To Live Is Christ (Protestant/Evangelical/Non-Denom/Lutheran/Bible Church Devotional & Caucus

What does it mean to live? If you say, “I want to live,” or, “I don’t want to live anymore” what are you saying? When Paul states, “For to me to live is Christ” he is saying that life means Christ. Everything that he does is influenced by Christ and is done for Him. Christ gives direction, purpose and meaning to his existence. That is the way it should be for us, too! Paul views his life as totally determined and controlled by his commitment to Christ. Awed by Christ’s majesty, love, goodness and forgiveness, he sees the only reason for living is Christ.

Precisely because Christ is his life Paul feels compelled to preach the gospel. Paul is so identified with Christ that for him, life is Christ. That needs to be the confession of every Christian. Consumed by a passion and love for the Lord we will say it: “For to me to live is Christ!” When Christ is our life we do not carry on like others who do not know the Lord. We cannot be like those who never think about the meaning of life at all. Those whose life is Christ do not go about their daily routines and activities without giving any thought to the purpose of life.

When our life is Christ we do not isolate and separate ourselves from society. If that were true Paul would never have been put in prison. We cannot even claim our life is Christ merely by being active in the church. Some people are very active in the church community but when they become sick or physically disabled they crash; what kept them busy has been taken away from them. They no longer see their purpose. But those whose life is Christ know their task is never done.

Life would be supremely hopeless, pointless and meaningless if our life was not Christ, if we did not live for Him. Living with Christ, and seeing the glory of His work with the eyes of faith, makes everything else pale in comparison. What does it mean if you work hard and are successful if you do not have Christ? Nothing! What does it mean if you can enjoy the pleasures of the world and have all the conveniences of life, if your sins are not forgiven through Christ? Nothing! Jesus gave His life so that we might live with Him! He calms our fears and allows us to have peace of mind in the most troublesome situations. With Him we have contentment, peace and joy for our souls.

For me to live is Christ. What does this mean? Paul does not say for me to live is Jesus, He says Christ which is not so much the incarnate God-man as the second person of the trinity and Lord of all. It is akin to the Old Testament use of Adoni (office) or Yahweh (person). For Paul to live is Christ is to declare the Lordship of Christ. That is His sovereignty over all thing including history. To publicly bear witness that every square inch of creation belongs to Christ and is under His rule. There is no institution, nor place nor thought that is not subject to the rule and rules of Christ. Contrary to the modern antinomian church to live is Christ is to affirm His law and our dire need for grace. Christ is not just the Lord of creation but also of our salvation, for He fulfilled the terms of the law for His elect in the atonement. For me to live is Christ declares that my life is bound to Christ and not of my own doing, no amount of works can earn what Christ has already purchased. To add works to is grace is to account that His grace is insufficient. TO not respond to grace with works according to the law is to deny Christ’s rule. All authority in Heaven and Earth has been given to Christ; authority over nature, ethics, redemption and judgement. For me to live is Christ is a statement of purpose. The reformers used the phrase Soli Deo Gloria to God alone be the glory; glory for creation, providence, redemption, law, judgement and even changing me from living for myself to living for Christ.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.