Go! And Live for Christ
Introduction:
2 Corinthians 5:14-15 (NLT): "Either way, Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life. He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them."
These verses challenge us to reflect deeply: What does it mean to live for Christ? How does His love compel us to transform our lives? Today, we will delve into three pivotal truths:
Christ's Love Compels Us
We Have Died to Our Old Life
We Are Called to Live for Christ
May the Holy Spirit illuminate our hearts as we journey through His Word.
1. Christ's Love Compels Us
The apostle Paul declares that it is Christ's love that controls or compels us. The Greek word used here for "love" is ???p? (agape), signifying a selfless, unconditional love that seeks the best for others.
Understanding 'Compels': The term translated as "controls" or "compels" is the Greek word s????e? (synechei), which means to hold together, constrain, or urge. This indicates that Christ's love is not passive; it actively urges and directs our actions.
Romans 8:38-39 (NLT): "And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love... Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Paul emphasizes the inseparable nature of God's agape love. Understanding this unwavering love should compel us to live in gratitude and obedience, knowing we are eternally secure in Him.
Imagine a river's current so strong that it carries everything along its path. Similarly, Christ's love is a powerful force that, when embraced, propels us forward in our spiritual journey, guiding our decisions and actions.
A.W. Tozer once said, "The reason why many are still troubled, still seeking, still making little forward progress is because they haven't yet come to the end of themselves."
What a powerful and piercing truth that is. Church, let’s not rush past those words—let’s allow them to sink deep into our hearts.
You see, many of us are burdened by spiritual frustration. We feel stuck in cycles of defeat, anxiety, restlessness, and spiritual stagnation. And we wonder why. We pray, we attend church, we even serve—but something feels missing. The breakthrough seems distant. The peace of God seems elusive.
And Tozer, with Spirit-led clarity, gives us the diagnosis: we haven’t yet come to the end of ourselves.
That means we’re still trying to do life in our own strength. We’re still holding the steering wheel. We’re still relying on our own wisdom, our own strength, our own plans. We’ve said Jesus is Lord with our lips, but in our hearts we’re still living like we are the master of our own destiny.
But friend, you cannot be full of Jesus until you are empty of yourself.
When we surrender to Christ's love, we cease striving on our own and allow His love to direct our paths.
That’s what it means to come to the end of yourself—it's to say, “Lord, not my will but Yours be done. Not my strength, not my ego, not my ambition—Jesus, I surrender all to You.”
Let me ask you—what if the very thing holding back your spiritual progress is not your circumstances, but your refusal to fully surrender?
Coming to the end of yourself isn’t a place of defeat—it’s the beginning of freedom. It’s where resurrection begins. You can’t be raised to new life until your old self dies.
So church, hear this: If you’re tired of being stuck, if you’re weary of trying to carry it all—there is a better way. It is not found in striving, but in surrender. Jesus is not calling you to try harder—He’s calling you to trust deeper.
Let go. Lay it down. Come to the end of yourself—and you will find the limitless, resurrection life of Christ waiting to carry you forward.
2. We Have Died to Our Old Life
Paul asserts that since Christ died for all, we have all died to our old life. This signifies a profound transformation.
Understanding 'Died': The Greek word ?p??a??? (apethanon) refers to dying. In this context, it implies a spiritual death to our former sinful nature.
Galatians 2:20 (NLT): "My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me..."
Our former selves, dominated by sin, have been crucified with Christ. Embracing this truth means rejecting past sinful behaviors and allowing Christ to live through us.
Consider a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis into a butterfly. The caterpillar's old existence ends, giving rise to a new, transformed life. Similarly, dying to our old selves allows us to emerge as new creations in Christ.
Tim Keller noted, "All death can now do to Christians is to make their lives infinitely better." Embracing the death of our old selves opens the door to a richer, Christ-centered life.
Tim Keller’s powerful statement beautifully encapsulates the triumphant hope we have in Christ. This isn't poetic optimism—it’s biblical reality. For the believer, death has lost its sting. Why? Because Jesus has conquered it. As Paul boldly declared in 1 Corinthians 15:55–57 (NLT):
"O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?"
For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power.
But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Death is no longer the end—it is a doorway. But here’s the deeper truth Keller alludes to: death begins before the grave.
When we speak of embracing the death of our old selves, we’re talking about a spiritual funeral—the burial of who we were without Christ. That old self, driven by selfish ambition, sinful desire, and worldly priorities, has to die. And it must die if we are to truly live in Christ.
Paul explains this plainly in Romans 6:6–7 (NLT):
"We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin."
Beloved, when you die to self, you rise to something far greater—a Christ-centred life that isn’t based on what you do but on what He has already done. You’re no longer striving to earn love—you’re living from the abundance of it. You’re no longer chasing identity—you’re rooted in the One who called you His own.
So yes, in Christ, death—whether spiritual or physical—is not a curse but a conduit of grace. The death of our old self is the beginning of true life, and when our earthly life ends, we step into the eternal joy of being with Jesus. That is what Keller meant. That is what Paul meant. And that is what you and I must mean when we say we follow Jesus—we follow Him through death into life.
Let me challenge you with this: Have you truly died to your old self? Or are you still clinging to who you were, instead of becoming who He is calling you to be?
Because the only life worth living... is the one lived fully and freely for Christ.
3. We Are Called to Live for Christ
Having died to our old selves, we are now called to live not for ourselves, but for Christ.
Understanding 'Live': The Greek word ??s?? (zosin) denotes living or being alive. In this context, it emphasizes a life dedicated to Christ's purposes.
Romans 12:1 (NLT): "And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you..."
Offering ourselves as living sacrifices is a reasonable response to God's mercy. This involves daily surrender and commitment to His will.
Think of an ambassador representing their home country in a foreign land. Their actions and words reflect the interests of their homeland. As believers, we are Christ's ambassadors, representing Him in all we do.
Swiss Theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar said, "What you are is God's gift to you, what you become is your gift to God."
What a beautiful, soul-stirring truth that is. You see, God in His infinite wisdom and grace has crafted each of us uniquely, purposefully, and lovingly. Your very existence—your life, your breath, your abilities, your personality—is a divine gift. The Greek word for gift is “dorea”—freely given, not earned. Just like salvation, your life is not something you created; it is something you received.
But then comes the call, the challenge, the opportunity wrapped in grace: What will you do with the life God has given you?
This is where von Balthasar's words grip the heart. Because we are not simply called to exist—we are called to become. To grow. To be transformed into the likeness of Christ. That’s Romans 12:1 in action: “Give your bodies to God... Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.” (NLT)
Your becoming is your response to His love.
Will you become someone who lives for Christ? Will your life testify of His goodness, mercy, and power?
Let us not waste the gift of life by clinging to selfishness or fear. Let us rise each day with the heartbeat of Heaven in our chest and say, “Lord, take this day—take me—and use it all for Your glory.”
What you become is not just about what you do—it's about who you are in Christ, and how you reflect Him to the world. That is your gift to God. Not perfection. Not performance. But devotion. Surrender. Obedience.
So let’s be faithful stewards of the life we’ve been given. Let’s make our lives a holy gift, wrapped in worship, tied with the ribbon of love, and presented to the King of kings with joy.
Living for Christ is our grateful response to His immeasurable gift.
Conclusion & Call to Action
We've explored that:
Christ's Love Compels Us
We Have Died to Our Old Life
We Are Called to Live for Christ
Reflect upon your own life:
Are you allowing Christ's love to compel and guide you?
Have you truly died to your old self, leaving behind past sins and regrets?
Are you actively living for Christ, seeking His will above your own?
If you have yet to experience this transformative relationship with Jesus, know that His arms are open wide. He invites you to receive His love, to die to your old self, and to embark on a new life dedicated to Him.
Romans 10:9 (NLT): "If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."
Accept His invitation today. Surrender your life to Jesus, and begin the incredible journey of living for Him.
Let us pray.
