Posted by Living for Christ. As followers of Jesus, our ultimate goal is to live for Him. In Philippians 1:20-21, Paul reminds us of the power and purpose of this way of life: “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Paul emphasizes the “work of Christ,” and our response to it: that through his death and resurrection, we are given new life and the ability to exalt Him in all we do. He also reminds us that living for Christ may come with difficulties and challenges, but ultimately it leads to eternal gain.
Paul’s words serve as a call to action, urging us to make the conscious choice. To live for Christ in every aspect of our lives. This means aligning our thoughts, words, and actions with His commands. Striving to to actively work to honor and glorify Him. It’s important to remember, this way of life will not be a passive experience. But, life actively lived out day by day, moment by moment.
In summary, Philippians 1:20-21 encourages us to embrace our identity as those who are in Christ and to live out the implications of that identity in all aspects of our lives, through actively following commands and exalting Christ in everything we do, this way of life may come with challenges, but it leads to eternal gain.
Additional Data for Your Meditation on “Living for Christ”
Think about taking the following actions:
- Align thoughts, words, and actions with God’s commands. (Colossians 3:17, Isaiah 55:7-9)
- Actively work to honor and glorify God in all aspects of life. (1 Corinthians 10:31, Colossians 3:23-24)
- Embrace your identity as those who are in Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 2:20)
- Live out the implications of your identity in Christ in all aspects of your life. (Ephesians 4:1, Colossians 1:10-14)
- Recognize that living for Christ may come with difficulties and challenges, but ultimately it leads to eternal gain. (James 1:2-4, Romans 8:18)
Theological Terms Related to “Living for Christ”
- Justification: the act of God declaring someone righteous, based on faith in Jesus Christ and not on works. (Romans 3:21-28)
- Regeneration: the act of God by which a person is born again, or made a new creation, in Christ. (John 3:3-8)
- Sanctification: the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. (1 Thessalonians 4:3, 2 Peter 1:5-8)
- Glorification: the final step of salvation, in which a believer’s body is resurrected and they receive a glorified body like Christ. (Romans 8:18, 1 Corinthians 15:20-23)
Explanation of the Terms above
Justification is a legal term that refers to the act of God declaring someone righteous, based on faith in Jesus Christ and not on works. This means that when someone is justified, God sees them as if they had never sinned and imputes His righteousness to them.
Regeneration is a term that refers to the act of God by which a person is born again, or made a new creation, in Christ. This is the first step of salvation, and it occurs when a person places their faith in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
Sanctification is the ongoing process of becoming more like Christ, through the work of the Holy Spirit in a believer’s life. This includes becoming more like Christ in one’s thoughts, words, and actions, and it’s a lifelong process.
Glorification is the final step of salvation, in which a believer’s body is resurrected and they receive a glorified body like Christ. This is the ultimate goal of salvation and a believer’s ultimate state in heaven.
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