During Easter, we talk a lot about how Christ died for us on the cross and rose again from the dead. The question is, how should His sacrificial death impact our relationship with Him? How can we show Him our gratitude for dying that we might live?
Do we just say thank you and keep living as we always have? Oh, wait a minute; it’s that kind of mindset for which Christ had to die in the first place.
Regarding this matter, here is what Paul the apostle wrote:
“We thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15, KJV).
In effect, Paul is saying that we owe Christ our life because He died in our stead.
The Unpopularity of the Message to Live for Christ
When you think about the barbaric death Christ died for us on the cross, it should be hard to argue against what Paul is saying here. Had Christ not come and died, it is a real possibility that we would not be here today. For God had judged the entire generation of Christ’s day worthy of death. He would have been justified to condemn all to death. Instead, He sent His Son to die so that we might live.
But it does not appear that most Christians today are willing to translate what seems logical or reasonable into a corresponding lifestyle. This I say because the message of living for the One who died for us is not popular in the Christian church today.
One dissenting argument is that we are saved by grace and not by what we do. But that is but a cop out. It has no place in this discussion. Even under the grace covenant the fact remains. We have been bought with the blood of Christ. In return, we should live for Him.
Moreover, in Christ, God has given us everything pertaining to godliness so that we can successfully live for Christ.
What happened that fateful day at Calvary is not only about the past and future but also about the present. Almost 2000 years ago, Christ died for us on the cross and rose again. In the future, He will come again and gather us unto himself. But now—today–we are indebted to live for Christ who died for us.
Copyright © 2022 by Frank King. All rights reserved.