died and rose again for me, give me the desire now to live my days for Him. Amen!