Living for Jesus
2 Corinthians 5:11 – 7:1
Key Verse 5:15
And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Sermon Objective: To provide the graduates (and others) with a few characteristics of a life devoted to Jesus.
INTRODUCTION
Mahatma Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India until his death in 1948. His cabinet was unique to most in the east because it consisted of many faiths and, specifically, many Christians. This gave Gandhi the opportunity to observe Christians closely; to explore their faith; and become familiar with the Savior.
It is for that reason that I shudder at the words he spoke later in life. He once said, “I would become a Christian if it wasn’t for Christians.”
He went on to say, “I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.”
Gandhi saw what many others have seen … a major disconnect between Christian tenets for life and Godliness and the actual practices of Christians … sometimes we are not very Christlike.
Today, I am speaking to our High School graduates specifically but not exclusively. As your pastor I want to congratulate you one this significant milestone. Many of you will go on to college, others will begin a vocation, but in each case there are some truths of the Bible that it is time you come face to face with and make some decision regarding. You are adults now. There is no more room for excuses or scapegoats. You must take full responsibility for your actions.
I am specifically speaking of your walk with Christ. I do not want the Gandhis of this world to look at you and be able to say what Mahatma did. “I would become a Christian if it wasn’t for Christians.”
We are going to read a rather lengthy passage of Scripture today … a passage that I discovered at about your age … a passage that introduced me our significant truths about how to live for Jesus. Truths that apply regardless of where you are or what age you are.
2 Corinthians 5:11-7:1 (NIV)
I told you it was long! But it is so full of practical living. The key verse is 2 Corinthians 5:15. Listen to it again. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
Paul is giving the church some pointers on how to live for the one who died for them. We would do well to heed his advice so let’s lay it out plainly.
If you are going to live for Jesus your life will be characterized by:
PROCLAMATION (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men. What we are is plain to God, and I hope it is also plain to your conscience. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart. If we are out of our mind, it is for the sake of God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.
So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
As graduates, this is the time of life when you begin to think long-term. You ask yourself the hard questions.
• What will I do for the rest of my life?
• Will I get married?
• What are the really important things that are worth living for?
It was as a young adult that wrote my first “personal mission statement.” I took time to write down what I thought God wanted me to become and what I wished to see accomplish in life. Most of that list was about character traits that I wanted to develop. I am still developing them. One of the things that was on my list, and should be on your list too, was that I wanted God to be able to trust me to share His Gospel.
That is where Paul begins in this passage. Paul begins by getting to the end of the matter. The core reason you are alive in Christ and left on earth is to share the Good News of Jesus with the lost.
THE BIBLE TELLS YOU WHAT TO DO. Listen to some of the phrases used here:
• Since, then, we know what it is to fear the Lord, we try to persuade men.
• Christ’s love compels (motivates) us
• All this is from God, who … gave us the ministry of reconciliation
• He has committed to us the message of reconciliation
• We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors
• As though God were making his appeal through us
Did you catch it? There is all sorts of imagery here telling us that we are Christ’s representative and that we are to share our faith with the world.
When I tell you that God wants you to share your faith I know you get some strange ideas. You might even get nervous. We all do. God is not asking you to be Billy Graham. God asked Billy Graham to be Billy Graham. God is asking you to be who you are and he will work within that personality (which he fearfully and wonderfully gave you) to accomplish His will.
Few of us are the kind that “kick in the door” and tell someone about Jesus and see an immediate conversion. We weren’t designed that way. But all of us are designed:
1. Live in such a way that those who are around us can tell we love Jesus
2. Be willing AND PREPARED to share you faith in a way that invites others to follow Christ too. At some point you will have to speak up and talk about Jesus. You lifestyle alone will not lead another person to become a Christian. The Bible says: Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 peter 3:15)
Not only does the Bible tell you what to do (tell your friends about Jesus) IT EVEN TELLS YOU WHAT TO SAY! Look at verses 17-21 with me:
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! … that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them. …We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
Your message need not be elaborate. Just tell them that Jesus died on the cross to pay the penalty for your (and their) sins. Just tell them that by accepting that sacrifice Jesus will forgive and give them new life!
If you are going to live for Jesus your life will be characterized by:
PROCLAMATION (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
SEPARATION (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and Belial? What does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols?
For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: "I will live with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people." Therefore “come out from them and be separate”, says the Lord. “Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
Listen up. What I am about to say is a hard saying for many. IF YOU ARE GOING TO LIVE FOR JESUS YOUR CLOSE FRIENDS AND YOUR ROMANCE INTERESTS MUST BE BELIEVERS. As you get older these words have other applications too; like your business partners.
The Bible gives examples and instructions that show us the power of being yoked (joined/united) with other Christians. It also gives us examples of tragic consequences when we are cavorting with those who do not know Christ as Lord.
The Bible says Do not be misled: "Bad company corrupts good character." (1 Corinthians 15:33)
Many a person has seen their life altered because they did not follow this Biblical principle.
This may mean you have to make some hard decisions right now. This may mean you will have to seek new friends or a new romance. But if you will trust and obey you will NEVER regret it.
In fact, God makes you some awesome promises here.
“Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty."
God says that if you will obey Him in this principle that he personally will be present (yoked) with you! The reverse is also true; if you choose to neglect this principle you will discover God’s will and intimacy are distant at best.
If you are going to live for Jesus your life will be characterized by:
PROCLAMATION (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
SEPARATION (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
PURIFICATION (2 Corinthians 7:1)
Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.
There’s a big fancy word in the Bible called “Sanctified.” Something that is sanctified is
1. Set apart from common use
2. Dedicated to God’s use
3. Purified so it is usable by a Holy God
That is what the Bible is talking about here. God wants you to be:
1. Set apart from common use
2. Dedicated to God’s use
3. Purified so it is usable by a Holy God
You need to make a deliberate choice to allow God to purify you so you can follow Him.
You see, God wants your relationship with Him to be intimate and successful. God has given you all the tools you need to perfect holiness … which means to grow and become like Jesus.
Have you ever given much consideration to the tool s he has given you to grow? Let me name a few that will ALWAYS serve you well.
• The Bible itself
• The Holy Spirit
• The Church (fellowship with believers)
• Spiritual Disciplines
If you will utilize these gifts you can … YOU CAN … succeed in living for Jesus and pleasing God.
WRAP-UP
Mahatma Gandhi said, “I would become a Christian if it wasn’t for Christians.”
What he was saying is that if Christians would live like Jesus then would also follow Jesus. That’s because our lives speak more than our words or our beliefs. It is doesn’t work in life … it doesn’t work at all.
Gandhi died without Christ and is spending eternity in Hell. I know you do not want that kind of blood on your hands. If you will follow the Bible’s advice here in this passage you can successfully live for Jesus.
1. PROCLAMATION (2 Corinthians 5:11-21)
2. SEPARATION (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)
3. PURIFICATION (2 Corinthians 7:1)
He who has ears to hear
Let him hear!
