Live for God or in Jesus
Today's sermon poses the question: "Do I live for God or in Jesus? The answer to these words has changed my life, and it can change yours too. It's about whether I try to live completely lawfully for God, or do I accept God's unconditional grace as an undeserved gift from Jesus. To put it bluntly, do I live in, with, and through Jesus? It's impossible to proclaim all aspects of grace in this one sermon. I'll therefore go to the core of the message:
Epheser 2,5-6 "He had already decided then that we should become his own children through Jesus Christ. This was his plan, and this was what pleased him. All this was to glorify God's glorious, undeserved kindness, which we have received through his beloved Son. For with Christ we have been made alive—by grace you have been saved—and he raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
My performance doesn't count
The greatest gift God had given his people Israel in the old covenant was to give the people the law through Moses. But no one managed to keep this law perfectly except Jesus. God was always concerned with a love relationship with his people, but unfortunately only a few people in the old covenant experienced and understood this.
That is why the new covenant is a total change that Jesus gave to people. Jesus gives his community unrestricted access to God. Thanks to his grace, I live in a living relationship with and in Jesus Christ. He left heaven and was born on earth as God and man and lived among us. During his life he completely fulfilled the law and did not miss a single point until he put an end to the old law covenant through his death and resurrection. Jesus is the all-important person in my life. I have accepted him as my greatest gift, as Lord, and am grateful that I no longer have to struggle with the commandments and prohibitions of the old covenant.
Most of us have experienced this, consciously or unconsciously, of living legally. I, too, believed that literal, unconditional obedience was an expression of my devotion to please God. I tried to live my life by the rules of the old covenant. And further, to do everything for God, until Almighty God showed me through his grace: "There is no one righteous, not even one" - except Jesus, our greatest gift! My own performance with all the trimmings could never be enough for Jesus, because what counts is what he has accomplished for me. I received his gift of grace to live in Jesus. Even believing in Jesus is a gift from God. I can accept faith and through it also Jesus, the greatest gift of God's grace.
To live in Jesus is a decision of great consequence
I realized that it depends on me. How do I believe in Jesus? I can choose to listen to him and do what he says because my beliefs determine my actions. Either way, it has consequences for me:
Epheser 2,1-3 “But what was your life like before? You were disobedient to God and wanted nothing to do with him. In his eyes, you were dead. You lived as is customary in this world and were under the control of Satan, who exercises his power between heaven and earth. His evil spirit still controls the lives of all people who disobey God. We were among them too, back when we selfishly wanted to control our own lives. We gave in to the passions and temptations of our old nature, and like all other people, we were subject to the wrath of God.”
This shows me: Keeping the commandments of the old covenant exactly does not create a personal relationship with God. Rather, they separated me from him because my attitude was based on my own contribution. The penalty for sin remained the same: death and he left me in a hopeless position. Words of hope now follow:
Epheser 2,4-9 “But God’s mercy is great. Because of our sins we were dead in God’s sight. Yet he loved us so much that he gave us new life with Christ. Remember this: You owe your salvation entirely to the grace of God, who raised us from the dead with Christ, so that we may already be in heavenly heaven through him. This is how God, in his love that he showed us in Christ Jesus, wants to show the immensity of his grace for all time. For it is by his undeserved kindness that you have been saved from death through faith in Jesus Christ. It is the gift of God, not from your own works. No one can contribute anything by their own deeds, so no one can boast about their good works.”
I have seen that faith in Jesus is a gift from God that I have received undeservedly. I was absolutely dead because by identity I was a sinner and I was sinning. But because I was allowed to accept Jesus as my Redeemer, Savior and Lord, I was crucified with him. All of my sins that I have ever charged and will commit are forgiven through him. That is the refreshing, clearing message. Death is no longer entitled to me. I have a completely new identity in Jesus. The legal person Toni is and will remain dead, even if, as you can see, despite his age, he walks around lively and lively.
Live in grace (in Jesus).
I live with, through and in Jesus or as Paul says precisely:
Galater 2,19-21 “For by the law I was condemned to death. Therefore I am dead to the law, so that I may live to God. My old life died with Christ on the cross. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. I live my earthly life by faith in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who loved me and gave his life for me. I do not reject this undeserved gift of God—unlike those Christians who still want to keep to the demands of the law. For if we could be accepted by God by keeping the law, then Christ would not have had to die.”
By grace I am saved, by grace God raised me and I am installed in heaven with Christ Jesus. There is nothing I can boast about except that I am loved by and live in the Triune God. I owe my life to Jesus. He did everything that was necessary for my life to be crowned with success in him. Step by step I realize more and more that it makes a huge difference whether I say: I live for God or whether Jesus is my life. To be one with the holy God, that changes my life fundamentally, because I no longer determine my life, but let Jesus live through me. I underline this with the following verses.
1. Korinther 3,16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?”
I am now an abode of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, it is a new covenant privilege. This applies whether I am aware of it or remain unconscious: Whether I sleep or work, Jesus lives in me. When I experience the wonderful creation on a snowshoe hike, God is in me and makes every moment a treasure. There is always space free to let Jesus guide me and give me presents. I am allowed to be the temple of God in motion and enjoy the most intimate relationship with Jesus.
Since he lives in me, I don't need to be afraid of not meeting God's vision. Even if I fall as his justified son, he will help me up. But this doesn't just apply to me. Jesus fought the battle against Satan and won with and for us. After his fight with Satan, he figuratively wipes the sawdust off my shoulders, as when swinging. He has paid off all our guilt once and for all, his sacrifice is enough for all people to live reconciled with him.
Johannes 15,5 «I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him bears much fruit; because without me you can do nothing"
I may be connected to Jesus like a grape on the vine. Through him I get everything I need to live. In addition, I can talk to Jesus about all my life questions, because he knows me inside out and knows where I need help. He is not alarmed at any of my thoughts and does not judge me for any of my missteps. I confess my guilt to him, which in spite of my death I do not sin, as his friend and brother call upon me. I know he forgave her. My identity as a sinner is the old story, now I am a new creature and live in Jesus. To live like this is really fun, even fun, because there is no longer any separating handicap.
The second part of the sentence shows me that without Jesus I can't do anything. I cannot live without Jesus. I trust God that he calls everyone so that he hears or will hear him. When and how this happens is in his authority. Jesus explains to me that all of my good words and even my best works do absolutely nothing to keep me alive. He commands me to pay attention to what he would like to say to me alone or through my dear neighbors. He gave me my neighbors for this purpose.
I compare us to the disciples who walked from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They had previously experienced difficult days because of Jesus' crucifixion and talked about it together on the way home. A stranger, it was Jesus, walked with them for a while and explained what the Scriptures said about him. But it didn't make them any wiser. It wasn't until they got home and broke bread that they recognized him. Through this incident, they gained insight into Jesus. It was like scales falling from their eyes. Jesus lives—he is the Savior. Are there such eye-openers even today? I believe so.
You may find that the sermon, “Live for God or in Jesus”, is challenging. Then you will have a good opportunity to discuss this with Jesus. He loves intimate conversations very much and is happy to show you how life is one of the greatest miracles in him. He fills your life with grace. Jesus in you is your greatest gift.
by Toni Püntener
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