For Me to Live Is Christ
The true life of a Christian is living solely for Christ, with Him as the source, sustenance, fashion, and end of one's life.
C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes that true believers begin to live for Christ only after being convicted of sin and recognizing Jesus as their Savior. From the moment of spiritual rebirth, Christ becomes the central focus of their lives, the 'pearl of great price' for whom they are willing to sacrifice everything. Spurgeon challenges Christians to examine whether their lives genuinely reflect this commitment, urging them to ensure that all aspects of their existence are dedicated to Christ. He illustrates that living for Christ encompasses every action and thought, making Him the very essence of life itself. Ultimately, he calls for a total surrender to Christ, embodying the readiness to serve or sacrifice for Him.
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The believer did not always live to Christ. He began to do so when God the Holy Spirit convinced him of sin, and when by grace he was brought to see the dying Saviour making a propitiation for his guilt. From the moment of the new and celestial birth the man begins to live to Christ. Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have. He has so completely won our love, that it beats alone for Him; to His glory we would live, and in defence of His gospel we would die; He is the pattern of our life, and the model after which we would sculpture our character.
Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ--nay, his life itself was Jesus. In the words of an ancient saint, he did eat, and drink, and sleep eternal life. Jesus was his very breath, the soul of his soul, the heart of his heart, the life of his life. Can you say, as a professing Christian, that you live up to this idea? Can you honestly say that for you to live is Christ? Your business--are you doing it for Christ? Is it not done for self- aggrandizement and for family advantage?
Do you ask, "Is that a mean reason?" For the Christian it is. He professes to live for Christ; how can he live for another object without committing a spiritual adultery? Many there are who carry out this principle in some measure; but who is there that dare say that he hath lived wholly for Christ as the apostle did? Yet, this alone is the true life of a Christian--its source, its sustenance, its fashion, its end, all gathered up in one word--Christ Jesus. Lord, accept me; I here present myself, praying to live only in Thee and to Thee. Let me be as the bullock which stands between the plough and the altar, to work or to be sacrificed; and let my motto be, "Ready for either."
Sermon Outline
- Introduction
- The believer's life is not always lived for Christ
- The moment of new birth marks the beginning of living for Christ
Key Quotes
“Jesus is to believers the one pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Paul's words mean more than most men think; they imply that the aim and end of his life was Christ--nay, his life itself was Jesus.” — C.H. Spurgeon
“Yet, this alone is the true life of a Christian--its source, its sustenance, its fashion, its end, all gathered up in one word--Christ Jesus.” — C.H. Spurgeon
Application Points
- As a Christian, I must be willing to surrender myself completely to Christ and live for Him alone.
- I must examine my motivations and actions to ensure they align with living for Christ.
- My life should be a sacrifice to Christ, ready to be used by Him for His glory.