Recently, I was reading through Ephesians Chapter 4 when a certain phrase in verse 32 caught my attention. Here's the verse from the King James Version: "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
Several other versions are probably more on target in translating this phrase to be "as God in Christ forgave you." But the words "for Christ's sake" are the ones that gave me pause for thought -- even if it is translated "in Christ" in most other versions. Immediately my thoughts turned to what I do (and don't do) for the sake of Christ. If our God forgives us for Christ's sake. Shouldn't Christians be living their lives for Christ's sake?
In Matthew chapter 10, Christ tells His disciples that they will suffer for His sake (verse 18; verse 22). Finally in verse 39, He promises that "Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it." Jesus made similar statement several times throughout His ministry. He truly wanted the disciples to understand they would pay a great price for their loyalty; but He also wanted to assure them it would be worth it.
What does that phrase mean anyway -- "for Christ's sake?" It is certainly not one to be taken lightly ... nor is it to be used in exasperation as a form of swearing the way some folks may do. It means for the cause of Christ ... because of Him ... for His name .... because He died for us.
It is a simple concept - it's not at all difficult to figure out. As followers of Him, we bear His name. We should long to honor that name. Christians desire to stand up for the righteousness found in Christ. We strive to treat others with love and kindness. We seek to teach His gospel to those lost in sin and darkness.
The Holy Spirit (through Paul) says it much better than I could ever begin to. Consider 2 Corinthians 5:15 -(ESV)
"and He died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for Him who for their sake died and was raised." Christ died for us ... for our sake -- for the sake of our salvation. So that we will live for Him -- for His sake. We live for Him because He gave His life for us. Verse 21 of 2 Corinthians 5 says:
"For our sake He made Him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God." (ESV)
Those of us who seek to do the will of Christ realize it is our duty to represent Him by living righteous lives every day. Will we be perfect? Oh no -- we are still human. Only One was perfect; but we must cling to His word and follow His actions as closely as we possibly can. We cannot claim to be His and then go on our about business doing whatever we want to do.
If we are going to live for God, we will learn to love as Christ loved and to act as Christ would have us to act. We are to praise Him both in our victories and our defeats. Thank Him ever so much for all the good things that happen in our lives. Give Him the credit for our talents and our blessings.
What about those defeats? Well that is when we thank Him again. We thank Him for giving us the wisdom to seek His will and the strength He gives us to weather the storm. When things get tough, then every morning we praise Him for giving us the strength to face another day.
In so doing, we set a wonderful example to all those around us. And when someone asks us why we are always thanking and praising Him - then we get the opportunity to teach about God's grace and glory. We can tell others why we have the hope of eternal life -- for Christ's sake -- in His name -- because of His sacrifice.
Yes, Christ warned His followers they would suffer for Him. During one such discussion Peter reminds Jesus that the apostles had left everything to follow Him. Jesus responded in Luke 18:29-30: "...Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or wife or brothers or parents or children, for the sake of the kingdom of God, who will not receive many times more in this time, and in the age to come eternal life."
What a wonderful promise this is!! The apostles believed this promise. They followed Christ to the end. They loved Him and lived for Him and ultimately they died for Him.
But they knew Christ would keep His promise. They wanted everyone to share in this great promise and that is why they taught about Him everywhere they went. They wanted others to experience the incredible joy of forgiveness .. for Christ sake.
Paul felt the same way the other apostles did, for he said in I Corinthians 9:22-24: "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel." (in other words -Christ).
Why, Paul? "I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings. Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it." Paul knew the prize was worth running for -- that for the sake of the gospel he would share in its blessings with others who had obeyed that very gospel.
Live for Christ - love Him --honestly love Him by seeking His will and following His commandments. Stand up for His righteousness.
" Because your sins are forgiven
for His name's sake."
(1 John 2:12)
Christ above all things,
Robin
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